```

[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 518 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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;
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;
Whereas Reverend Luter was elected to be the first African-American 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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the Southern Baptist Convention for 
        electing Reverend Fred Luter, Jr., as the president of the 
        Southern Baptist Convention;
            (2) acknowledges Reverend Luter's unique role as the first 
        African-American leader of the Southern Baptist Convention; and
            (3) honors the commitment of the Southern Baptist 
        Convention to an inclusive faith-based community and society.
                                 <all>
```