[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING REVEREND MARY MARGARET ECKHARDT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 2010

  Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge 
Reverend Mary Margaret Eckhardt, Pastor of St. Matthew's United 
Methodist Church in Livonia, Michigan, upon her retirement after more 
than 30 years of service in ministry.
  Reverend Eckhardt became an ordained minister in 1979 after having 
obtained her bachelor of science and master of science degrees from the 
University of Tennessee, going on to pursue her Master of Divinity from 
United Theological Seminary in Ohio. Reverend Eckhardt has served in 
four United Methodist Churches in Michigan, spending the last 8 years 
at St. Matthew's as an exceptional preacher, adult Bible Study leader 
and mission trip leader. She serves on the UMC district level as a 
Hunger Coordinator and at the conference level as an UMCOR Disaster 
Coordinater.
  Serving her church as well as her community, Reverend Eckhardt has 
been an active supporter and member of the Rotary Club of Livonia and 
currently holds the position of Secretary. She avidly enjoys the 
outdoors as a hiker and bicyclist. Reverend Eckhardt has proven to be a 
woman of dedicated and irreproachable service. She will be missed by 
the members of her congregation as she pursues the next chapter of her 
life.
  Madam Speaker, for more than 30 years Reverend Mary Margaret Eckhardt 
has faithfully served her congregation, her church, her community and 
her Lord. As she enters the next phase of her life, she leaves behind a 
legacy of dedication, integrity, and excellence. Today, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in congratulating Reverend Mary Margaret Eckhardt 
upon her retirement and recognizing her years of loyal service to our 
community and country.

                          ____________________