TITLE: Honoring Bishop Vashti McKenzie for her contributions to the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

SUMMARY: Honoring Bishop Vashti McKenzie for her contributions to the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Members of the Paul Quinn College community are joining together on February 28, 2013, to honor Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie on her recent appointments as chair of the school's board of trustees and as bishop of the 10th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; and WHEREAS, Vashti McKenzie became the first woman to be elevated to the episcopate in the more than 200-year history of the AME Church when she was elected and consecrated as bishop in 2000; she has further benefited her community of faith as president of the Council of Bishops, chair of the General Conference Commission, and host bishop of the 49th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference, which drew more than 30,000 participants; and WHEREAS, Widely admired for her dynamic leadership and her deep commitment to community service, Bishop McKenzie was one of the first individuals named by President Barack Obama to the advisory council of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; she has also served on the board of trustees of Payne Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia; in addition, she is a successful author, with four published works to her credit; and WHEREAS, This esteemed clergywoman has provided years of valued inspiration and guidance to members of the AME Church while also contributing to the betterment of her community, and it is indeed a privilege to welcome her to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Bishop Vashti McKenzie on her appointments as bishop of the 10th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and as chair of the Paul Quinn College Board of Trustees and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Bishop McKenzie as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Rose Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 542 was adopted by the House on February 21, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House