[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ROY C. NICHOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 2002

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bishop Nichols for his 
lifetime of national and international public service. He has been a 
tireless champion for economic, social and civil justice for more than 
50 years.
  He once stated, ``education is critical in achieving national goals. 
Most people forget that the U.S. Constitution was written as a mission 
statement to establish social justice . . . And, public schools must 
foster a sense of justice under which people of diverse economic, 
social, and racial backgrounds can become great.''
  In his efforts to help bring equity to under-served communities, 
Bishop Nichols has served as Chairman of Oakland's Human Relations 
Commission and President of the Sequoyah Heights Board of Directors. He 
has also served as a consultant, lecturer, preacher, interim pastor and 
Bishop in Residence.
  In the late '50s and throughout the 60's, Bishop Nichols, then Pastor 
of Downs Memorial United Methodist Church in North Oakland, joined with 
national leaders to advocate for civic, economic, social and 
educational justice in the Bay Area. He was chair of the Berkeley NAACP 
Education Committee, President of the Berkeley Board of Education (four 
years before the school district became the first to voluntarily 
integrate schools), and hosted the first Black Panthers' Breakfast.
  Since 1968, Bishop Nichols has worked from several different 
positions to raise the principles of justice in the faith community. He 
was a member of the Executive & Central Committees of the World Council 
of Churches of Geneva, Switzerland; President of Christian Associates 
in Western Pennsylvania; President of the Council of Bishops for the 
United Methodist Church; President of the New York Council of Church 
Executives; and President of Africa University's Development Committee.
  Finally as we honor him tonight, I want to thank him on behalf of the 
entire 9th Congressional District for being a great religious and civil 
leader. Bishop Nichols has been a friend who has shared his wisdom and 
has given me support.
  I take great pride in joining Bishop Nichols' friends and colleagues 
to salute the extraordinary Roy C. Nichols.

                          ____________________