[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 69 (Monday, April 29, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E496-E497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO REVEREND ANDREW B. WARNER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 29, 2019

  Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend Andrew 
B. Warner. He is a pastor, social justice activist, devoted husband and 
father. Reverend Warner is a graduate of Harvard University with a 
Master of Divinity Degree.
  Reverend Warner is leaving his current post as Senior Pastor of 
Plymouth Church United Church of Christ on May 5, 2019. He served in 
many pastoral capacities during his 22-year tenure at Plymouth and was 
always attentive to the care of his congregants throughout times of 
both joy and grief. Under his guidance, Plymouth embodied the spiritual 
practice of ``extravagant welcome'' to the building, the mind and the 
spirit. I have benefitted from and borne witness to this extravagant 
welcome on many occasions as both a visitor and preacher at Plymouth 
Church.
  Reverend Warner led a major capital campaign and managed the remodel 
of the 100-year-old edifice. The project received a Mayor's Design 
Award in 2013 for honoring its historic Eschweiler design while 
adapting to accessibility and technology needs.
  Reverend Warner led Plymouth Church in collaboration with other 
organizations on topics such as racial justice, interfaith relations, 
and the role of the arts in healing and forgiveness. I personally have 
participated in Plymouth's tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the 
Voting Rights Act, as well as a tribute to the 150th Anniversary of the 
14th Amendment. Reverend Warner created the Reviving Justice, Peace and 
Hope series of interfaith social justice conferences held at Plymouth.
  Following its remodel, Plymouth has opened its doors to Congregation 
Shir Hadash. During his tenure, Plymouth has also continued to fully 
live out its Open and Affirming (ONA) status through embrace of and 
advocacy for the LGBTQ Community. In the spirit of cross-sectional 
community building, Reverend Warner has served on a number of boards 
including Pathfinders, Cream City Foundation, and Rotary Club of 
Milwaukee.
  Reverend Andrew B. Warner now takes leave of shepherding Plymouth to 
take on two new roles in the wider United Church of Christ. He will 
serve as Director of Development for the Wisconsin Conference where he 
will lead the fundraising efforts of the conference to support the 
planned giving and effective philanthropy of congregations and work to 
organize a foundation-based community foundation model for the 
endowments of the conference and congregations. He will also serve as a 
Generosity Outreach Officer of the national setting of the UCC. In that 
role he will train, coach and mentor conference and congregational 
leaders across the country to strengthen the culture of generosity in 
the UCC. As part of the work, he will teach as an adjunct faculty 
member with the Lake Institute of the School of Philanthropy at Indiana 
University-Purdue University, Indianapolis.
  Reverend Andrew B. Warner is a truth faith leader. I am proud that he 
resides in the 4th Congressional District in the Village of Whitefish 
Bay with his husband and two sons--one

[[Page E497]]

in college, the other in high school. He opens his home to friends like 
me, where he cooks and practices his gastro-evangelism. I, along with 
others in the Greater Milwaukee area and Wisconsin, admire and thank 
Reverend Warner for his positive impact on all around him. I am proud 
to call Andrew B. Warner my friend. Madam Speaker, for these reasons I 
rise to pay tribute to a man whose legacy as a true leader will serve 
as a beacon for those who assume his duties upon leaving Plymouth 
Church.

                          ____________________