[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REVEREND DOCTOR V. SIMPSON TURNER

                                 ______


                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 1995

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a shining star 
in the great borough of Brooklyn, NY, the Rev. Doctor V. Simpson 
Turner, who this year celebrates his 30th year as senior pastor of the 
historic Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY.
  Dr. Turner's achievements during his pastorate have been many, 
including the rebuilding in 1978 of a new church complex and education 
facilities, costing over $2 million. Again, he oversaw the rebuilding 
of the church sanctuary after a devastating fire in 1986. In 1995, the 
Mt. Carmel Housing Development Corp. developed 78 units of housing, and 
in March of that year, 38 families realized their dreams of home 
ownership and moved into the Mt. Carmel town houses. The latest project 
undertaken by the church includes developing plans to build a home for 
the homeless near the church at a proposed cost of over $3 million.
  Other initiatives during the past 30 years have included: a homework 
center for youngsters of all ages, a high school equivalency program, a 
senior services and handicapped bus ministry, and a radio ministry.
  In addition to pastoring Mt. Carmel Church, Dr. Turner has been 
active in numerous community organizations. He serves as president of 
the board of trustees of the Baptist Medical Center, and serves on the 
board of trustees of Gordon college, the Baptist home for the elderly, 
and the Brooklyn public library, His ecumenical involvement includes: 
chairman, Department of Communications, Council Churches of the city of 
New York; former president, North American Baptist Fellowship of the 
Baptist World Alliance; member of the board of directors, Religion in 
American Life; and, former president, Baptist Minister's Conference of 
Greater New York. Dr. Turner is also a member of Brooklyn Community 
Board #3. He is an adjunct professor of urban concerns at Alliance 
Theological Seminary, and he appears regularly as a radio and 
television host. Dr. Turner has traveled throughout the world as a 
featured preacher.

  Dr. Turner has been honored by many community groups, including: the 
NYC Bureau of Child Welfare, the United Builders Association, the Boy 
Scouts of America, and the YMCA. He was appointed by the Governor of 
the State of New York to the New York State Commission on Health 
Education and Illness Prevention.
  Dr. Turner has a B.A. from Gordon College, an M.S. form Biblical 
Seminary of New York City; an M.T.S. from New York Theological 
Seminary; and a D.Min. from Drew University. He is the author of 
``Compassion for the City,'' used throughout the country as a textbook 
for students pursuing urban ministry. For 10 years, he served as editor 
of the Baptist Progress, the official journal of the Progressive 
National Baptist Convention.
  Dr. Turner is married to Laura B. Turner, an educator, and they have 
two children.
  I am pleased to bring the life and service of the Rev. Doctor V. 
Simpson Turner to the attention of my colleagues and commend him on a 
ministry well-served and a life well-lived.

                          ____________________