[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3337-S3338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WELCOME REVEREND JIM HENRY

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Madam President, it is a privilege for me to 
call to the attention of the Senate that our guest Chaplain today is 
from Orlando, FL. He is quite a noteworthy individual, and that is why 
I had particularly requested of our leadership the opportunity that he 
might come and be our guest Chaplain. Not only has Jim Henry been the 
pastor of the largest church in the central Florida area since 1977, 
but he rose to the rank of the president of the Southern Baptist 
Convention.
  The reason I make note of that is that a schism among church 
leadership had occurred and they needed a leader of that convention, 
someone who could be a reconciler, a healer, who could bring people 
together in the midst of their differences.
  We deal with that every day here, but we are dealing in the political 
world

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where, as the Good Book says, we should come and reason together, work 
out our differences, achieve consensus, and try to help govern the 
Nation in a way that the people would want the Nation governed.
  So, too, as many other things, including in the faith-based arena, we 
find deep schisms and we find a difficulty in people coming together. 
We have seen that, unfortunately, throughout the history of man. So 
often religion has been the dividing factor that has called people to 
war, to hate, and to kill. We see that among a faith that ought to be a 
unifying case in Northern Ireland. Yet because one group calls 
themselves Protestant and another Catholic, they have chosen the path 
of war. We see that now where the United States has so much interest in 
central Asia as a result of one religion playing off against another, 
people attacking us because of religion.
  In the Scriptures, from the ancient Scriptures in the Old Testament 
through to the New Testament, we find the true word of the Lord was 
that He wanted people to love one another, to bring people together, to 
be reconcilers instead of dividers. I share that little glimpse into 
history which was taught in the Old Testament. Clearly, the message of 
Jesus of Nazareth was: Love God, and love others as yourself. That was 
the sum of all the law that had been handed down.
  I share this little religious history lesson as I proudly introduce 
my friend, Jim Henry. He found himself in a position where he had to be 
a reconciler, a healer, someone who brought people together in the 
midst of a storm. I am very honored that our guest Chaplain today has 
been the Reverend Jim Henry from the First Baptist Church of Orlando.
  I yield the floor.

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