[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 100 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S4769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO REVEREND FRED LUTER, JR.

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join me in congratulating Rev. Fred Luter, Jr., of New Orleans, LA on 
being elected to be president of the Southern Baptist Convention and 
acknowledging Reverend Luter's unique role as the first African-
American leader of the Southern Baptist Convention.
  Rev. Fred Luter, Jr. preached his first church sermon in 1983 at the 
Law Street Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA. He then became pastor of 
Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in 1986. Under the leadership of 
Reverend Luter, the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church community grew from 
65 members in 1986 to over 7,000 members in 2005. Thanks to Reverend 
Luter, the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church grew to be the largest 
Southern Baptist Church in the State of Louisiana.
  In 2005, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church was extensively damaged by 
Hurricane Katrina. Along with the church, Reverend Luter also lost his 
home to flooding. Displaced members of the church totaled approximately 
2,000 people. Reverend Luter, in cooperation with Rev. David Crosby, 
found a temporary home for Franklin Avenue Baptist Church during the 
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As well as setting up a temporary 
church, Reverend Luter continued to minister to his congregation, even 
holding services in Baton Rouge, LA, and Houston, TX. After tremendous 
hard work and determination, Reverend Luter reopened the door to 
Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in April of 2008.
  In 2011, Reverend Luter became the first African-American to be 
elected as first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The 
Southern Baptist Convention is a cooperative of over 45,000 churches 
they diligently seek to bring about greater racial and ethnic 
representation at every level of Southern Baptist institutional life.
  Reverend Luter was then nominated by Rev. David Crosby to become 
president of the Southern Baptist Convention. On June 19, 2012, 
Reverend Luter was elected to be the first African-American president 
of the Southern Baptist Convention.
  It is with a special measure of commendation and heartfelt 
congratulations on becoming the first African-American president of the 
Southern Baptist Convention and for his commitment to ministering to 
his congregation that I ask my colleagues to join me along with 
Reverend Luter's family in honoring and celebrating the life of this 
most extraordinary person.

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