Most Reverend Neff Powell
Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Virginia
Roanoke, VA
Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, (R-VA)
Date of Prayer: 06/05/2002
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to welcome Bishop Frank Neff Powell , bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and one of my constituents, who has been chosen to serve as Guest Chaplain this morning.
Bishop Powell was born in Salem, Oregon. He was baptized at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Salem, Oregon, in 1948. Growing up in Salem he met his future wife, Dorothy Houck. He attended Claremont Men's College, in Claremont, California, graduating with a degree in history in 1970. During college, he was active at Christ Church Parish, Ontario, California.
Immediately following graduation, he married Dorothy and enrolled in the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While there, he completed his field education at Church of our Savior in Milford, New Hampshire, and at St. Dunstan's in Ellsworth, Maine, graduating in 1973.
Bishop Powell began his ordained ministry as the curate at Trinity Parish in his home State of Oregon before being appointed vicar at Saint Bede's, Forest Grove, in 1975. These were fruitful years for the Powell family, marked by the birth of their three children, Charles Neff , Dorothy Louise, and Robert Bingham.
Bishop Powell was called to the diocese of New York in 1983 to serve as archdeacon and deputy for program, with a special emphasis on Christian education, stewardship, and small churches. He helped to develop the Carolinas and Virginia Small Church Leadership Training Program.
In 1991, he was called back to Oregon to serve as executive assistant to the bishop of Oregon. Most recently, on June 22, 1996, he was elected the fifth bishop of Southwestern Virginia. He is presently an associate of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, a member of the Council of Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission, and a fellow of the College of Preachers. In addition, he was appointed to the Church Deployment Board of the National Episcopal Church in 1997.
Bishop Powell's life has been marked by continual service and dedication to the Episcopal Church and to the dictates of his personal faith. It is a distinct pleasure to welcome him to Washington today to open the United States House of Representatives in prayer, one of the finer traditions of this institution in which we humbly seek divine guidance and wisdom for the difficult tasks before us.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to welcome Bishop Frank Neff Powell , Bishop of Southwestern Virginia and one of my constituents, who has been chosen to serve as guest chaplain this morning.
Bishop Powell was born December 28, 1947, in Salem, OR. He was baptized at St. Paul's Episcopal church, in Salem, OR, on November 28, 1948.
Growing up in Salem he met his future wife, Dorothy Houck, in the church youth group. He attended Claremont Men's College, in Claremont, CA, graduating with a degree in history in 1970. During college, he was active at Christ Church Parish, Ontario, CA, and in the Episcopal students group.
Immediately following graduation, he married Dorothy, and enrolled in the Episcopal Theological School, in Cambridge, MA. While there he completed his field education at church of our savior in Milford, NH, and at St. Dunstan's in Ellsworth, ME, graduating in 1973.
Powell began his ordained ministry as the curate at trinity parish in his home state of Oregon, before being appointed vicar of St. Bede's forest grove, in 1975. While at St.
Bede's the liturgy was redesigned, Christian education expanded, the congregation began to actively engage the community, and a new church was built. These were fruitful years for the Powell family as well, marked by the birth of their three children, Charles Neff , Dorothy Louise, and Robert Bingham.
Bishop Powell was called to the diocese of North Carolina in 1983 to serve as archdeacon and deputy for program, with a special emphasis on Christian education, stewardship, and small churches. He helped to develop the Carolinas and Virginia small church leadership training program.
In 1991, he was called back to Oregon to serve as executive assistant to the bishop of Oregon, attending to administration, vocations, deployment, and secretary of convention and council.
Most recently, on June 22, 1996, he was elected the fifth bishop of southwestern Virginia during a special council held at St. John's church, in Roanoke. He was ordained and consecrated at Burris auditorium on the campus of Virginia tech, later that year.
He is presently an associate of the society of St. John the evangelist, a member of the council of associated parishes for liturgy and mission, and a fellow of the college of preachers. In addition, he was appointed to the church deployment board of the national Episcopal Church in 1997.
Bishop Neff's life has been marked by continual service and dedication to the Episcopal Church and to the dictates of his personal faith. It is a distinct pleasure to welcome him to Washington today to open the United States House of Representatives in prayer, one of the finer traditions of this institution in which we humbly seek divine guidance and wisdom for the difficult tasks before us.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
O God, the fountain of wisdom, whose will is good and gracious and whose law is truth, we beseech You so to guide and bless our Representatives in Congress assembled, that they may lead this Nation and enact such laws as shall please You, to the glory of Your name and the welfare of the people. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory