[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1295-E1296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 KELSEY TEMPLE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST CELEBRATES DIAMOND JUBILEE 1923-
                                  1998

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 1998

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of its Diamond Jubilee, I 
rise to celebrate the Kelsey Temple Church of God In Christ and its 
founder, Bishop Samuel Kelsey.
  Mr. Speaker, The life and history of the late Bishop Samuel Kelsey 
speak volumes about the church legacy he bequeathed to the citizens of 
the Nation's Capital. The church officers and members, in the 
Washington, D.C. Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ, take 
great pride in the combined histories of their great church and its 
founding father.

[[Page E1296]]

  Bishop Kelsey was born on April 27, 1898 in Sandersville, GA. He 
received Christ in May 1915 and relocated to Philadelphia, PA in 1920, 
Bishop Kelsey officially started the first Church of God In Christ, now 
known as the Kelsey Temple Church of God In Christ, at 331 C Street, 
SW. Tent revivals were held nightly. The text of his first sermon, 
``Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall 
see the Lord'' was later adopted as the church's creed.
  Prior to the purchase of the present site, services were conducted at 
several locations, 404 4\1/2\ Street, SW, 2030 Georgia Avenue, NW 4th 
Street, SW, 451 Virginia Ave., SW and 610 H. St., SW.
  Bishop Kelsey's message and ministry reached the entire Washington, 
D.C. area through the airways. He began broadcasting on WWDC AM in 
1941, and later on WOOK AM. The broadcasts continued for more than 40 
years. Many broad branches were established as a direct result of 
Bishop Kelsey's work in this city including: St. Paul Miracle Temple 
Church of God In Christ, New Bethel Church of God In Christ, Friendship 
Church of God In Christ, Emmanuel Church of God In Christ, Open Door 
Church of God In Christ, Star of Bethlehem Church of God In Christ, 
Macedonia Church of God In Christ, Kirkland Memorial Church of God In 
Christ, Cornerstone Church of God In Christ, Victory Praise Church of 
God In Christ, Capital Temple Church of God In Christ and Living Word 
Church of God In Christ.
  In his early ministry, Bishop Kelsey stood as a giant against the 
adversarial forces which resisted the holiness movement taking root in 
the Nation's Capital. His charismatic persona and great zeal, however, 
affirmed his prominence in the local, national and international 
religious communities. Samuel Kelsey engineered and erected bridges 
which spanned denominational gaps, and elevated his ministry to a 
pinnacle of religious diversity and camaraderie in this city. He also 
pioneered media relations and, in 1989, was recognized by the National 
Religious Broadcasters (NRB) for his excellence in service to the 
broadcasting community.
  Bishop Kelsey's contributions to the city at-large demonstrated the 
compassion and commitment which characterized his ministry. Under his 
pastorate, the church acknowledged its debt ``to serve those in need'' 
physically as well as spiritually, by burying many of the 
disenfranchised and by establishing an Outreach Ministry which still 
exists today. This endeavor demonstrates the essence of servanthood 
through its clothing, food, and Summer Youth programs. The church also 
distributes tracts and Bibles, and has a strong Prison Outreach 
Ministry which serves the D.C. Jail and the Lorton Correctional 
Institutions.
  The church often provided an open forum for the city's political 
process by offering its pulpit to noteworthy candidates. As an agent in 
social causes, the church accepted the challenge to continue rendering 
services during times of civil unrest. In the aftermath of the 
assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this church 
provided temporary relief and shelter for duty-worn officers and 
civilians.
  In 1953 and 1958, Bishop Samuel Kelsey was awarded both the Doctor of 
Divinity (DD) and Doctor of Laws (LLD) degrees, respectively, from 
Trinity Hall College and Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. The 
esteemed legacy of Samuel Kelsey is a tower to the monumental temple 
that is the gateway to Park Road and 14th Street, NW. It is the 
inheritance left by a visionary and humble servant that is deeply 
rooted in the essence of Pentecostalism, and continues to serve as a 
beacon to the weary and downtrodden. The current pastor, Elder Fred D. 
Morris, Sr., the former assistant pastor, has accepted the charge of 
continuing to spread the good news from this vantage point.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the Members in this hallowed chamber to join me in 
echoing the theme of the Diamond Jubilee of the Kelsey Temple Church of 
God In Christ, ``Remembering the Past . . . Living the Present . . . 
Preparing for the Future.''

                          ____________________