RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The First Baptist Church ofChicago (FBCC) was organized by 15 believers on October 19, 1833. While it was not the first church in the city, it was the site of the city's first baptism, performed by Reverend Allen Freeman, on January 12, 1834; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of the First'Baptist Church's contributions to Chicago by Alderman Sophia King; and
WHEREAS, During the first 40 years after its organization, First Baptist moved between several downtown locations before making the transition to the South Side, eventually moving to their current-day location of 935 East 50th Street in 1919; and
WHEREAS, First Baptist has always been focused on church planting and education. The Calvary Baptist Church in the South Shore neighborhood is one of many churches organized by members of FBCC. Members of FBCC in 1857 were instrumental in forming the first chapter of the Young Men's Christian Association in Chicago. The women of First Baptist helped to form the Baptist Missionary Training School for women, which merged with Colgate Rochester Seminary in 1961. Members of FBCC formed the old University of Chicago and the Baptist Theological Union now known as the University of Chicago Divinity School; and
WHEREAS, First Baptist has taken an active role in growing educational opportunities, opening Chicago's first free kindergarten at its prior location of 31st Street and King Drive. Additionally, First Baptist has supported their partner schools, Reavis Elementary and Shoesmith Elementary, with scholarships for students with improved grades and high attendance; and
WHEREAS, First Baptist played a significant role in the resettlement of Japanese Americans in Hyde Park and Kenwood at the conclusion of World War II. Reverend Jitsuo Morikawa was called to serve as assistant pastor and later became the first Japanese American to serve as pastor of a Euro-American congregation. Reverend Morikawa also welcomed the first African Ame...
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