Date: 2010-07-30
Speaker: AL GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. June 30. 2010 will mark a significant date in the history of our country. On that date. in Mobile. Alabama. the Honorable W. Edward Lockett became the 57th Bishop of the CME Church. Bishop Lockett has been a longtime stalwart in the Houston area. He has demonstrated what being ones keeper is all about. He has been his brothers keeper. And I am honored to say that I have had a flag flown over the Capitol of the United States of America to celebrate this great historic occasion for the CME Church for many of my constituents. I will close with this: Bishop Lockett. we thank you for what you have done not only for the Houston community. but for what you have done in the United States of America. I hope and pray that you will continue to do Gods work. It is my honor to recognize and pay tribute to Bishop Wallace Edward Lockett of Houston. Texas on his election as the 57th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church at their 36th Quadrennial Session and the 37th General Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on June 30. 2010 in Mobile. Alabama. The CME is a 139year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 1.2 million members across the United States. CME also has missions and sister churches in Haiti. Jamaica. Ghana. Liberia. Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sudan/Egypt. Kenya. Tanzania. Uganda. Rwanda and Burundi. The quintessential public servant. Bishop Lockett has been a strong advocate for those without a voice. strengthening the family and working to better the condition of those in need. both here at home and abroad. A pioneer in Houstons economic development communitybased corporation. Bishop Lockett previously presided over the Board of Directors of a successful communitybased development corporation. SunnysideUp. Incorporated. specializing in substantial rehabilitation of both single and multifamily housing. Under his leadership the organization managed an inventory of more than one hundred homes in the organizations signature "leasepurchase program." Additionally. over 600 units of multifamily housing were purchased. rehabilitated and joint managed. For the past four years. Bishop Lockett and his business partner. Dr. Gideon Adjei (a native Ghanaian). have been involved in developing Crystal Horizon Investment (Ghana) Ltd. This project supports the development and security of 35.000 acres of land for farming. affordable housing. health care facilities. and schools in the Volta River area known as Ocosenbou of West Africa. Prior to his recent election. Bishop Lockett served as the pastor of the 1.500member CME Metropolitan Church in Houston for over 25 years. During his tenure. more than 45 ministries have been developed. including a charter school middle for males. Bishop Lockett was also instrumental in leading Metropolitan CME Church in directing the construction of a new 49.000 square foot building which houses many of its ministries. While actively involved in church. community. and for profit enterprises. Bishop Lockett also finds time for civic and political involvement. He serves on the Texas College Board of Trustees. (Tyler. Texas). He has served as a member of the Ministers Advisory Council to each mayor of Houston since 1985. Past positions held include President of the Texas State Legal Services Support Center (Austin. Texas). Board Member of the Deep East Texas Council of Government (DETCOG). and President of the Lufkin Branch of the NAACP. Lufkin. Texas. Bishop Lockett also served his country honorably as a member of the United States Air Force working as a team member with the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System. Bishop Lockett attended Florida A&M University. Ohio University State University. and holds a Masters Degree in Business Management and International Marketing from the University of Phoenix. He is a candidate for Master of Theological Studies at Trinity Theological Seminary. Lockett is married to Lillie B. and is the father of three children. Dwayne Demetrius. Vernon Dale and Nicole Tonita. He is the proud grandfather of five grandchildren. A faithful shepherd and servant. Houston and Texas will miss Bishop Lockett. It is truly an honor to pay tribute to Rev. Locketts distinguished life and a privilege to enter these United States House of Representatives. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Bishop Wallace Edward Lockett as the 57th C.M.E Bishop and Presiding Prelate for the Fifth Episcopal District overseeing Alabama and Florida in the 140year history of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church.