[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 64 (Thursday, April 6, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5511-S5512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  FAREWELL TO BISHOP LOUIS HENRY FORD

 Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, Bishop Louis Henry Ford died 
last Friday, after many years of service to his church, and to the 
people of Chicago.
  Bishop Ford was the presiding International Bishop of the Church of 
God in Christ, and the spiritual leader to over eight million people, 
as well as the founder and pastor of the St. Paul Church of God in 
Christ in Chicago.
  Louis Henry Ford arrived in Chicago in 1933, after graduating from 
Saints College in Mississippi, and was soon ordained an Elder in the 
Church of God in Christ. Three years later he founded St. Pauls and 
embarked on his long career of saving souls and strengthening the 
community around him through religion. It is through his efforts that 
the membership of Church of God in Christ has risen to 8.7 million 
parishioners in 52 different countries, and is now the largest 
Pentecostal Church in the United States.
  Indeed, Bishop Ford's involvement in the community was much more than 
just religious. He served many years on the Cook County Board of 
Corrections and often was called upon to consult with the city 
government, especially on Chicago schools and race relations issues. He 
was respected as a leader in the civil rights movement, and he 
continued that tradition as he rose to leadership in the Church of God 
in Christ. Throughout the years Bishop Ford has been given numerous 
honors and awards, including the declaration of October 25th, 1990, as 
Louis Henry Ford Day in Chicago. Indeed, his work was recognized by 
President Clinton in 1993, when he addressed the 86th Annual Holy 
Convocation.
  Bishop Louis Henry Ford was a well-loved and important member of our 
community. he spent his life helping [[Page S5512]] people through the 
church. My greatest sympathy is with his wife Mother Margaret Ford, and 
his children Charles H.M. Ford and Janet Oliver Hill, and all his 
family members.
  It is clear that Bishop Ford's legacy in the church will continue to 
help inspire people, and strengthen the community he loved long into 
the future. Bishop Ford will be greatly missed, but never 
forgotten.


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