[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 92 (Tuesday, June 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   BISHOP C. GARNETT HENNING, SR., CHAMPION OF THE AME CHURCH AND OF 
                          AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. KAREN BASS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2018

  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to report the passing of the 
Right Reverend Coral Garnett Henning, Sr., a giant of the African 
Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, a devoted defender of the less-
fortunate, a tireless advocate for the empowerment of African 
Americans, and an unfailing friend of Africa.
  Elected as the 112th Bishop of the AME Church in 1992, he had already 
served (and grown) congregations in his native Tennessee, as well as 
Kansas, Missouri and California, including Ward AME Church in my 
district. While assigned to Los Angeles from 1972-80, he worked to 
further economic development, education, the arts and civil rights, and 
Mayor Tom Bradley appointed him to head the Los Angeles Housing 
Commission twice. Wherever he went, Bishop Henning devoted his 
considerable talent, energy and intellect to ecumenical outreach, 
mentoring, political engagement, and supporting education. He also 
developed a well-deserved reputation for building and strengthening 
institutions.
  Assigned to Africa in 1992 to serve the 14th Episcopal District--West 
Africa, he fortified both the church and education all over the region. 
He built Bethel AME Church in Ghana; in Cote d'Ivoire, he established 
C. Garnett Henning, Jr. Memorial High School in honor of his late son; 
and he founded AME University in Monrovia, which today is the second-
largest university in Liberia. Assigned to the 19th Episcopal 
District--South Africa in 1996, he continued to create and build, both 
programs and structures, including re-opening the nearly century-old 
Wilberforce Institute (now Wilberforce Community College) which had 
been closed by South Africa's apartheid government.
  Though he would continue to support African projects, he returned to 
the United States in 2000 when he was assigned to the 8th Episcopal 
District, which includes Mississippi and Louisiana. There, too, he did 
what he did best, but was called to extraordinary service when 
Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. He would go on to administer millions 
of dollars to restore damaged churches and sustain ministers and 
members of the district in the wake of that historic disaster. He was 
also appointed to the National Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, a committee 
that oversaw distribution of more than $70 million. He successfully 
supervised the restoration of 49 out of 51 churches damaged by Katrina: 
In 2008 he received his last assignment, to the 3rd Episcopal District, 
from which he retired in 2012, freeing him to continue advocacy matters 
close to his heart, which is what he was doing the last time he came to 
see me.
  His considerable legacy will benefit generations to come. I mourn 
with his widow, Ernestine Lee Henning, a leader in her own right, and 
his family, friends and colleagues. I am grateful to have known him, 
and grateful for all he has left us.

                          ____________________