[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14590]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      WELCOMING THE GUEST CHAPLAIN

  Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I rise today to express my gratitude to 
Leader Reid and to Chaplain Black, to all of us in the Chamber, and my 
gratitude to the Reverend Dr. Douglas Gerdts. It is my honor and 
privilege to welcome him to our Chamber this morning as one of 
Delaware's strongest and finest faith leaders.
  Reverend Gerdts leads the congregation at First and Central 
Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. Each time I join with him on Sunday 
mornings, I am uplifted by the stirring music, I am challenged by his 
passionate sermons, and I leave engaged for the week, rooted in my 
faith and moved forward by his words and by his leadership.
  But Reverend Gerdts' leadership extends far beyond the walls of his 
church. It touches those most in need in our community. The church 
literally opens its doors every Saturday, welcoming in homeless 
Delawareans as well as welcoming in schoolchildren who need smaller 
class sizes and better instruction to succeed.
  I have had the pleasure of knowing Reverend Gerdts for more than a 
dozen years. In my own service in county government I knew him as chair 
of the Diversity Commission, and he helped lead the charge for equality 
and civil unions in Delaware last year. He has made a real and lasting 
contribution to our community. He and his wonderful wife Walle are part 
of what makes Delaware a great place.
  As he shared with us in his prayer, he is exactly the sort of person 
who, through a listening heart, has become a powerful and effective 
servant leader of faith in my home community.
  My thanks to the Chaplain for allowing guest Chaplains, and my thanks 
to Rev. Doug Gerdts for his friendship, his faith, and his leadership.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Senator from Delaware has been such a 
great addition to the Senate. He is well respected on both sides of the 
aisle, and he is a man of spiritual quality. Among his other 
attributes, he has a divinity degree from Yale University. Without 
elaborating, I am just so pleased he is my friend and a Member of the 
Senate.

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