[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 89 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1235-E1236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO BISHOP HENRY ALLEN BELIN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2004

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bishop Henry 
Allen Belin, Jr., one of eight legendary leaders of the African 
Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) who will be retiring at this year's 
Quadrennial Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. A native of Louisiana, 
Bishop Belin is the son of Beatrice Boney Belin and Henry Allen Belin, 
Sr. His father was an active minister in the 8th Episcopal District for 
more that 60 years. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of 
Theology degrees from Leland College in Baker, Louisiana and his 
Masters of Arts degree from the Lampton School of Religion in Jackson, 
Mississippi.
  Bishop Belin pastored, remodeled, and built churches in both the 8th 
and 13th Episcopal Districts, including Payne Chapel in Nashville, 
Tennessee. He served as Presiding Elder in the 8th Episcopal District.
  Prior to his elevation to the Bishopric, Bishop Belin was elected 
Secretary-Treasury of the AME Church Sunday School Union at the 1972 
General Conference in Dallas, Texas. During his tenure, he bought land 
and built the new million dollar Publishing House Headquarters and 
remodeled the John Avery Apartment Complex. As publisher, he produced 
Cecil Cone's Identity in Crisis in Black Theology, George Champion's 
Pastor's Manual, volumes I and II, and Black Methodism's Basic Beliefs; 
George Sewell's Where Are You Going. He also produced Howard Gregg's 
The History of the AME Church, James Madison Granberry's The History of 
the AMEC Pension Department, and Robert H. Reid, Jr.'s Irony of African 
American History. In 1984, he finished one phase of his remarkable 
career when he published The AME Church Bicentennial Hymnal.
  Bishop Belin was elected the 104th Bishop of the African Methodist 
Episcopal Church at the 1984 General Conference in Kansas City, 
Missouri, and has presided over the 15th, 16th, 12th, 3rd, and 7th 
Episcopal Districts.
  Bishop Belin is married to Lucinda Crawford Belin, and the couple has 
three children.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in paying tribute 
to Bishop Henry Allen Belin, Jr. He has provided tremendous leadership 
for the AME Church and his long history of educational leadership and 
service will influence future generations for ages to come. AME founder 
Richard Allen would be deeply proud of his Episcopal descendent.

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