III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 518 

Congratulating the Southern Baptist Convention for electing Reverend Fred 

Luter, Jr., as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, acknowledging Reverend Luter’s unique role as the first African-American leader 

of the Southern Baptist Convention, and honoring the commitment of 

the Southern Baptist Convention to an inclusive faith-based community 

and society. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 29, 2012 

Ms. LANDRIEU submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the Southern Baptist Convention for electing 

Reverend Fred Luter, Jr., as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, acknowledging Reverend Luter’s 

unique role as the first African-American leader of the 

Southern Baptist Convention, and honoring the commitment of the Southern Baptist Convention to an inclusive 

faith-based community and society. 

Whereas the Southern Baptist Convention formed in 1845 in 

Augusta, Georgia, in opposition to the abolition of slavery; 

Whereas the Southern Baptist Convention supported racial 

segregation for much of the twentieth century; 


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2 

•SRES 518 IS 

Whereas the Southern Baptist Convention issued a resolution 

stating that the Convention sought to purge itself and society of all racism in 1978; 

Whereas the Southern Baptist Convention issued a resolution 

denouncing racism as a deplorable sin in 1995; 

Whereas, in 2012, the Southern Baptist Convention is a cooperative of more than 45,000 churches that seek diligently to bring about greater racial and ethnic representation at every level of Southern Baptist institutional life; 

Whereas Reverend Fred Luter, Jr., was born on November 

11, 1956, in New Orleans, Louisiana; 

Whereas Reverend Luter preached his first church sermon in 

1983 at the Law Street Baptist Church in New Orleans, 

Louisiana; 

Whereas Reverend Luter became the pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in 1986; 

Whereas, under the leadership of Reverend Luter, the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church community grew from 65 

members in 1986 to more than 7,000 members in 2005; 

Whereas the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church was destroyed 

in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina and lost approximately 

2,000 members; 

Whereas Reverend Luter, in cooperation with Reverend David 

Crosby, found a temporary home for Franklin Avenue 

Baptist Church during the aftermath of Hurricane 

Katrina; 

Whereas, continuing that spirit of cooperation, Reverend 

Crosby nominated Reverend Luter to become president of 

the Southern Baptist Convention; 


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•SRES 518 IS 

Whereas Reverend Luter was elected to be the first AfricanAmerican president of the Southern Baptist Convention 

on June 19, 2012; and 

Whereas the election of Reverend Luter brings great pride 

and honor to the membership of the Southern Baptist 

Convention: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the Southern Baptist Conven3 tion for electing Reverend Fred Luter, Jr., as the 

4 president of the Southern Baptist Convention; 

5 (2) acknowledges Reverend Luter’s unique role 

6 as the first African-American leader of the Southern 

7 Baptist Convention; and 

8 (3) honors the commitment of the Southern 

9 Baptist Convention to an inclusive faith-based com10 munity and society. 

Æ 


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