[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 14, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                 TRIBUTE TO BISHOP WALTER SCOTT THOMAS

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, this Sunday, I will be honored and 
pleased to participate in a celebration of Bishop Walter Scott Thomas' 
40th anniversary as pastor of the New Psalmist Baptist Church in 
Baltimore, MD. Bishop Thomas is one of the great leaders of the faith 
community in Baltimore. When he became pastor of New Psalmist Baptist 
Church in 1975, the congregation numbered 200 or so people. Today, the 
church has over 7,000 active members. There are Bible study classes 
held every day of the week, a 3-year discipleship program, leadership 
classes, and a school for future ministers. New Psalmist has a 
nationally televised broadcast, ``Empowering Disciples,'' that can be 
viewed locally on WJZ TV and on the Word Network. There are three 
worship services on Sundays and one on Wednesday. New Psalmist is 
committed to caring for community and for God's creation. Classes are 
held to teach members how to Go Green and conserve God's creation. 
Every year, the church helps over 500 families at Christmas, and feeds 
100 disadvantaged families each month.
  Bishop Thomas is known as a pastor's pastor. He makes himself 
available as a mentor and source of strength for other pastors. Ten 
years ago, 28 sons and daughters of the New Psalmist Baptist Church who 
pastor churches across the Nation gathered and voted unanimously to 
elect Bishop Thomas as president of Kingdom Association of Covenant 
Pastors and to the office of bishop. Later that year, Bishop Thomas was 
elevated to the office of bishop and presiding prelate of The Kingdom 
Association of Covenant Pastors. That historic occasion was held at the 
First Mariner Arena in front of over 10,000 people. The Kingdom 
Association of Covenant Pastors is a newly established association 
consisting of men and women who have been influenced by the ministry of 
New Psalmist Baptist Church and Bishop Thomas.
  Bishop Thomas isn't content just to lead New Psalmist Baptist Church. 
He served as the president of the Hampton University Minister's 
Conference from 1999 to 2002. Under his leadership, conference 
attendance doubled. Bishop Thomas is also an inspirational author of 
books such as ``Spiritual Navigation for the 21st Century'' and ``Good 
Meat Makes Its Own Gravy''. He is the editor of ``Outstanding Black 
Sermons, Volume 4''. Bishop Thomas received his bachelor of science 
degree from the University of Maryland in economics. He earned his 
master of divinity degree from the Howard University School of Religion 
in Washington, DC and a doctor of ministry degree from Saint Mary's 
Seminary & University in Baltimore. In addition to his earned degrees, 
Bishop Thomas was bestowed with an honorary doctor of divinity degree 
from Virginia Seminary and Bethune Cookman College. Bishop Thomas and 
his wife and committed partner in ministry, Patricia, have three 
children, Joi, Walter Jr., and Joshua.
  New Psalmist Baptist Church has a rich history that spans over 100 
years. The church was founded by Rev. Junius Gray in 1899 as the Right 
Independent Freewill Baptist Church. The first members--fewer than 20 
people--met in the basement of a house on Russell Terrace. In 1901, the 
church purchased and moved to a two-story building at 1102 Parrish 
Alley. In 1911, the church, renamed Psalmist Baptist Church, purchased 
and remodeled property at Riggs Avenue and Woodyear Street. Reverend 
Gray pastored Psalmist Baptist Church for 47 years.
  Rev. Frederick C. Atkins was called to pastor Psalmist Baptist Church 
in June 1948. Under his leadership, membership grew and, because of 
that growth, the church purchased and moved to a new building at Druid 
Hill and North Avenues in 1954. The $56,000 mortgage was paid in full 
and burned in 1960 and the church was renamed the New Psalmist Baptist 
Church. Reverend Atkins served as pastor until his sudden death on 
March 16, 1974. Bishop Thomas, who was called to proclaim the Word of 
God in 1973 under the anointed leadership of Dr. Harold Carter, pastor 
of the New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore, took over in 1975. In 
1978, New Psalmist moved from Druid Hill and North Avenues to Cathedral 
and Franklin Streets. While in downtown Baltimore, New Psalmist grew 
tremendously. In 1994, New Psalmist broke ground and 2 years later, 
moved from Franklin and Cathedral Street to Old Frederick Road, a 
multi-million dollar worship center and ministry complex on 19 acres of 
land. The church continued to grow and in the fall of 2010, it moved 
into a brand new 4,000-seat worship facility.
  New Psalmist Baptist Church is a vibrant and welcoming place. Past 
attendees have included the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., the 
Reverend Jesse Jackson, the Reverend T.D. Jakes, former President Bill 
Clinton in 1998, and then-Senator Barack Obama in 2007. New Psalmist 
Baptist Church members walk in faith and work together for the common 
good. The church provides job training and a fitness and health 
ministry; donates school supplies to children; ministers to the deaf, 
homeless, and prisoners and their families; hosts blood drives; 
partners with 12 schools across Maryland to help students, parents, and 
school staff members succeed in their educational mission; and is an 
accredited organization under the United Nations Environment Program, 
which seeks to create global policies that will protect our planet.
  I encourage my Senate colleagues to join me in congratulating Bishop 
Thomas and his family and friends on his 40th pastoral anniversary at 
New Psalmist Baptist Church and sending along best wishes to all the 
members of New Psalmist who know, as President John F. Kennedy said at 
his inauguration 54 years ago, ``that here on earth God's work must 
truly be our own.''

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