Recognizing Pastor Gregory Christopher

Floor Speech

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Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pastor Gregory Christopher, who will retire from Shiloh Baptist Church in Tacoma, Washington, after leading the congregation for more than 24 years.

Pastor Christopher became a leader in the Tacoma faith community in 1989 and received a Doctor of Ministry. Following the passing of his mentor Rev. Earnest Brazill in 2000, Dr. Christopher became the Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church. In the 24 years since, Pastor Christopher has continued to strengthen the congregation, develop the church for future generations, and invest in the surrounding Hilltop neighborhood. With Pastor Christopher at the pulpit, Shiloh Baptist serves the city's most vulnerable residents with an emergency shelter for unhoused men in the church basement and as well as a sixty-unit affordable housing development on church property.

As both Mayor of the City of Tacoma and as a member of Congress, I have worked closely with Pastor Christopher on community development, social justice, and economic issues. His leadership as President of the Tacoma Chapter of the NAACP and member of the Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective will continue to impact the community, even after he retires as Pastor.

I thank Pastor Christopher for his service to Shiloh Baptist Church and Tacoma as well as congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement.

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