[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 60 (Monday, April 16, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E737-E738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN RECOGNITION OF BISHOP ARETHA E. MORTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2007

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to recognize Aretha E. Morton for being appointed as State Bishop 
for my home state of Delaware in 2006.
  This great honor has been bestowed upon her due to her long-standing 
dedication to the Baptist church. I congratulate Bishop Aretha E. 
Morton on an outstanding career in ministry. She began her career by 
singing and recording in several different Gospel groups. By

[[Page E738]]

the age of twenty-one, she made the decision to commit her life to the 
ministry and preached her first trial sermon. Her hard work as a 
preacher was acknowledged in 1983, when she became the pastor of 
Tabernacle Baptist Church, making her the first female Baptist Pastor 
in the State of Delaware. Ten years later, she was given another great 
honor when the Wilmington Fire Department appointed her as Chaplain for 
the Wilmington Fire Department. This honor made her the first woman and 
the first African American Fire Chaplain.
  In 1995, she connected her church with the Full Gospel Church 
Fellowship. This church, now named the Tabernacle Full Gospel Baptist 
Church, has become the largest affiliate church of its kind in the 
Delaware area. In 2002, she was named the Full Gospel Baptist Church 
Fellowship's District Overseer of the Year. Her success in ministry 
continued when she became one of the first female bishops in the Full 
Gospel Church Fellowship International. Fellow clergy refer to her as 
``Mother'' and in September of 2005 she was even listed on Gospel 
Today's ``World's Most Loved Pastors'' List, illustrating her 
respected, humble and revered reputation.
  After over 40 years of bringing her love, talents, and enthusiasm to 
the Baptist ministry, she was appointed Bishop of the Baptist Church 
for the State of Delaware. I can think of no candidate more deserving 
of our recognition and praise than Bishop Aretha E. Morton. I 
congratulate Bishop Morton on an exceptional career of service and 
dedication.

                          ____________________