[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING REV. DR. ISAIAH SCIPIO, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2004

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today on behalf of the 
membership and friends of the Itinerant Ministry of the Christian 
Methodist Episcopal Church to honor my friend Rev. Dr. Isaiah Scipio, 
Jr., for fifty five years of spiritual leadership within the Christian 
Methodist community. On Saturday, February 28, 2004 the friends of Rev. 
Dr. Isaiah Scipio, Jr., will honor him during a retirement luncheon 
celebration to be held at the Sarvis Conference Center in my hometown 
of Flint, Michigan.
  Rev. Isaiah Scipio, Jr. was born in Darlington, South Carolina on 
July 11, 1923 to Isaiah Sr. and Margaret Scipio. He graduated from Mayo 
High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Air Corps December of 1942, 
where he served honorably as a Technical Sergeant until August of 1946. 
After his tour of duty he enrolled at the University of Southern 
California where he received a Bachelor of Business Arts degree in 
1959. In 1947 Rev. Scipio received his license to preach, and two years 
later in 1949 he was ordained Deacon and Elder. He earned his Master of 
Theology from the University of Southern California School of Religion. 
In 1947 a year after receiving his receiving his Theology Doctorate, he 
was assigned interim pastor of the New Era C.M.E. Church of South Los 
Angeles, California. Rev. Scipio from this point forward would be known 
as the traveling preacher. He has had the honor of spreading the word 
to congregations in California, Michigan, New York, Richmond, Virginia, 
Indiana and Ohio. From 1959-1962 Rev. Scipio served under Rev. Dr. 
Martin L. King Jr. as President of the Western Christian Leadership 
Conference. He served two years as the President of the Greater Flint 
Council of Church. In 1970 he was elected General Secretary of the 
board of Missions, supervising work in Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, West 
Africa, Haiti and Jamaica. In 1993 he transferred to Flint, Michigan 
and was assigned to his current position as pastor of Dozier Memorial 
C.M.E. Church. As the passage of 2 Cor 9:13-14 reads ``While, through 
the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your 
confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with 
them and all men. And by their prayer for you, who long for you because 
of the exceeding grace of God in you.'' Rev. Scipio, you have 
championed for Christ for fifty-five years and the community thanks 
you.
  Rev. Scipio is also an outstanding father, grandfather and husband. 
He is married to Marion and they have two lovely daughters, Brenda and 
Deborah and three lovely granddaughters: Stephanie, Donya and Shonna.
  Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Congress, I ask my colleagues in the 
108th Congress to please join me in honoring my constituent and friend 
Rev. Dr. Isaiah Scipio for his outstanding service to the Christian 
community.

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