Whereas during the dark days of United States history when
the Nation embraced slavery, there were 56 African-American members listed in
the First Book of Conference at First Baptist Church in Greensboro, Georgia, in
1845, and those individuals were required to gain permission from their slave
owners in order to seek membership;
Whereas in the midst of the Civil War, African-American
slaves residing in Greene County identified the importance of organizing
themselves for better worship and establishing a church for their mutual
encouragement and edification;
Whereas, on January 27, 1864, Henry Porter, Frank Massey,
Umply Stocks, and Jack Terrell, all of whom were under the cruel institution of
slavery, pulled their resources together to purchase 1.25 acres of land on the
southern edge of Greensboro for $6.25;
Whereas soon after, the aforementioned slaves purchased
the Old Georgia Depot Building, converting the former train depot into a place
of worship and named it Springfield Baptist Church;
Whereas after the Civil War, freedmen developed a
community surrounding the church, identifying the neighborhood as “Canaan”, a
Biblical reference to the land which God promised to his chosen people, the
Israelites;
Whereas throughout the years, many distinguished guests,
who were instrumental in advocating for civil rights, ministered at Springfield
Baptist Church, including Dr. Samuel H. Archer, Dr. Charles D. Hubert, and Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.;
Whereas, on September 8, 1987, the U.S. Department of the
Interior National Park Service distinguished Springfield Baptist Church as a
sacred edifice “worthy of preservation” and, therefore, placed the church on
its National Register of Historic Places; and
Whereas the strength and compassion of the generations of
families, who embraced Springfield Baptist as their church home, have
contributed to making Greene County a stronger and more attractive community in
which to live: Now, therefore, be it
That Congress—
(1)recognizes Springfield Baptist Church as
the first African-American church established in the City of Greensboro,
Georgia, following the Emancipation Proclamation and, therefore, the oldest in
Greene County, on the occasion of its placement as a permanent marker by the
Georgia Historical Society; and
(2)commends the
congregation of Springfield Baptist Church, including its many generations of
pastors, church leaders, and families, for serving as a source of
encouragement, inspiration, and pride for members of the community for more
than a century.