[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16537]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         A POSTHUMOUS TRIBUTE TO PASTOR BISHOP CLARENCE HARMON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 28, 2006

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the late 
Pastor Bishop Clarence Harmon, a man who was a giant among men in the 
Brooklyn, New York community. Although he has passed on, it behooves us 
to pay tribute to this outstanding leader. I hope my colleagues will 
join me in recognizing his impressive accomplishments, as the community 
prepares to honor the memory of this great man of God at a memorial 
service on July 30, 2006.
  Clarence Harmon was born July 26, 1926 in Columbia, South Carolina. 
After completing high school, he came to New York City. After several 
years in New York, he met and married Catherine P. Penn. To that union, 
three children, one daughter and two sons were born. It was after their 
marriage that he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and joined 
Betterview Baptist Church. Upon departure from Betterview, he became 
affiliated with the Institutional Church of God in Christ under the 
leadership of Reverend Carl E. Williams. There, God began to mold and 
shape him for greater service. On Easter Sunday, 1951, he preached his 
first sermon. He graduated from Shelton College in 1956. In April 1956, 
he started a mission at 645 Halsey Street, Brooklyn. Shortly 
thereafter, by the direction of the Holy Spirit, Elder Harmon was led 
to 623 Madison Street. The building was totally void. However, the 
spirit of God confirmed to him whispering the words ``This Is It'' and 
the Lord blessed his hands to build a structure such as the one that is 
known as Unity Temple.
  During the latter part of 1956, Unity Temple became affiliated with 
the Church of God in Christ, Inc. Eastern New York Jurisdiction. For 
the next 30 years, Pastor Harmon held various leadership positions 
within the COGIC, such as: President and Administrative Assistant of 
the Pioneers, Chairman of the Board of Elders; President of the State 
Benevolent Committee; and Superintendent of District No. 3 under the 
leadership of the late Bishop F. D. Washington. As an Assistant Bishop 
to over 100 churches throughout the dioceses of the Churches of God in 
Christ, Bishop Harmon instituted a benevolence committee to take care 
of the pioneers and widows of the Eastern N.Y. Jurisdiction.
  In 1988, he was appointed to the position of First Assistant of the 
First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Eastern New York; the late Bishop 
Ithiel Clemmons, Jurisdictional Prelate. In October 1995, he was 
elevated to the office of Bishop in the Churches of God in Christ. He 
served as Presiding Bishop of the O. M. Kelly/F. D. Washington 
Brotherhood.
  Bishop Harmon was a pioneer in the Brooklyn community, hosting one of 
the largest food pantries in Bedford-Stuyvesant feeding over 4,000 
people a month. Bishop Harmon was a generous person donating his time 
and talent to those in need. He had an open door policy at the church, 
often allowing weddings and funerals to be held without cost. Bishop 
Harmon's favorite saying was ``Everybody is somebody'' and he lived and 
proved that every day. Through his ministry, 15 churches to date have 
been birthed. Though small in stature, Bishop Harmon stood tall among 
men. He acquired the name ``Muscles'' from his friends in the ministry 
because of his strength and tenacity in defending the underprivileged. 
Some of those friends included the late Bishop F.D. Washington, Bishop 
O.M. Kelly and Bishop I. Clemmons, to name a few.
  He was and still is an inspiration to those who knew him. Bishop 
Harmon's church community continues his legacy through the 
implementation of the Clarence Harmon Scholarship Fund that will award 
two scholarships in his name to high school seniors seeking a college 
degree. This tribute will further serve as a reminder to our youth that 
no height is too great for them to achieve.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize 
the accomplishments of Pastor Bishop Clarence Harmon, a man who offered 
his talents and services for the betterment of our local and global 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, Bishop Harmon's selfless service has continuously 
demonstrated a level of altruistic dedication that makes him most 
worthy of our recognition today.

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