[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12512]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO PASTOR JERRY HATTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 2006

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life, service 
and example of Pastor Jerry Hatter. Pastor Hatter has found his home 
and place of service at the Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, in Ypsilanti, 
MI.
  Born in Haynesville, LA, on July 17, 1945, Pastor Hatter found his 
calling early in life through the care and love of his aunt and uncle. 
Baptized at the age of nine, Jerry began his service as a Sunday school 
teacher and later as an assistant financial secretary for the Mt. Obie 
C.M.E. Church in Homer, LA. His skills in finance led him to Grambling 
State University, where he earned an accounting degree in 1968.
  Pastor Hatter continued his education as he moved to the Detroit 
area, earning an M.B.A. from the University of Detroit in 1976, his 
State of Michigan Real Estate Broker license in 1982 and passing his 
C.P.A. examination in 1984. The commitment Pastor Hatter has for 
education has only been surpassed by his religious strength and his 
service to others in his community.
  In 1972, Pastor Hatter joined Oak Grove A.M.E. Church in Detroit, 
serving that church community for 19 years as a Trustee, member of the 
male choir and Minister of Business and Finance. Pastor Hatter received 
his call to serve as a minister in 1986 and was ordained in 1989 at the 
St. Stephen A.M.E. Church in Detroit. He served as an Associate 
Minister at Oak Grove Church until 1991.
  In August of 1991, Pastor Hatter began his service at Brown Chapel. 
In the 15 years he has served the congregation and community, Pastor 
Hatter has established several outreach ministries, opened a child care 
center, set up the Brown Chapel Foundation public charity and was 
elected Pastor of the Year by the Michigan Conference Lay Organization 
in 1995. Along with these great works, Pastor Hatter is also a mentor 
for the Village Initiative to foster reduction and prevention of youth 
incarceration, a Chairman of the Fourth District Commission on 
Evangelism, as well as the president of both the Mid-Michigan A.M.E. 
Churches Fellowship and the Michigan Conference Minister's Protective 
League.
  Throughout his life, Pastor Jerry Hatter has served others in his 
community. He has worked hard to put his faith into action, serving as 
an example of what it means to be a leader and a teacher. I honor 
Pastor Hatter for his tremendous achievements and his true dedication 
to his fellow man.

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