[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 38 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2755-S2756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REV. DR. EDGAR L. VANN, JR.

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I have the honor of paying tribute 
to a great civic and religious leader and a dear friend, Rev. Dr. Edgar 
Leo Vann, Jr. On April 13, 1997, Reverend Vann will be celebrating his 
20th anniversary as pastor of the Second Ebeneezer Baptist Church in 
Detroit, MI.
  Reverend Vann has been a longtime champion of civil rights and social 
justice. He serves on the executive boards of numerous Michigan civic 
organizations, including the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, the 
Detroit Empowerment Zone Corp., the Michigan Commission of Human 
Rights, and the Detroit Urban League.
  As a member of the National Baptist Convention USA and the President 
of the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, Reverend 
Vann is widely recognized as a religious leader. He currently ministers 
to more than 2,000 people at two consecutive Sunday services. Under his 
leadership, the Second Ebeneezer Baptist Church maintains more than 50 
active ministries.
  One of Reverend Vann's most noted achievements in recent years was 
the purchase of a new home for his congregation. The new sanctuary was 
purchased in 1993 and, after extensive renovations, held its grand 
opening less than one year later.
  A religious and civic leader, Rev. Dr. Edgar L. Vann, Jr. has been an 
integral part of the Detroit community for many years and will continue 
to play an important role in the years ahead. I hope my colleagues will 
join me in congratulating Reverend Vann on his 20 years as pastor of 
the Second Ebeneezer Baptist Church, and in wishing him well as he 
continues at the

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helm of this important Detroit institution.

                          ____________________