Senate Resolution 6

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE LEGACY OF SERVICE TO CHURCH AND COMMUNITY OF DR. HICKMAN M. JOHNSON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AS PASTOR OF HISTORIC FARISH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, we join the congregation of Historic Farish Street Baptist Church in honoring the 50th Anniversary of Pastor Dr. Hickman M. Johnson, whose great and good spirit and remarkable intellect has enriched the lives of his students, colleagues and church membership; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hickman M. Johnson was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Johnson has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Tennessee State University, Master of Divinity Degree from Morehouse School of Religion-Interdenominational Theological Center, Master of Arts Degree from Mississippi College, and Doctor of Ministry Degree from Emory University; and

WHEREAS, from 1967 to 1968, Dr. Johnson served as Chaplin at Tougaloo College; and in August 1968, he accepted the pastorate of the Historic Farish Street Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi. From 1970 to 1975, while still serving the pastorate of Farish Street Baptist Church, Dr. Johnson directed the Jackson Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC), a nonprofit community-based jobs training program. In October 1976, he was appointed Regional Director of the Atlanta region of OICs of America with responsibility for twenty-eight local affiliates in an eight-state region. In June 1977, Dr. Johnson resigned as Regional Director of OIC to give more time to a demanding pastorate; and

WHEREAS, from November 1981 to January 1989, Dr. Johnson served as Dean of Academic Affairs, Mississippi Baptist Seminary. On January 1, 1989, he was elected President of Mississippi Baptist Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi, serving in that capacity until November 2004. From February 1991 to May 1991, Dr. Johnson served as Interim Executive Director, Jackson Housing Authority. In January 1994, he was reappointed Interim Executive Director; and in June 1994, he was appointed as Executive Director, Jackson Housing Authority; and served until October 2000. Under his leadership, the Jackson Housing Authority received several awards and recognitions, including the Secretary's Citation and Best Practice Award for its Affordable Homeownership Program. In May 2001, Dr. Johnson was appointed Interim Executive Director, Tupelo Housing Authority; and in December 2001, he accepted the appointment as Executive Director, serving until August 2004. In June 2004, he accepted the position of Executive Director, Mississippi Regional Housing Authority VI; and

WHEREAS, he is extremely active in the church and communit, having served as Chairman, Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference (MRLC); Chairman, MRLC Disaster Task Force; Co-Chairman, Change in the Form of Government Committee, a Blue Ribbon Citizens' Committee appointed by the Mayor to recommend changes in Jackson's commission form of government; Chairman, Seminole District Committee, Boy Scouts of America; Member, Executive Board, Andrew Jackson Council, Boy Scouts of America; Member, Southern Ecumenical Council on Maternal and Infant Health of the Southern Governors' Association; Member, Seminole District Committee, Boy Scouts of America; Moderator, Jackson District Missionary Baptist Association, Inc., 1988-1994; Corresponding Secretary, General Baptist State Convention of Mississippi, 1988-1994; Member, Theological Commission, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., 1971-1990; Commissioner, City of Jackson Housing Authority, 1969-1991; and Chairman, City of Jackson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, 1990-1991. Dr. Johnson is Administrator, Ministries' Divisions and Faculty Member, National Baptist Congress of Christian Education; Board of Directors, General Baptist State Convention of Mississippi; Member, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO); Member, Public Housing Authorities Directors' Association (PHADA); Member, Southeastern Regional, Housing and Redevelopment Officials; Member, Phi Delta Kappa Professional Fraternity; Member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated; and Member, Beta Gamma Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his service to the church and community, he was awarded honorary degrees from Natchez College, Doctorate of Divinity and Mississippi Baptist Seminary, Doctorate of Divinity. Dr. Johnson received the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference's Distinguished Religious Leaders' Award, the 1990 Boy Scouts of America District Award of Merit, New Horizon Church International, 2008 Community Servant Award, and the 2012 Fannie Lou Hamer Humanitarian Award, presented by the Hamer Institute, Jackson State University. Dr. Johnson is a member of the International Society of Theta Phi and is listed in Personalities of the South, 1973 edition, and Biographical Directory of Negro Ministers, third edition, and a Contributor, Townsend Commentary, 1988-1989. He is the Author of Farewell, My Friends: A Book of Eulogies and Tributes, published by Trafford Press, 2010; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we pay tribute to this most public-spirited Christian leader in the State of Mississippi: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize the legacy of service to church and community of Dr. Hickman M. Johnson on the occasion of his 50th Anniversary as Pastor of Historic Farish Street Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, and extend to Dr. Johnson and his family our best wishes on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Johnson and to Farish Street Baptist Church at his 50th Anniversary Celebration, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.