[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 59 (Friday, May 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E773]]
      IN HONOR OF THE UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT OF NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 9, 2002

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of a vital community 
organization that has affected real change in its short history.
  On May 10, 1992, Reverend Zachary G. Jones held its first worship 
service in the Charles Angel room of the New York City Lesbian and Gay 
Community Center. On that historic Sunday afternoon, Reverend Jones 
ministered to approximately 15 people. The group heard what continues 
to be the core message of the church to this day, ``God is Love and 
Love is for everyone'' and ``Let nothing or no one separate you from 
the Love of God''. During that time many people with alternative 
lifestyles felt that they were turned away from their traditional 
houses of worship because of their orientation and the HIV/AIDS 
epidemic. Since that first service, now Bishop Zachary G. Jones has 
built a congregation of more than 600 members andover 200,000 people of 
faith from New York City and around the world have attended his 
services. In addition, today, Unity Fellowship Church Movement of New 
York has a permanent location at 230 Classon Avenue in Brooklyn. 
Clearly, this church has filled a void.
  Unity Fellowship Church Movement of New York's mission states that it 
is a social justice ministry that teaches freedom on all levels of 
racial, sexual, religious and social-economic oppression. They carry 
out their mission through a variety of programs designed to meet the 
needs of the community and their parishioners, such as, their hunger 
program which has fed over 5,000 homeless individuals and families; 
their creation of the ``Unity in CommunityWeek'' to publicly address 
homophobia, health education, racism, and violence based on sexual 
orientation; ``Unity fellowship breaking ground'' an organization 
dedicated to providing social services to support gay and lesbian youth 
in Brooklyn. This is the first organization ofcolor in New York 
dedicated to the needs of the Lesbian and Gay community on a regular 
basis.
  Mr. Speaker, Bishop Zachary G. Jones fulfills his mission every day 
as he reaches out to people outside of the regular church setting who 
share a commitment to God but have lacked the opportunity to practice 
their faith freely because of their sexual orientation. As such, I urge 
my colleagues to join me in honoring this unique and vital organization 
on its 10th Anniversary.

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