SJ138: Commending the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton.


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 138
Commending the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, January 28, 2010
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 12, 2010
 

WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton celebrates 25 years of leading St. Peter Baptist Church in Glen Allen in 2010; and

WHEREAS, a native of Richmond, Kirkland Walton received a bachelor?s degree in geology from Virginia State University and was the first African American petroleum geologist with the Gulf Oil Company and the first African American groundwater geologist with the State Water Control Board of Virginia before his call to the ministry; and

WHEREAS, Kirkland Walton received a divinity degree from the School of Theology of Virginia Union University and was one of the first seven to receive an earned Doctor of Ministry degree from the School of Theology of Virginia Union University; Dr. Walton has done postgraduate studies at the University of Washington, the University of Houston, and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education; and

WHEREAS, licensed to the Gospel Ministry in December 1977 and ordained in April 1980 by the First Baptist Church of South Richmond, Dr. Walton served as the Minister of Education at First Baptist Church of South Richmond for three years before becoming the first full-time pastor of St. Peter Baptist Church in 1985; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1882, St. Peter Baptist Church is a vibrant, faithful congregation of 1,500 and under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Kirkland Walton, the church membership has tripled, three major building projects have been completed, the professional staff has expanded, and the number of active ministries has expanded to 45; and

WHEREAS, concerned with the needs of the individual church members, Dr. Walton has been especially involved with the efforts of mentoring those who have been called to the service of the Lord and has seen many members of the church grow and have their own pastorates; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Walton has been actively involved in many local, state, and national ministries and organizations throughout his career; he also serves as a member of the faculty of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University; and

WHEREAS, in all his efforts, Dr. Walton has been supported by his college sweetheart, best friend, and wife, the former Brenda Bowman of Richmond, a retired principal from the Richmond Public Schools System; and

WHEREAS, a humble man, Dr. Walton gives all the credit first to God and says of himself that ?I did what I was supposed to do?; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend a fine pastor and outstanding Virginian, the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, on the occasion of his 25th anniversary with St. Peter Baptist Church of Glen Allen; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his accomplishments and years of service.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 138
Offered January 22, 2010
Commending the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton.
Patron-- McDougle

WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton celebrates 25 years of leading St. Peter Baptist Church in Glen Allen in 2010; and

WHEREAS, a native of Richmond, Kirkland Walton received a bachelor?s degree in geology from Virginia State University and was the first African-American petroleum geologist with the Gulf Oil Company and the first African-American groundwater geologist with the State Water Control Board of Virginia before his call to the ministry; and

WHEREAS, Kirkland Walton received a divinity degree from the School of Theology of Virginia Union University and was one of the first seven to receive an earned Doctor of Ministry degree from the School of Theology of Virginia Union University; Dr. Walton has done postgraduate studies at the University of Washington, the University of Houston, and the Presbyterian School of Christian Education; and

WHEREAS, licensed to the Gospel Ministry in December 1977 and ordained in April 1980 by the First Baptist Church of South Richmond, Dr. Walton served as the Minister of Education at First Baptist Church of South Richmond for three years before becoming the first full-time pastor of St. Peter Baptist Church in 1985; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1882, St. Peter Baptist Church is a vibrant, faithful congregation of 1,500 and under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Kirkland Walton, the church membership has tripled, three major building projects have been completed, the professional staff has expanded, and the number of active ministries has expanded to 45; and

WHEREAS, concerned with the needs of the individual church members, Dr. Walton has been especially involved with the efforts of mentoring those who have been called to the service of the Lord and has seen many members of the church grow and have their own pastorates; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Walton has been actively involved in many local, state, and national ministries and organizations throughout his career; he also serves as a member of the faculty of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University; and

WHEREAS, in all his efforts, Dr. Walton has been supported by his college sweetheart, best friend, and wife, the former Brenda Bowman of Richmond, a retired principal from the Richmond Public Schools System; and

WHEREAS, a humble man, Dr. Walton gives all the credit first to God and says of himself that "I did what I was supposed to do"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend a fine pastor and outstanding Virginian, the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton, on the occasion of his 25th anniversary with St. Peter Baptist Church of Glen Allen; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend Dr. Kirkland R. Walton as an expression of the General Assembly?s respect for his accomplishments and years of service.