Description
The Hammond Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church was established around 1919. The church began with a small, humble congregation that grew considerably under Reverend William Davis [1]. For thirty years after its creation, Mt. Zion’s church leaders and congregates met in temporary spaces. In 1949, Mt. Zion established its permanent home in a one-story brick building designed by a local architectural firm [2]. Not only did Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church play a role in the religious, political, social, and civic life of Hammond’s African American community, but their long time preacher Reverend Albert R. Burns was a significant figure in Hammond [3].
Reverend Albert R. Burns was the great-grandson of slaves and grew up in Enterprise, Mississippi, where segregation limited his freedom and access to quality education. Despite these restrictions, Burns loved reading works by Booker T. Washington, who inspired him to turn his ill feelings toward his hometown into compassion. This compassion, in addition to a promise to God during a terrible illness, pushed Burns to “spread [God’s] word" [4]. Beginning in 1935, Burns preached in Mississippi until the early 1940s. Burns moved to Hammond and continued his education, and in the winter of 1944 when the pastor of Mt. Zion became ill, Burns was ordained and filled in for the pastor. Burns’ position became permanent after the pastor passed away [5].
From 1945 to 1998, Reverend Burns served as the Mt. Zion’s pastor. Together, Burns and Mt. Zion worked continuously to challenge racial injustice, often with the help of the local Chapter of the NAACP and the Hammond Human Relations Commission [6]. Burns’ passion for racial justice and his leadership inspired Mt. Zion congregants to fight for civil rights, quality housing, and job opportunities for Hammond’s African American community [7].
In 1958, in a court case against local school officials, Burns fought for the right for African-Americans to teach in Hammond schools. The next year, his daughter, Annie Burns-Hicks, a graduate of Ball State Teachers College, filled the very position for which her father had fought. Burns-Hicks was Hammond’s first African American teacher [8].
Reverend Burns aspired to provide quality housing for the elderly in Hammond [9]. The opening of Mt. Zion Pleasant View Plaza in 1983 attests to Burns’ ability to manifest his hopes into concrete benefits to his community [10]. Mt. Zion Pleasant View Plaza continues to provide affordable senior housing with 127 one-bedroom rental units.
In 1996, at the age of 85, Burns criticized Hammond Mayor Duane W. Dedelow Jr. for breaking his campaign promise to hire more African American police officers [11]. This is just one example of the civil rights work that Reverend Burns was doing in Hammond late into the 1990s, before retiring in 1998 after 53 years at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church [12].
In 2019, the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church was honored with an Indiana Historical Bureau historical marker. The marker “celebrated Mt. Zion’s place in the community as both a religious and civic leader and comes as the church celebrates its centennial anniversary" [13].
Source
[1] “Historic Marker: Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church.” Indiana Historical Bureau. Indianapolis, Indiana. 2019. Accessed October 7, 2020. https://www.in.gov/history/markers/4477.htm
[2] “Mt. Zion Church Marks History as a Hammond Mainstay.” Indiana Landmarks. Indianapolis, Indiana. February 26, 2020. Accessed October 7,2020. https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2020/02/mt-zion-church-marks-history-as-a-hammond-mainstay/
[3] “Mt. Zion Church Marks History as a Hammond Mainstay.” Indiana Landmarks. Indianapolis, Indiana. February 26, 2020. Accessed October 7,2020. https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2020/02/mt-zion-church-marks-history-as-a-hammond-mainstay/
[4] Franklin, Lu Ann. “A Fisher of Men.” The Times. March 8, 1998. Accessed October 7, 2020 .https://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/a-fisher-of-men/article_8889ea0c-3a45-5cd0-97a5-b4e7210fc498.html
[5] Franklin, Lu Ann. “A Fisher of Men.” The Times. March 8, 1998. Accessed October 7, 2020 .https://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/a-fisher-of-men/article_8889ea0c-3a45-5cd0-97a5-b4e7210fc498.html
[6] “Historic Marker: Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church.” Indiana Historical Bureau. Indianapolis, Indiana. 2019. Accessed October 7, 2020. https://www.in.gov/history/markers/4477.htm
[7] “Mt. Zion Church Marks History as a Hammond Mainstay.” Indiana Landmarks. Indianapolis, Indiana. February 26, 2020. Accessed October 7,2020. https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2020/02/mt-zion-church-marks-history-as-a-hammond-mainstay/
[8] Yovich, Daniel J. “East Hammond pastors deal with city’s divisions.” The Times. October 2,1996. Accessed October 7, 2020. https://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/east-hammond-pastors-deal-with-city-s-divisions/article_b3aa6155-dfcd-5003-b4b2-4325887408fd.html
[9] Steele, Andrew. “State Marker Honors Black Church’s Commitment to Service.” The Times. July 20, 2019. Accesses October 7, 2020. https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/lake-newsletter/state-marker-honors-black-church-s-commitment-to-service/article_cb31e201-55fe-5484-baf5-85d6d6c868cf.html
[10] “Historic Marker: Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church.” Indiana Historical Bureau. Indianapolis, Indiana. 2019. Accessed October 7, 2020. https://www.in.gov/history/markers/4477.htm
[11] Yovich, Daniel J. “East Hammond pastors deal with city’s divisions.” The Times. October 2,1996. Accessed October 7, 2020. https://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/east-hammond-pastors-deal-with-city-s-divisions/article_b3aa6155-dfcd-5003-b4b2-4325887408fd.html
[12] Franklin, Lu Ann. “A Fisher of Men.” The Times. March 8, 1998. Accessed October 7, 2020 .https://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/a-fisher-of-men/article_8889ea0c-3a45-5cd0-97a5-b4e7210fc498.html [13] “Indiana State Marker Honors Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church for its Longtime Commitment to Service in the African-American Community.” Black Christian News Network One. July 21, 2019. Accessed October 7, 2020. https://blackchristiannews.com/2019/07/indiana-state-marker-honors-mt-zion-missionary-baptist-church-for-its-longtime-commitment-to-service-in-the-african-american-community/
Contributor
Student Authors: Gwyneth Harris and Molly Hollcraft
Faculty/Staff Editors: Dr. Ronald V. Morris, Dr. Kevin C. Nolan, and Christine Thompson
Graduate Assistant Researchers: Carrie Vachon and JB Bilbrey