[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25519]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING NASHVILLE'S INTERDENOMINATIONAL MINISTERS' FELLOWSHIP ON ITS 
                            50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM COOPER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 6, 2004

  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to pay tribute to one of 
Nashville's foremost community organizations, the Interdenominational 
Ministers' Fellowship, on the event of its 50th anniversary on December 
8.
  Since its creation, the IMF has been a pre-eminent voice for social 
justice and change. It has worked tirelessly for the betterment of all 
of Nashville's citizens but especially as a champion for the voiceless 
and disadvantaged. The leaders of the IMF have long played a vital role 
in the life of Nashville, and its members include many of the most 
prominent and active of Nashville's citizens.
  As many of my colleagues know, Nashville has a long and proud history 
of community activism. Nashville played a central role in the historic 
struggles of the civil rights movement, and it was out of this 
transformational period in our nation's history that the IMF was born. 
The organization first grew from the wake of the landmark Supreme Court 
decision, Brown v. Board of Education. This original group included 
leaders from a host of religious faiths and denominations, including 
the Seventh Day Adventist, the Church of Christ, the Church of God, the 
Episcopal Church, Islam, Baha'i and the Salvation Army.
  Over the past five decades, the IMF has established itself as a 
leading advocate for social justice. It has tackled every issue from 
racism to employment to education. One of its most significant 
achievements has been to establish the Trust Fund for Students of 
Historical Black Colleges and Universities, which has provided annual 
scholarships to numerous students over the years.
  The passion that IMF members have brought to their mission is truly 
inspiring, and few groups can better demonstrate the transformational 
power of grass-roots commitment and activism. It is with great honor 
and pride that I recognize the Interdenominational Ministers' 
Fellowship for the work that its members have done and will continue to 
do for the city of Nashville. On behalf of the people of the Fifth 
Congressional District, I thank the IMF for its achievements and 
congratulate this organization on its 50th anniversary.

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