House Bill hb9027

    Florida House of Representatives - 2002                HR 9027

        By Representative Byrd






  1                         House Resolution

  2         A resolution recognizing the election of the

  3         Reverend Maxie Miller, Jr., as First Vice

  4         President of the Florida Baptist Convention.

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  6         WHEREAS, as only the second black minister ever to hold

  7  the position of first vice president of the 140-year-old

  8  Florida Baptist Convention, the Reverend Maxie Miller, Jr.,

  9  views his November 2001 election as an opportunity to reach

10  out to all of the state's Baptists but also acknowledges that

11  he has an additional responsibility to serve as a role model

12  for minority Baptists, and

13         WHEREAS, declaring that it is important to have

14  diversity in higher levels, and citing his aim "to leave no

15  one out," the Reverend Miller hopes to promote racial symmetry

16  and to support the goal of the convention to evangelize the

17  entire state, while also working on pending bylaw changes and

18  recommending members for the board of missions, and

19         WHEREAS, pastor for the past five years of the Mount

20  Olive Baptist Church in Plant City, and described as a very

21  gregarious individual who has immersed himself in his work and

22  done much for his community, the Reverend Miller serves a

23  500-member congregation that maintains a transportation

24  ministry for the elderly, operates a program that provides

25  meals to roughly 240 shut-ins and needy persons, and hosts

26  Boys and Girls Clubs, and

27         WHEREAS, affiliated with the Southern Baptist

28  Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination, the

29  Florida State Convention has witnessed dramatic growth in the

30  number of its predominately African-American churches, which

31  have increased from 225 in 1997 to nearly 400 today, a trend

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2002                HR 9027

    577-188-02






  1  that the Reverend Miller hopes to build on through aggressive

  2  efforts to share the gospel with everyone in the state, NOW,

  3  THEREFORE,

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  5  Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of

  6  Florida:

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  8         That the House of Representatives congratulates the

  9  Florida Baptist Convention on its election to the office of

10  first vice president of a distinguished individual of

11  superlative qualifications and extends to the Reverend Maxie

12  Miller, Jr., its wishes for an exceptionally productive tenure

13  in his capacity as second highest officer of a highly

14  respected organization.

15         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution

16  be presented to the Reverend Maxie Miller, Jr., as a tangible

17  token of the sentiments expressed herein.

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