[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 56 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF CANON FREDRICK B. WILLIAMS

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                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of a bold moral 
voice in Harlem, the Rev. Frederick B. Williams. He gave his life to 
the cause of righteousness and justice. He ministered and worked in my 
Congressional district on behalf of the destitute and poor. He also 
spoke courageously concerning national and international social-
political issues which captured the attention of the world.
  Canon Williams served as Pastor Emeritus of the Episcopal Church of 
the Intercession in Harlem, New York. As the IXth Vicar and XIVth 
Rector he launched the first religious center in the United States 
addressing the HIV-AIDS crisis. This program provided crucial care and 
advocated for those inflicted with the disease through a concrete 
programmatic approach. He led the way in opening up dialogue to discuss 
and grapple with HIV-AIDS at a time when it was not popular. In 1993 
Canon Williams was able to galvanize black clergy to step up to the 
challenge. He said, ``What has changed is that all of us know, or will 
know in the next 12 months, someone who has died of AIDS.'' He helped 
to raise broad awareness of HIV-AIDS and initiated a movement to 
educate and respond decisively to the crisis.
  Canon Williams was founder and chairman of Harlem Congregations for 
Community Improvement which developed over 2,000 units of new and 
rehabilitated housing in Harlem, which still stands as the largest in 
the history of New York City. His community efforts as chair also 
included 40 commercial spaces and Harlem's first large supermarket. He 
also opened the doors of Intercession Church to the Boys Choir of 
Harlem which gave them their first home. Additionally, he led the 
renovation of Jackie Robinson Park at 145th Street and Bradhurst 
Avenue.
  He was widely known for his passion for the arts. Since 1973 he 
served as chairman of trustee of numerous major African-American 
performing arts group in New York City. Among other committees, he 
served on the Rockefeller Foundation; member of Board of Advisors, New 
York City Landmarks Conservancy; Black Alumni of Pratt Institute 
advisory council; Trustee of the African Activists' Archive Project, 
Inc. and served as chair of the National Clergy Advisory Committee of 
Harlem Week of Prayer. He was also an advisor to Archbishop Emeritus 
Desmond Tutu of South Africa.
  Mr. Speaker, I am forever indebted to Rev. Canon Frederick B. 
Williams for his dedication and commitment to public service through 
ministry in my Congressional district.

          Celebrating the Life of Canon Frederick B. Williams

       Canon Williams is the Pastor Emeritus of the Episcopal 
     Church of the Intercession in Harlem, New York, where he has 
     served 1972--2005 as the IXth Vicar and XIVth Rector. This 
     institution is one of the first religious centers in the 
     United States to initiate a programmatic response to the HIV-
     AIDS crisis.
       He serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Interfaith, 
     Ecumenical, Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, 
     Inc. (HCCI) and is a key member of the leadership team that 
     has developed over 2,000 units of new and rehabilitated 
     housing in Harlem, the largest such undertaking in the 
     history of New York City.
       Recognized as a true ``Patron of the Arts,'' Canon Williams 
     served, since 1973, as chairman of trustee of almost every 
     major African-American performing arts group in New York 
     City. He is a Trustee of The Rockefeller Foundation; member 
     of the Board of Advisors, New York City Landmarks 
     Conservancy; Black Alumni of Pratt Institute advisory 
     council; Trustee of the African Activists' Archive Project, 
     Inc. and served for 10 years as Chair of the National Clergy 
     Advisory Committee of the renowned Harlem Week of Prayer (the 
     Balm in Gilead, Inc.). He is an advisor to Archbishop 
     Emeritus Desmond Tutu of South Africa whom he represents on 
     the board of Directors of PEACEJAM, Inc. an international 
     peace education program for youth headquartered in Denver, 
     Colo., and sponsored by 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates. has 
     been a visiting professor at the Episcopal Divinity School, 
     Cambridge Massachusetts, the General Theological Seminary, 
     New York City; and guest lecturer at several American and 
     international institutions of higher learning. He has 
     preached on six of the earths' seven continents and is the 
     founder of the International Conference on Afro-Anglicanism.

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