[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11577-11578]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            A TRIBUTE TO REVEREND DOCTOR ARLEE GRIFFIN, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 3, 2004

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Reverend Doctor Arlee 
Griffin, Jr. in recognition of his dedication to his community through 
spiritual leadership and participation in numerous civic organizations.
  Dr. Griffin is a native of Elizabeth City, North Carolina where he 
was an honor graduate of Northeastern High School. He received 
scholarships to attend the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill 
where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology. Later, he 
attended Shaw Divinity School, earning a Master of Divinity degree from 
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has done additional study 
at East Carolina University, Oxford University in Oxford, England and 
New York University. In May 1988, he graduated from Boston University 
with the Doctor of Ministry degree. In April 1992, Shaw Divinity 
awarded him the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.
  For nearly ten years, Dr. Griffin served as Pastor of the Cornerstone 
Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, North Carolina. During his 
tenure, the church experienced unprecedented growth and many new 
ministries were established, including the Cornerstone Christian Child 
Care Center. While in North Carolina, Dr. Griffin served in several 
leadership positions of organizations such as President of Pitt County 
Black Ministerial Alliance, Moderator and Vice-Moderator of the Old 
Eastern Missionary Baptist Association, Parliamentarian of the General 
Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and Trustee of Pitt County 
Memorial Hospital. He was selected in 1985 as ``Pastor of the Year.'' 
He served for one year as campus minister at the University of North 
Carolina Chapel Hill.
  In April 1989, Dr. Griffin became the Senior Pastor of the historic 
Berean Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. Pastor Griffin 
has brought to the church a commitment to the pursuit of excellence in 
the practice of a holistic ministry. Under his leadership, the 
Community Service Center has been revitalized, offering a full range of 
social services including: emergency food distribution; meals to 
homeless and needy people; Alcohol Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous 
groups; employment counseling and training programs; and a Senior 
Citizens Program. In 1996, the church completed Berean Gardens, a $7 
million Senior Citizens Housing Complex and recently broke ground on 
its $7 million Community and Family Life Center.
  Dr. Griffin serves as President of the Berean Bible Institute, the 
Berean Housing Development Fund Corporation, and Chairman of the Board 
of Directors of the Berean Federal Credit Union. He has also served as 
President of the American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan New York, 
Historian of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, and as a 
member of the General Board of the American Baptist Churches, USA, 
Progressive National Baptist Convention, and National Council of 
Churches. He has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of 
the American Baptist Churches Ministers' and Missionaries Benefit Board 
and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of Shaw University 
and AmeriChoice Corporation of New York. He serves as clergy liaison 
for the 77th Precinct of the New York City Police Department as well. 
Most recently, he was elected Vice President of the American Baptist 
Churches, USA, Biennial 2004-2005.
  Dr. Griffin has done missions work in Senegal and Gambia, West Africa 
and was a delegate to the First African and African American Summit in 
the Ivory Coast in 1991. He was selected to be an Official 
International Election Observer in the first free South African 
Election in April 1994. He is also an Associate Professor of Church 
Administration at New York Theological Seminary.
  Dr. Griffin is married to Mrs. Angela Farr Griffin, a licensed 
Physical Therapist, who serves as Executive Director of the Berean 
Community and Family Life Center. They have two daughters: Angel 
Arlecia and Ariel Arlyce.
  Mr. Speaker, Reverend Doctor Arlee Griffin, Jr. has committed himself 
to helping people and families through his pastoral work in the church 
and his community-based efforts. As such, he is more than worthy of 
receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
honoring this truly remarkable person.

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