[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 177 (Thursday, October 26, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1020-E1021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE RETIREMENT OF BISHOP MARC ANDRUS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 26, 2023

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with overwhelming joy that I rise 
today to pay tribute to Bishop Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal 
Diocese of California: a spiritual luminary and moral leader whose more 
than three decades of service has been nothing short of exceptional. 
Bishop Marc embodies the creed of the City of St. Francis: `Lord, make 
me an instrument of thy peace.' Indeed, as an instrument of peace, he 
has played a beautiful symphony: honoring our sacred responsibility to 
care for those in need, to defend the dignity of all God's children and 
to preserve our precious planet.
  Whether in the pulpit or in our communities, the magnificent ministry 
of Bishop Marc has made a direct, and extraordinary, impact. He has 
held the position of Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California 
since 2006. As such, he leads a flock of 27,000 Episcopalians across 75 
congregations in Northern California: walking with them down the path 
toward salvation and social justice. At the same time, his support for 
the Episcopal Impact Fund and a capital campaign to support Bay Area 
congregations has only amplified his impact--empowering more people of 
faith to perform good works in their communities. And his leadership on 
the San Francisco Interfaith Council helps bring our City together to 
work for housing and health care, education and environmental impact, 
justice and peace.
  When St. Luke's Hospital was on the verge of closure, Bishop Marc 
stepped forward to

[[Page E1021]]

help marshal an effort to rescue this pillar of health, healing and 
history in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood. The Blue Ribbon Panel 
that he co-chaired--which brought together community members, labor 
leaders, local officials, health professionals and industry 
stakeholders--quickly assembled a plan of action to rebuild the 
hospital so that it could continue to provide outstanding medical care. 
And when COVID struck, he was an invaluable resource for helping his 
diocese--and our City--navigate the chaos and uncertainty, convening 
experts twice a week to coordinate on policy decisions and public 
outreach.
  Bishop Marc's clarion call for marriage equality was consequential in 
moving the nationwide fight forward. At a time when the Episcopal 
Church had not approved of rites for same-sex marriage, Bishop Marc 
publicly urged all couples--gay or straight--to be married in a civil 
ceremony with a blessing to be performed by the clergy. He went on to 
lead efforts within the Episcopal Church to win official marriage rites 
for same-sex couples, and he supported two amici curiae briefs 
bolstering marriage equality in the courts. And he brought great pride 
to our City when, as the very first person that he ordained as Bishop, 
he ordained the first transgender member of the Diocese of California 
clergy.
  Growing up among the rolling hills and mighty rivers of eastern 
Tennessee, Bishop Marc could hear the Lord's call to be good stewards 
of His Creation. As an influential voice across the Episcopal Church, 
and co-chair of its Environmental Task Force, he has helped formulate 
climate policy recommendations and design initiatives to mobilize for 
climate action. In 2021, Bishop Marc led an Episcopal delegation to 
COP26--not only to reaffirm our moral duty to care for God's Creation, 
but also our obligation to advance eco-justice for communities hit 
hardest by the climate crisis. Thanks to his efforts, the Episcopal 
Church gained official observer status, giving it a platform to engage 
more directly with negotiators on all areas of the convention to 
address the climate crisis. At COP27, speaking at a panel that I 
appeared on, he offered striking moral clarity on the need to rescue 
our planet for future generations.
  How fitting that, this Saturday, many from his congregation and his 
many friends in our City will gather at Grace Cathedral in San 
Francisco for the 174th Convention of the Diocese of California, where 
we will celebrate his towering legacy. But more profound than the 
praise we will offer him at the event will be the impact of prayerful 
leadership and service, which will be forever etched in the hearts of 
so many in the Bay Area and beyond.
  I thank Bishop Marc for walking with us down the righteous path. May 
his retirement be filled with the same faith, charity and hope that he 
has so generously shared with us for so long.

                          ____________________