[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 72 (Wednesday, June 5, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3163-H3164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WELCOME GUEST CHAPLAIN, BISHOP FRANK NEFF POWELL

  (Mr. GOODLATTE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to welcome Bishop Frank Neff 
Powell, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and 
one of my constituents, who has been chosen to serve as Guest Chaplain 
this morning.
  Bishop Powell was born in Salem, Oregon. He was baptized at Saint 
Paul's Episcopal Church in Salem, Oregon, in 1948. Growing up in Salem 
he met his future wife, Dorothy Houck. He attended Claremont Men's 
College, in Claremont, California, graduating with a degree in history 
in 1970. During college, he was active at Christ Church Parish, 
Ontario, California.
  Immediately following graduation, he married Dorothy and enrolled in 
the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While 
there, he completed his field education at Church of our Savior in 
Milford, New Hampshire, and at St. Dunstan's in Ellsworth, Maine, 
graduating in 1973.
  Bishop Powell began his ordained ministry as the curate at Trinity 
Parish in his home State of Oregon before being appointed vicar at 
Saint Bede's, Forest Grove, in 1975. These were fruitful years for the 
Powell family, marked by the birth of their three children, Charles 
Neff, Dorothy Louise, and Robert Bingham.
  Bishop Powell was called to the diocese of New York in 1983 to serve 
as archdeacon and deputy for program, with a special emphasis on 
Christian education, stewardship, and small churches. He helped to 
develop the Carolinas and Virginia Small Church Leadership Training 
Program.
  In 1991, he was called back to Oregon to serve as executive assistant 
to the bishop of Oregon. Most recently, on June 22, 1996, he was 
elected the fifth bishop of Southwestern Virginia. He is presently an 
associate of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, a member of the 
Council of Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission, and a fellow of 
the College of Preachers. In addition, he was appointed to the Church 
Deployment Board of the National Episcopal Church in 1997.
  Bishop Powell's life has been marked by continual service and 
dedication to the Episcopal Church and to the dictates of his personal 
faith. It is a distinct pleasure to welcome him to Washington today to 
open the United States House of Representatives in prayer, one of the 
finer traditions of this institution in which we humbly seek divine 
guidance and wisdom for the difficult tasks before us.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to welcome Bishop Frank Neff Powell, Bishop 
of Southwestern Virginia and one of my constituents, who has been 
chosen to serve as guest chaplain this morning.
  Bishop Powell was born December 28, 1947, in Salem, OR. He was 
baptized at St. Paul's Episcopal church, in Salem, OR, on November 28, 
1948.
  Growing up in Salem he met his future wife, Dorothy Houck, in the 
church youth group. He attended Claremont Men's College, in Claremont, 
CA, graduating with a degree in history in 1970. During college, he was 
active at Christ Church Parish, Ontario, CA, and in the Episcopal 
students group.
  Immediately following graduation, he married Dorothy, and enrolled in 
the Episcopal Theological School, in Cambridge, MA. While there he 
completed his field education at church of our savior in Milford, NH, 
and at St. Dunstan's in Ellsworth, ME, graduating in 1973.
  Powell began his ordained ministry as the curate at trinity parish in 
his home state of Oregon, before being appointed vicar of St. Bede's 
forest grove, in 1975. While at St.

[[Page H3164]]

Bede's the liturgy was redesigned, Christian education expanded, the 
congregation began to actively engage the community, and a new church 
was built. These were fruitful years for the Powell family as well, 
marked by the birth of their three children, Charles Neff, Dorothy 
Louise, and Robert Bingham.
  Bishop Powell was called to the diocese of North Carolina in 1983 to 
serve as archdeacon and deputy for program, with a special emphasis on 
Christian education, stewardship, and small churches. He helped to 
develop the Carolinas and Virginia small church leadership training 
program.
  In 1991, he was called back to Oregon to serve as executive assistant 
to the bishop of Oregon, attending to administration, vocations, 
deployment, and secretary of convention and council.
  Most recently, on June 22, 1996, he was elected the fifth bishop of 
southwestern Virginia during a special council held at St. John's 
church, in Roanoke. He was ordained and consecrated at Burris 
auditorium on the campus of Virginia tech, later that year.
  He is presently an associate of the society of St. John the 
evangelist, a member of the council of associated parishes for liturgy 
and mission, and a fellow of the college of preachers. In addition, he 
was appointed to the church deployment board of the national Episcopal 
Church in 1997.
  Bishop Neff's life has been marked by continual service and 
dedication to the Episcopal Church and to the dictates of his personal 
faith. It is a distinct pleasure to welcome him to Washington today to 
open the United States House of Representatives in prayer, one of the 
finer traditions of this institution in which we humbly seek divine 
guidance and wisdom for the difficult tasks before us.

                          ____________________