[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING REV. DR. JEFFERY R. WHEELER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 17, 2015

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a spiritual leader 
in the Mount Vernon community, Reverend Dr. Jeffery R. Wheeler, who has 
led, as Pastor the Mt. Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church congregation 
in Mount Vernon, NY with great distinction and integrity.
  Originally born and raised in Mount Vernon, Reverend Wheeler received 
his license to the ministry in 1998 and was ordained in 1999 at the 
Hunter Hills First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2006, Rev. 
Wheeler relocated back to New York and was consecrated and elevated to 
the office of Ordained Traveling Elder in the New York-Washington 
Annual Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church under the 
auspices of Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., Presiding Prelate.
  After 20 years away from home, in July of 2011 Reverend Wheeler 
returned home to Mt. Vernon, NY to pastor where he grew up, worshipped 
with his family, and began in ministry, at Mount Calvary Christian 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Reverend Wheeler also began serving as the 
Director of the New York-New England Ministry to Men. Reverend Wheeler 
has served in a multitude of capacities within the ministry, including: 
Staff Ministerial Coordinator accountable for 13 staff ministers, 
Pastor of Praise & Worship and Ministerial Liaison for the Music 
Department, Singles Ministry and Family Enrichment Ministry. He has 
also traveled extensively abroad to conduct Preaching Revivals & Gospel 
Music Workshops in Olso, Norway, Stockholm, Sweden, Brighton and 
London, England, South Africa, and Tokyo, Japan.
  A scholar, Reverend Wheeler earned his Masters of Religious Studies 
from Yale University, in New Haven and his Masters of Theology Degree 
and Doctorate of Divinity Degree from the Hugee Theological Institute/
Lighthouse Seminary New York, NY. In December 2013, The Abundant Life 
Theological Seminary conferred a second Doctorate of Divinity Degree 
upon Reverend Wheeler.
  This year, Mt. Calvary C.M.E. is holding a luncheon in Reverend 
Wheeler's honor celebrating his years as Pastor. Congratulations to 
Reverend Wheeler on this great honor.

                          ____________________