[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               REV. J. ALFRED SMITH--A VERY SPECIAL PERSON

                                 ______


                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 28, 1995
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. J. Alfred 
Smith, Sr., pastor of the 4,000 member Allen Temple Baptist Church in 
Oakland, California. Dr. Smith will be honored this week by the Baptist 
Ministers Union of Oakland and Vicinity for being a good neighbor to 
the citizens of Oakland.
  Dr. Smith is Professor of Preaching and Christian Ministry at the 
American Baptist Seminary of the West and has been Pastor at Allen 
Temple for over 25 years. Dr. Smith holds the Th.M. degree and was 
granted a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) in 1990 from the 
American Baptist Seminary of the West. He also holds the D. Min. degree 
from the Golden Gate Theological Seminary. He is currently president of 
the Baptist Ministers Union.
  Dr. Smith has been the recipient of many awards and commendations. He 
has served as President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention 
and the American Baptist Churches of the West. He has lectured at most 
of the major universities in America, including Yale, Harvard, Duke, 
and Stanford. He was recently listed by Ebony magazine as one of the 
greatest African American preachers in the United States. He was also 
recently named by the Oakland Tribune as ``Outstanding Citizen of the 
Year''.
  Dr. Smith has long been a leader in our community. As the Baptist 
Ministers Union has stated, he has moved beyond his pulpit into our 
communities to respond with love to the needs of all persons, 
irrespective of color, class, creed, gender, or sexual orientation. 
That is why I am proud to recognize him today. He is more than a ``good 
neighbor''--he is the best neighbor!




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