A house RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor Dr. Toney C. Parks, Senior Pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, to celebrate his retirement after thirty-two years of faithful service, and to congratulate him on his new appointment as Pastor Emeritus of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church.

Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina should pause in their deliberations to express their gratitude to Toney C. Parks for his significant contributions to Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in the Greenville community; and

Whereas, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Parks earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Divinity from Erskine College and Theological Seminary, and earned a doctorate in counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary; and

Whereas, Dr. Parks has served as the senior pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church for the past thirty-two years. Through the years, he has guided the congregation through decades of change, both in member support and spiritual growth, the physical construction of the church's fifth sanctuary, and the renovation and conversion of the South Wing Fellowship Hall; and

Whereas, in addition to his pastoral duties, Dr. Parks is actively dedicated to his spiritual duties in the community. He previously served as the president of the South Carolina Congress of Christian Education and moderator of the Enoree River Baptist Association, and he was a distinguished professor of biblical counseling and practical ministry at Erskine Theological Seminary, the chaplain of the Greenville City Police Department, and president and cofounder of Family Outreach Community Services in Greenville; and

Whereas, besides his ministerial responsibilities and community leadership, he serves as an assistant professor of pastoral ministry at Anderson University Clamp Divinity School and a Christian marriage facilitator. Dr. Parks is a state and national instructor of church leadership, administration, and policy for the South Carolina Education and Missionary Convention and the National Baptist Convention of America, USA. Dr. Parks participated in the Oxford Roundtable on the discussion of  race relations; and

Whereas, a dedicated family man, he and his beloved wife of more than forty years, Brenda Parks, have reared two fine sons, Hamilton and Donovan; and

Whereas, grateful for his many years of distinguished service to Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, the South Carolina House of Representatives takes great pleasure in extending best wishes to Toney Parks as he transitions to a richly deserved retirement and the unhurried pace of the days ahead, and the members wish him many years of enjoyment in his well-earned retirement. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Dr. Toney C. Parks, Senior Pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, celebrate his retirement after thirty-two years of faithful service, and congratulate him on his new appointment as pastor emeritus of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Toney C. Parks.

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