Commemorating the 192nd Anniversary of the Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church

Senate Resolution No. 2075

BY: Senator SANDERS

        COMMEMORATING  the  192nd Anniversary of the Allen
        African Methodist Episcopal Church

  WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social, and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in  the  development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and

  WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and Nation to pay tribute
to  those  institutions  and  individuals  who  have  contributed to the
ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud  to  commemorate  the
192nd  Anniversary  of  the  Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church in
2026; and

  WHEREAS, The history of Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church  in
Jamaica,  New  York,  begins  in 1834, when a small group of visionaries
laid the spiritual foundation for the church; the original building  was
constructed in 1842, with a significant expansion occurring in 1869; and

  WHEREAS, Over time, the church grew, particularly with the migration
of  people from the southern states, and experienced various challenges,
including financial  hardship  and  a  devastating  fire  in  1944  that
destroyed the sanctuary; and

  WHEREAS, In the 1960s, the church purchased new land, and in 1968, a
new edifice was completed; the church faced a devastating firebombing in
1969,  but  rebuilt  once  again;  by  the  1970s,  the church had grown
significantly, reaching a membership of 1,200 and expanding its outreach
to include services for senior citizens; and

  WHEREAS, In the face of adversity and hardship,  this  community  of
faithful  and  dedicated  individuals  always  remained committed to the
church and rebuilt, ensuring the  continued  growth  of  this  cherished
faith-based  institution  for decades to come; they stand as a testament
to the value of resilience and courage; and

  WHEREAS, The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York stands today
as a prominent global faith  institution,  renowned  for  its  spiritual
empowerment and community impact; on June 16, 2024, the Reverend Stephen
A.  Green  was appointed as the Senior Pastor, ushering in a new era for
this historic congregation; a global thought leader at the  intersection
of  faith  and  social justice, Rev. Green also serves as Chair of Faith
for Black Lives, a faith-based social justice organization committed  to
building  a  beloved  community through radical love in action; together
with his wife, First Lady Braea Tilford Green,  they  are  dedicated  to
transforming the world through the power of radical love in action; and

  WHEREAS,  Rock  The  Bells,  the  global  Hip-Hop  cultural platform
founded by Queens native LL COOL J, in partnership  with  Greater  Allen
AME  Cathedral of New York, announces Rock The Blessings: Juneteenth for
the People, a cultural gathering taking place at Forest Hills Stadium on
June 19,2026 hosted by LL COOL J; this  event  is  ground  in  the  four

pillars  of grounded in four core pillars: Economic Freedom: black-owned
businesses and opportunities to support community growth; Civic Freedom:
access to  leadership,  resources,  and  pathways  to  action;  Creative
Freedom:  music,  art,  and  culture expressed at the highest level; and
Spiritual Freedom:  collective worship and reflection grounded in faith;
and

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take  note  of
enduring  religious  institutions  and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  192nd  Anniversary  of  the  Allen  African  Methodist
Episcopal Church; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church.