[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 26506]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   SENATE RESOLUTION 385--CONGRATULATING THE REVEREND CLAY EVANS OF 
             CHICAGO, IL, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT

  Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Fitzgerald) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 385

       Whereas Reverend Clay Evans was ordained as a Baptist 
     minister 50 years ago, in 1950, and founded and served as the 
     Pastor of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in 
     Chicago, Illinois, for 49 years;
       Whereas Reverend Evans has been happily married to Lutha 
     Mae Hollinshed Evans for over 50 years, and with her is the 
     proud parent of five children;
       Whereas Reverend Evans has been responsible for helping 
     launch the ministerial careers of 93 individuals, including 6 
     female ministers;
       Whereas Reverend Evans received Honorary Doctorate of 
     Divinity Degrees from Arkansas Baptist College and Brewster 
     Theological Clinic and School of Religion;
       Whereas Reverend Evans has been an active participant in 
     the Civil Rights Movement since 1965;
       Whereas Reverend Evans is the founding National Board 
     Chairman of Operation P.U.S.H. and currently serves as its 
     Chairman Emeritus;
       Whereas Reverend Evans is Founding President of the 
     Broadcast Ministers Alliance of Chicago, Founding President 
     of the African American Religious Connection, Trustee Board 
     Chairman of Chicago Baptist Institute, and Board member of 
     the National Baptist Covention, U.S.A., Inc.;
       Whereas Reverend Evans is a featured soloist on numerous 
     albums of the 250 Voice Choir of Fellowship Missionary 
     Baptist Church and 1996 Stellar Award winner of the #1 Gospel 
     Album ``I've Got a Testimony'';
       Whereas Reverend Evans authored a 1992 autobiographical 
     book, ``From Plough Handle to Pulpit,'' which sold thousands 
     of copies and was rewritten in 1997; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Reverend Clay Evans on his retirement 
     as Pastor of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church;
       (2) acknowledges the affection that Reverend Evans' 
     congregation shares for him; and
       (3) extends its best wishes to Reverend Evans and his 
     family on the occasion of his retirement.

                          ____________________