[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 14, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E783]]


A TRIBUTE TO BISHOP AND MRS. COUSIN OF THE BRIDGE STREET A.M.E. CHURCH 
  AS THEY HOST THE 174TH NEW YORK CONFERENCE OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST 
                            EPISCOPAL CHURCH

                                 ______


                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 1996

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Philip Robert Cousin, 
Sr., the 96th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination as 
he joins over 100,000 congregants from throughout New York State and 
the Nation to celebrate their religious and cultural heritage, while 
also attending worship and legislative sessions. Founded in 1787, the 
African Methodist Episcopal church is the oldest of its kind in the 
United States and has grown up to 7,000 churches nationwide. Bishop 
Cousin has worked tirelessly to mobilize African-American communities 
throughout the United States with his spiritual strength and courageous 
leadership. The people of Brooklyn and New York have benefitted a great 
deal from Bishop Cousin and the Bridge Street A.M.E. church as he hosts 
another spiritually enlightening conference.
  I would also like to honor Mrs. Margaret Joan Cousin for her work in 
expanding AIDS education and awareness within the African-American 
community in the United States. As a dedicated leader and educator, 
Mrs. Cousin was responsible for developing the national standard for a 
curriculum in African-American culture, education and history--a model 
that has been adopted by academic institutions nationwide. Her work as 
a teacher in North Carolina has earned her the esteemed honor of 
Teacher of the Year, and was awarded Supervisor of Quadrennium by the 
Women's Missionary Society from 1987 to 1991. Mrs. Cousin has brought 
boundless energy and vision to the Eleventh and First Episcopal 
Districts of the African Methodist Episcopal Church with her focus on 
AIDS education.
  It pleases me greatly to participate in this historic conference. I 
wish all the friends, families, ministers, community leaders and 
supporters of the Bridge Street African Methodist Episcopal Church 
abundant success in organizing the New York annual conference.

                          ____________________