[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16333]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN HONOR OF BISHOP W. W. HAMILTON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 21, 2015

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bishop W. W. 
Hamilton on the occasion of the 35th pastoral anniversary of his 
leadership of the Greater Victory Temple Church of God in Christ in 
Seaside, California. Bishop Hamilton is a beacon of service to God and 
his community and an example of love and compassion for all to follow. 
Under his leadership, Greater Victory Temple has grown into one of the 
strongest community pillars of the Monterey Peninsula and all of 
northern California.
  Bishop Hamilton was born in San Antonio, Texas. He followed his 
father, the late Bishop E.E. Hamilton, on the path of religious service 
and received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Simpson College in San 
Francisco. He then served as the founding pastor of the Hamilton 
Memorial Church of God In Christ in San Francisco, California. In 1987, 
W.W. Hamilton was consecrated as the Bishop and Prelate of the 
California Northwest Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ, the 
church his father had established.
  In 1980 Bishop Hamilton was appointed to serve as Pastor of the 
Victory Temple Church of God In Christ of Seaside, California. Under 
his Pastoral leadership a new church building was completed and on 
March 16, 1984, the Great Victory Church of God In Christ was dedicated 
debt free. In addition to the remodeling, Bishop Hamilton sought to 
provide housing and family resources to his community.
  Bishop Hamilton has also focused his leadership on community service. 
He served as the executive director of the San Francisco Redevelopment 
Agency. Later, under his leadership, the Greater Victory Temple has 
become a force for community service on the Monterey Peninsula. It 
offers services for youth such as after school tutoring programs, a 
community computer lab, after school chess club, and hosts scout 
groups. It also offers a food pantry in partnership with the local food 
bank, divorce counseling, works with other community organizations to 
bring peace to the community, and has invested in community based 
senior housing.
  Throughout his 35 years of leadership, Greater Victory Temple has 
impacted the lives of countless people within the Seaside and 
surrounding Monterey Peninsula communities. All those who have had the 
pleasure to meet Bishop Hamilton know first hand his love and personal 
commitment to his congregation and surrounding community.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that I speak for the whole House in extending our 
deepest gratitude to Bishop Hamilton for his many years of dedication 
to the Greater Victory Temple family and the broader community of the 
Monterey County and Northern California. Our world is a better place 
because of his efforts.

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