[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 137 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1944-E1945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING BISHOP ERNESTINE C. REEMS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 1, 2003

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bishop Ernestine C. 
Reems, Senior Pastor and Founder of Center of Hope Community Church for 
her lifetime of ministry and community service. She has served as a 
champion of faith and love for the congregation at the ``Church for all 
People'' in Oakland, California for 35 years.
  Bishop Reems was the third child in a family of nine. She was 
stricken with tuberculosis at the age of thirteen and was ill for 
several years, but determined to live for God. Her foundation in 
ministry comes from her father, Bishop E. E. Cleveland. As a young 
adult, she traveled extensively as an evangelist with her brother, 
Reverend Elmer Cleveland. Although

[[Page E1945]]

women in the ministry were rare, Bishop Reems would not be denied and 
continues to follow her calling.
  With little more than faith and a vision, the Center of Hope 
Community Church was founded in 1968 with four members. Today its 
membership exceeds 1500. Bishop Reems has a uniquely charismatic and 
humorous preaching style. Her sermons speak to people's hearts and are 
rich with poetic commentary, startling insights, and contemporary 
applications of the Bible's message. Her devotion is evidenced through 
a practice of intercessory prayer and fasting that has made her dear to 
the congregation of Center of Hope. In the audience, passionate praise, 
worship, and spontaneous dancing always punctuate her words.
  The hallmark of Bishop Reems' ministry is her tireless compassion for 
people in need. Her non-judgmental attitude is one of the keys to her 
success in helping recovering drug addicts, prostitutes, prisoners, ex-
prisoners, the homeless and others. Bishop Reems' drive is evident in 
her successful efforts to open a 56-unit senior housing complex, a 17-
unit transitional housing program for homeless single women with 
children, and a 150-unit affordable housing complex. Additionally, she 
has founded a number of community-based services and is chairman of the 
boards of Hope Housing and Hope Development Corporations.
  In 1988, Bishop Reems organized the E.C. Reems Women's International 
Ministries. Under her direction and leadership, its charter is to 
encourage and energize women to be active partners in the gospel and to 
work in their local churches. Each year the participation continues to 
exceed the previous year. E.C. Reems Women's International Ministries 
also organizes and hosts regional conferences around the USA.
  She wrote two books, ``Counting Everything as Joy!'' and ``Through 
the Storm.'' In addition to her ministerial duties, she is the loving 
mother of two sons, Brondon and Brian. Her husband Paul Reems passed 
away recently after 41 years of devoted marriage.
  Finally as I honor Dr. Reems today, I want to thank her on behalf of 
the entire 9th Congressional District for being a great religious and 
community leader. Bishop Reems has shared her wisdom and provided me 
tremendous support. Most of all, I thank her for her friendship and 
prayers.
  I take great pride in joining her friends, family, and members of the 
congregation to salute the extraordinary Bishop Ernestine Cleveland 
Reems.

                          ____________________