[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1493-E1494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF BISHOP W. W. HAMILTON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 21, 2015

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bishop W. W. 
Hamilton on the occasion of the 35th pastoral anniversary of his 
leadership of the Greater Victory Temple Church of God in Christ in 
Seaside, California. Bishop Hamilton is a beacon of service to God and 
his community and an example of love and compassion for all to follow. 
Under his leadership, Greater Victory Temple has grown into one of the 
strongest community pillars of the Monterey Peninsula and all of 
northern California.
   Bishop Hamilton was born in San Antonio, Texas. He followed his 
father, the late Bishop E.E. Hamilton, on the path of religious service 
and received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Simpson College in San 
Francisco. He then served as the founding pastor of the Hamilton 
Memorial Church of God In Christ in San Francisco, California. In 1987, 
W.W. Hamilton was consecrated as the Bishop and Prelate of the 
California Northwest Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ, the 
church his father had established.
   In 1980 Bishop Hamilton was appointed to serve as Pastor of the 
Victory Temple Church of God In Christ of Seaside, California. Under 
his Pastoral leadership a new church building was completed and on 
March 16, 1984, the Great Victory Church of God In Christ was dedicated 
debt free. In addition to the remodeling, Bishop Hamilton sought to 
provide housing and family resources to his community.
   Bishop Hamilton has also focused his leadership on community 
service. He served as the executive director of the San Francisco 
Redevelopment Agency. Later, under his leadership, the Greater Victory 
Temple has become a force for community service on the Monterey 
Peninsula. It offers services for youth such as after school tutoring 
programs, a community computer lab, after school chess club, and hosts 
scout groups. It also offers a food pantry in partnership with the 
local food bank, divorce counseling, works with other community 
organizations to bring peace to the community, and has invested in 
community based senior housing.
   Throughout his 35 years of leadership, Greater Victory Temple has 
impacted the lives of countless people within the Seaside and 
surrounding Monterey Peninsula communities. All those who have had the 
pleasure to meet Bishop Hamilton know first hand his love and personal 
commitment to his congregation and surrounding community.
   Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for the whole House in extending 
our deepest gratitude to Bishop Hamilton for his many years of 
dedication to the Greater Victory Temple family and the broader 
community of the Monterey County and Northern California. Our world is 
a better place because of his efforts.

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