[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 60 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H2357]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WELCOMING DR. CHARLES B. SIMMONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Culberson) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
  It's my privilege to rise today to honor my pastor and my good 
friend, Dr. Charles B. Simmons, our chaplain for the day.
  Dr. Simmons joins us from my hometown of Houston, Texas, and it is 
just a thrill to have him here today. Dr. Simmons baptized our 
daughter, Caroline. He has been our minister for many, many years at 
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church.
  He is joined here today by his wife, Carol; his son, Christopher; and 
Christopher's wife, Melissa. We are thrilled to have them here. Dr. 
Simmons and his wife, Carol, also have a son, Jeffrey, who is not here 
with us today.
  Dr. Simmons is serving in his 10th year as senior minister of 
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church. He is recognized nationally as 
a dynamic minister, a dedicated pastor and respected leader among 
Methodists. He led the way at our church to reach out to the people of 
Louisiana who suffered as a result of the hurricane and helped rescue 
many, many lives and put many lives back on track after that 
devastating storm.
  Dr. Simmons is a native of Louisiana, a graduate of Centenary 
College, who earned his master of divinity and doctor of ministry 
degrees from Emory University, and completed his further graduate study 
in Geneva, Switzerland, as a Methodist fellow. He has served in a 
variety of appointments, and his leadership has enriched the lives of 
our congregation and grown our church now to 7,000 members of Memorial 
Drive United Methodist Church.
  We are very proud to have him here. His leadership has been 
instrumental in developing The Connection Center, an off-campus site 
serving as an outpost for ministry with state-of-the-art facilities for 
senior adult and youth programs. We have also founded, under Dr. 
Simmons' leadership, a third site at the former Shepherd Drive United 
Methodist Church which is now in operation as well.
  Outside of our local congregation, Dr. Simmons also serves as chair 
of the Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, a member of the 
Large Church Initiative Team, and is active in both the administrations 
of Centenary College and Emory University.
  With deep appreciation for his leadership to Memorial Drive United 
Methodist Church, his devotion to its members and his beneficial 
efforts to the community at large, it is my privilege to welcome Dr. 
Simmons and his family to Washington. I am honored to have him here 
today as our guest chaplain.

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