Mission: Ushers shall faithfully serve as doorkeepers and representatives of the church. All who enter the house of God shall be greeted warmly and treated with kindness, tact, and courtesy. It is also the responsibility of ushers to ensure that perfect order is kept in and around the church at all times during worship services. The Usher Board’s mission is to make everyone’s visit a blessed and pleasant worship experience.
History: There are no records showing the actual beginning of the church’s Usher Board, but records show that the Usher Board membership had grown to 40 members by 1933, and a Junior Usher Board was established later. The first Ushers’ Day Service was initiated in 1969 and became an annual event. Other historical highlights occurred in 1974 when the all-male Usher Board welcomed its first female member, Sister Sehon Grisby, and in 1978 when Deaconess Eleanor Banks became the first female president. The Usher Board was installed as a member of the Interdenominational Church Ushers Association (ICUA) of DC and Vicinity on November 10, 2003.
Additional Activities: The Usher Board sponsors a community outreach jazz concert series that connects members of the congregation and the neighborhood. Recent programs include “Jazz on the Lawn” featuring Minister of Music Kenneth Peagler, and a “Love and Jazz” Valentine’s Day program with Jazzy Blu. The Usher Board also sponsors an annual drive to donate backpacks and school supplies to local students. Those interested in becoming a senior or junior usher are asked to contact Brother John Jackson at ushers@19thstreetbc.org.
Current Officers:
President—John Jackson
First Vice President—Debora Lewis
Second Vice President—Bernadette Swanson-Thomas
Third Vice President—Jaia Wilensky
Treasurer—Heather Boyce
Financial Secretary—Brenda Johnson
Corresponding Secretary—Yvonne Gowdy
Chaplain—Patricia Andrewn
Assistant Chaplain—Robert McNair