[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 89 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       A POINT OF LIGHT FOR ALL AMERICANS: REV. DR. HENRY A. CHAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 25, 2001

  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, as the nation of Guyana celebrates its 35th 
Independence Anniversary, I would like to salute an outstanding 
Guyanese American, Rev. Dr. Henry A. Chan as a Point of Light for all 
Americans.
  The Rev. Dr. Henry A. Chan was born in Guyana in 1946 at Golden 
Grove, East Bank Demera to Ruby and Clarence Chan. While growing up at 
Pin Schoon Ord, he attended primary schools on the West Bank of 
Demerara and obtained his secondary education at Queen's College in 
Georgetown, Guyana.
  At the age of thirteen, Dr. Chan felt the call to the Priesthood in 
the Anglican Church and was tutored in his teenage years by then 
Archbishop of the West Indies and Bishop of Guyana, the Most Reverence 
Dr. Alan John Knight.
  On completion of his studies at Queen's College in 1964, Dr. Chan was 
directed by Archbishop Knight to work for some years in order to obtain 
experience in the world before going on to Codrington College in 
Barbados and afterwards, to Durham University in England.
  In 1967, instead, Dr. Chan came to the United States of America to 
further his studies in Engineering and Computer Science. He felt that 
the priestly vocation might have been a boyhood fantasy. But God had 
endowed Dr. Chan with many gifts and a broad knowledge during his 
Queens College years. He enrolled initially as a student in the 
Electronics Technology program at RCA Institutes.
  During the ensuing years, Dr. Chan discovered that he had a hobby--
collecting academic degrees. His degrees include Bachelor of Science in 
Computer and Information Science (State University of New York, 1978); 
Master of Business Administration in Management (Dowling College, 
1980); Doctor of Public Administration (Nova Southeastern University, 
1981); Doctor of Ministry (University of the South, 1987); Master of 
Sacred Theology in Spiritual Direction (General Theological Seminary, 
1990) and Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Psychology (Graduate 
Theological Foundation, 1994). He is also a 1982 graduate of the Mercer 
School of Theology in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, New York.
  During the years 1969-1982, Dr. Chan held many positions in data 
processing, including systems analysis, project management, and long-
range planning.
  Dr. Chan is married to Jean Flora Chan, and they have three children, 
Anthony, Andre and Natasha. Dr. and Mrs. Chan became proud grandparents 
for the first time when Anthony and his wife Gloria, were blessed with 
a son, Justin on May 24, 2001.
  Events in his life led Dr. Chan to test his vocation to the ordained 
ministry in the Episcopal (Anglican) Church. He was ordained to the 
diaconate in 1982 and to the Priesthood in 1983 in the Diocese of Long 
Island, where he has served up to this day. Dr. Chan has been at St. 
Peter's Church, Rosedale from January 1, 1988 to the present. He came 
to St. Peter's Church at a time when one of the considerations for the 
future of this Church was to close its doors because of the small size 
of the membership and financial giving. Under his pastoral leadership, 
however, St. Peter's is a thriving Church today with a membership of 
about 150 families from all parts of the Caribbean, Central and South 
America, and the United States of America. Furthermore, the Church is 
debt-free. During the past thirteen years, the buildings and ground 
shave been restored and the people can tell from this that God is 
present in Rosedale and surrounding communities.
  Each year in January and August when Dr. Chan has a break from his 
parish duties at St. Peter's Church, he travels to Guyana at his own 
expense, to render assistance to the Diocese of Guyana where there is 
an acute shortage of clergy. Dr. Chan eagerly looks forward to serving 
the Church in Guyana on these occasions, pastorally and spiritually, 
for Guyanese are hungry for growth in their relationship with God. But 
in parishes where there are no full-time priests, they are like sheep 
without a shepherd.
  In addition to the demands on his time as priest and pastor at St. 
Peter's Church, Dr. Chan serves as a volunteer mediator with the Queens 
Mediation Network, Community Mediation Services, from which he received 
his training.
  Dr. Chan feels blessed by God in his ministry as a priest and pastor 
and he has only one burning desire, that is, that in whatever he does, 
to God be the glory.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to salute Rev. Dr. Henry A. Chan as a Point 
of Light for all Americans.

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