[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18063-18064]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING REVEREND CHARLES BELCHER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2008

  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the wonderful life of 
Reverend Charles Belcher. His vibrant spirit, insatiable commitment to 
service, and his unwavering compassion for the human family will be 
sorely missed by all those who had the honor of knowing him and coming 
in contact with his ministry. We lost this exceptional community leader 
and dedicated man of God on August 9, 2008.
  Reverend Charles Belcher was born on January 17, 1939, in Schaal, 
Arkansas, to his loving mother, Lottie Belcher, and her husband, the 
late Reverend Jim Belcher. At the young age of 5, Charles' family moved 
to California. Although this was in some way the adopted home of his 
family, the contributions Reverend Belcher and his parents made to the 
Greater Bay Area are humbling in their sincerity and magnitude.
  Education and personal growth were always extremely important values 
to Reverend Belcher, which he fostered throughout his life and promoted 
among the many young people that looked up to him. Charles Belcher 
graduated with honors from El Cerrito High School. He earned his 
bachelor's degree from Utah State University and later received a 
master's degree in divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He 
would go on to earn a prestigious PhD from Ashland Theological 
Seminary. Reverend Belcher married Ms. Ethel Scott with whom he had a 
daughter, Kimberly, and a son, Charles II. At age 57, he married Ms. 
Doris Denson, and his loving family grew with the addition of Doris' 
children Bonita, Tony, Dana, and Sheila.
  Reverend Belcher was widely known as a spiritual leader with great 
integrity and honor. In the Bay Area he served at numerous churches, 
including the St. Peter CME Church in El Cerrito, the Bee Bee Memorial 
CME Cathedral in Oakland, and most recently the Resurrection AME Church 
of Richmond.
  Reverend Belcher was a man of great faith and energy. He 
enthusiastically embraced every opportunity to serve congregations and 
communities throughout our Nation, bringing with him a keen empathy for 
the local community. His service extended to churches throughout the 
country including CMEs in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, and Cleveland. 
Under the leadership of Bishop Vernon Byrd, Reverend Belcher became an 
Itinerate Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church at Bethel AME 
in San Francisco in 1997. Reverend Belcher served as the organizing 
pastor at two churches in California, the Upper Room Christian Church 
in Los Angeles and the Resurrection AME Church in Richmond. Reverend 
Belcher dedicated every day of his adult life to his passion for God 
and community development. At the time of his passing, the Reverend was 
serving as pastor of St. John AME Church in St. Louis, Missouri.
  Reverend Belcher fought for justice and equality for African 
Americans, low-income families, and communities of color, and he worked 
tirelessly to make this a better world. His dedication to public 
service throughout the Bay Area is both diverse in its capacities and 
remarkable in its scope. In 2001, he was elected to the Richmond City 
Council where he served a 4-year term. In addition to serving the city 
of Richmond, Reverend Belcher worked as an administrative assistant to 
Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson. He was a member of the Peralta Community 
College District board and served on the board of the NAACP's Richmond 
branch.
  I met Reverend Belcher while a student at Mills College in the early 
1970s. I attended a class he taught and was amazed by his keen 
intellect, his deep insight, and his determination to teach and speak 
the truth.

[[Page 18064]]

  The contributions Reverend Belcher made to his community throughout 
his life are innumerable. He was a true inspiration, and an exceptional 
role model, especially for young men and women of color striving to 
build up their communities, contribute to their neighborhoods, and 
improve their opportunities so that they may pursue productive and full 
lives. His legacy will surely live on through the lasting impact he 
made on so many lives.
  Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors 
Reverend Charles Belcher. We extend our deepest condolences to his 
family and loved ones, especially his mother, Ms. Lottie M. Belcher, 
his wife, Ms. Doris Denson-Belcher, his children Kimberly and Charles 
II, his step-children Bonita, Tony, Dana, and Sheila, his 
grandchildren, and the many special members of his close and devoted 
family as well as his countless friends. May his soul rest in peace.

                          ____________________