[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E44-E45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING REV. FRED CORNELL'S FIFTY YEARS IN THE MINISTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2001

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in honoring the fifty years of ministry for the Reverend Fred 
Cornell, pastor of the Concordia Church of Christ in Belleville, 
Illinois.
  This month, Reverend Cornell is celebrating 50 years in the ministry. 
Rev. Cornell was ordained on December 27, 1950 and went on to establish 
himself as a progressive religious leader with a willingness to get 
involved in the community and speak out on important issues. He was 
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Belleville in 1964, when he 
was arrested in Mississippi with 26 others helping to register African 
American voters.
  Reverend Cornell grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. His great-great-
great grandfather served as a Presbyterian Missionary to native 
Americans in Maine and Pennsylvania in the early 1800's. Reverend 
Cornell served three years in the navy and earned a business degree 
from Washington University in St. Louis. He also worked for Ralston-
Purina of St. Louis, but found that work to be unsatisfying. He 
attended McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago for three years and 
got his first job as a minister in Mountainburg, Arkansas. Two years 
later he became pastor of two small churches in Owensville and Gerald, 
Missouri.
  In 1956, he began as the Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian in 
Belleville and became

[[Page E45]]

its pastor three years later. His social activism was rooted in the 
Church philosophy that led the fight against slavery in the 1800's. His 
travels to Mississippi were in response to a church call for help with 
voter registration drives. Reverend Cornell was also active in 
promoting meetings between people. During the Vietnam War he formed a 
local group of concerned citizens about the War.
  Throughout his time at First Presbyterian, he was also busy with 
numerous building projects having assisted with the construction of the 
new First Presbyterian church and the creation of First United 
Presbyterian Church in 1982. Reverend Cornell also served as the 
President of the Belleville Ministerial Alliance in the 50's and 
moderator of the Alton Presbytery in the 1960's. He also helped found 
the Belleville Clergy Association.
  Reverend Cornell married his wife Barbara in 1994. His son John is an 
artist who lives in Belleville. He also has two grandchildren. Reverend 
Cornell also was no stranger to adversity himself, his other son Paul, 
who was only 24 years old, died in 1977 after a blockage was discovered 
in his brain. Reverend Cornell also suffered a heart attack that same 
year and underwent by-pass surgery in 1987. After ``retiring'' from 
First United Presbyterian in 1988 he went to Concordia United Church of 
Christ. This place, he thought, would be perfect for him. The little 
country church, founded by German immigrants in 1845, had just lost its 
pastor of 19 years. Reverend Cornell now ministers its 90 members.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Reverend 
Fred Cornell and to recognize his commitment for service to the 
community.

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