[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 113 (Tuesday, July 9, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E702-E703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING REV. JAMES D. TINDALL AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 9, 2024

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride and respect 
to honor Bishop James Dennis Tindall, Sr. for his decades of service 
and advocacy to the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri. On July 
16th, Bishop Tindall will be honored for his dedication to the 
community at the 99th Convention of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches 
of Christ, Incorporated. As we celebrate Bishop Tindall, let us be 
continuously inspired by his incredible devotion to his work and his 
fellow humans.

[[Page E703]]

  Bishop Tindall, son of Lottie and Wallace Tindell, was born and 
raised in Kansas City, Missouri. A graduate of the local Manual High 
School, Bishop Tindall furthered his education and deepened his 
religious understanding at the University of Missouri Kansas City, 
Carver Baptist Bible College, Western Baptist Bible College, Columbia 
School of Broadcasting, and the KPRS School of Broadcasting. His 
knowledge and expertise have allowed him to become such an influential 
beacon of Kansas City's Christian community. The church has always been 
a part of Bishop Tindall's life, from being a member of the Highland 
Baptist Church to taking on important leadership roles in international 
church communities. At the young age of 16, Bishop Tindall joined the 
church he would later serve as their Presiding Prelate--the 
Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ, as a choir singer. As Bishop 
Tindall grew older, he served as Superintendent of the church's Sunday 
School and on the church's Trustee Board, sharing his gifts with the 
diverse members of the community.
  The Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ, founded in Kansas City 
almost 100 years ago in 1925, is one of the landmarks of the Black 
Spiritual Movement. The church has long stood as a space to support and 
elevate members of marginalized groups. At the time, while other 
churches and the laws of this nation excluded countless people, the 
MSCC opened its doors to women and the LGBTQ+ community to make 
meaningful contributions to the development of the religious community. 
The church soon expanded past its Kansas City home and now boasts 
churches across the United States, Jamaica and even Ghana. Bishop 
Tindall's hard work and dedication to fulfilling the needs of his 
community was recognized in 1976, when he was officially ordained and 
appointed as Pastor for the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ. 
After a mere two months, he was promoted to be the church's permanent 
pastor. Bishop Tindall's excellence and service catapulted him to 
higher leadership positions within the church. He was not only 
appointed to be Chairman of the Board of Directors of the MSCC but was 
also elevated to the position of Bishop. In 2009, he officially became 
the International Presiding Prelate of the Church, representing the 
Church's everlasting values on a global scale, and after 42 years of 
service to the Church, he became Pastor Emeritus. Throughout his 
numerous roles in the Church, Bishop Tindall has never wavered in his 
relentless service to God and God's creations.
  The church is not the only place where Bishop Tindall exemplifies his 
passion for helping others. Bishop Tindall has served on the Jackson 
County Governing Board and as a County Legislator, advocating for the 
rights of community members through his involvement as Chair of the 
Justice & Law Committee and as a member of the Anti-Drug and Health & 
Environment Committees. In addition to over two decades of service in 
local government, Bishop Tindall is also the founder and President of 
the Urban Summit of Kansas City, a group dedicated to the advancement 
and advocacy of the city's urban community. Under Bishop Tindall's 
leadership, the Urban Summit has held weekly meetings with community 
members, fought for the urban core to play a role in city development, 
and uplifted countless people by providing them with a voice in their 
local government and beyond.
  I cannot think of a more qualified recipient of this recognition than 
Bishop Tindall. As both his elected representative and fellow religious 
leader, I am incredibly honored to thank Bishop Tindall for his 
lifetime of devotion to God and his community. His work calls to mind 
Matthew 5:16--``Your light must shine before people in such a way that 
they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in 
heaven.'' May Bishop Tindall's light continue to shine bright among the 
members of the Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ and the people 
of Kansas City, and may he continue to inspire and illuminate us all.

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