[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16216]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF THE RIGHT REVEREND PHILIP AQUILLA BROOKS II

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 18, 2007

  Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I respectfully submit the following 
resolution, this 18th Day of June, in the Year of Our Lord, Two 
Thousand and Seven.

  Whereas, Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II has rendered a lifetime of 
devoted service to his ministry in Detroit, Michigan. He is the 
founding Pastor of New St. Paul Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in 
Detroit, Michigan, where he has served for over 54 years. Since 1975, 
Bishop Brooks has been the presiding prelate of the Historic First 
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Michigan, which is also known as the 
Northeast Michigan Jurisdiction. In 1984, and each quadrennial since, 
the Lord has honored Bishop Brooks' dedication and loyalty to His work 
through the favor of men, by elevating him to the presidium of the 
Church of God in Christ, Inc., and the largest African-American 
Pentecostal Denomination with an estimated 6.5 million members in over 
59 countries. He now serves the Church as the Second Assistant 
Presiding Bishop;
  Whereas, Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II is an individual with great 
vision and focus. Bishop Brooks established the March of Faith Telecast 
and Radio Ministry, which has ministered to countless millions across 
the nation in their homes, hospital rooms and behind prison bars for 
nearly three consecutive decades. Always the innovator, Bishop Brooks 
was the first among his peers on the General Board to establish a 
presence for his local church and Jurisdiction on the World Wide Web. 
He was among the first to broadcast his Sunday morning worship services 
via the Internet in a live Web cast every Sunday morning;
  Whereas, Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II compassion for all of God's 
children has caused him to expand his local church ministry into the 
areas of education, senior housing, food programs and other community 
outreach programs. He is the founder of the Grandmont-Rosedale 
Christian School and Day Care. He is the president of the New St. Paul 
Non-Profit Housing Corporation. This is a Community Development 
Corporation responsible for the building of Faith Manor Senior Citizens 
Apartments on the campus of New St. Paul Tabernacle. Under Bishop 
Brooks' visionary leadership, New St. Paul Tabernacle distributes 
hundreds of Thanksgiving baskets to needy families each year, offers 
tutorial services to students, and provides business incubator programs 
to foster entrepreneurship;
  Whereas, Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II is the third-longest serving 
Church of God in Christ bishop in the 93-year history of the church's 
influence in the State of Michigan, and is the senior Bishop in the 
mid-west region, including Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and 
Ontario, Canada. He was consecrated Jurisdictional Prelate of Northeast 
Michigan Jurisdiction in 1975 by the late Presiding Bishop J.O. 
Patterson, Sr. During his tenure, Bishop Brooks' programs and 
initiatives have benefited all citizens of the State of Michigan. His 
latest contribution is the formation of the first black-owned Mortgage 
Company in the Church of God in Christ--Faith Community Mortgage LLC;
  Whereas, Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II established the nation's 
first Blue Cross/Blue Shield Program for local pastors, life insurance 
for local pastors and a Compensation Program for widows of local 
pastors. He lead the Jurisdiction in purchasing and renovating 
Northeast Michigan's jurisdictional headquarters, Cathedral Conference 
Center. He is directly or indirectly responsible for purchasing, 
financing, renovating, or building new churches for over 50 pastors 
within the jurisdiction;
  Whereas, Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II has served for almost a 
quarter of a century, as a member of the Presidium of the Church of God 
in Christ, Inc. First elected in 1984, Bishop Brooks is now serving in 
his sixth term. In addition to these duties, Bishop Brooks served for 
12 years as a member of the board of directors of First Independence 
Bank; and serves on the board of directors for the famed Museum of 
African American History based in Detroit, Michigan;
  Whereas, Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II was inducted into the 
International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum as a result of his 
contributions to the field of music in years past as a musician, and 
Music Department President, and presently, a worshiper; and
  Whereas, Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II, on April 11, 2007, was 
elevated to the Office of Second Assistant Presiding Bishop of the 
Church of God in Christ, Inc. by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr.
  Whereas, we the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus extend our 
sincere appreciation and highest respect to Bishop Philip Aquilla 
Brooks II and the entire COGIC Denomination.
  Therefore, be it resolved, that we celebrate and honor the elevation 
of Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II for his lifetime of devotion, 
dedication, dignity and honor; his faithful service to all human 
beings, and for being a world-wide spiritual leader, especially within 
the Church of God in Christ.
  Be it finally resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to 
Bishop Philip Aquilla Brooks II, the family and that a copy be placed 
in the records of the Church.

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