[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO BISHOP VINTON RANDOLPH ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         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 
Vinton Randolph Anderson, one of eight legendary leaders of the African 
Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church who will be retiring this year at the 
Church's Quadrennial Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  Born in Somerset, Bermuda, Bishop Anderson attended private 
elementary schools in Bermuda, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree 
from Wilberforce University. He received a Masters of Divinity from 
Payne Theological Seminary in Ohio, and Masters of Arts in Philosophy 
from the University of Kansas.
  Bishop Anderson was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in 1951 and an 
Itinerant Elder in 1952. At the 1972 General Conference held in Dallas, 
Texas, he was elected the 92nd Bishop of the AME Church. He has 
presided over the 15th, 9th, 3rd, 5th, and 2nd Episcopal Districts 
during his tenure. Bishop Anderson has also served as Bicentennial 
Chairman, Ecumenical Officer, and Chairman of the General Conference 
Commission.
  Bishop Anderson's ecumenical involvements span worldwide. He is a 
member of the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council and is 
past Vice Chairman of the North American Section encompassing the 
United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. He is also past 
Chairman of the Committee on Religion and Society for the Global 
Economic Action Institute. Furthermore, Bishop Anderson has served as 
Chairman of Worship and Liturgy for the Consultation on Church Union. 
As Chairman, he provided leadership for the development of the 
Bicentennial Edition of the AME hymnal and the first Book of Worship. 
Bishop Anderson is a member of the General Commission of Christian 
Unity and Inter-religious Concern of the United Methodist Church; the 
Governing Board of the National Council of Churches; and the Advisory 
of the United States Office of the World Council of Churches.
  Bishop Anderson is married to Vivienne L. Anderson. They have four 
sons.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my colleagues join me in paying 
tribute to Bishop Vinton Randolph Anderson upon his retirement from the 
Bishopric. He has provided tremendous leadership for the AME Church and 
his long history of educational leadership and service will influence 
the lives of future generations for ages to come. Richard Allen the 
founder of the AME would be proud of his Episcopal descendant.

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