The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Dr. Martha Taylor

Elmhurst Presbyterian Church
Oakland, CA

Sponsor: Rep. Hon. Barbara Lee, (D-CA)
Date of Prayer: 09/23/2009

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to welcome our guest chaplain here this morning, the Reverend Dr. Martha Taylor. Dr. Taylor has dedicated nearly 4 decades of her life to public service, and it is my distinct honor to welcome her here today.
Dr. Taylor serves as the Pastor of Elmhurst Presbyterian Church in Oakland, California, and as an adjunct professor at the San Francisco Theological Seminary.
She is also the principal owner of Ministry Christian Training – an education ministry that focuses on church leadership, biblical studies, and inspirational workshops. In this role, she has facilitated leadership trainings for numerous churches across the Bay Area and the country.
Throughout her long and varied years of service, Dr. Taylor has focused much of her attention on issues of social justice. She has become a staple in our home community, and remains active in numerous community organizations. For her work, she was named Christian Woman of the Year in 2006 by then–Sacramento Mayor, Heather Fargo, and the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
Dr. Taylor's commitment to service stems from her deep reservoir of faith, and from her dedication to use her faith as an active vehicle for social change.
It is again my great pleasure and honor to welcome my friend, the Reverend Dr. Martha Taylor.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

Almighty and Everlasting God, the Creator of the universe; the heavens, the moon and the stars are your work. You laid the foundation of this earth. We pause in the midst of pressing demands to open our hearts and minds to hear from you.

Bless this nation; bless our President, and each Representative of the people from who they represent and all that labor with them.

Help us not to forget the timeless principles penned by our Founding Fathers; that men and women are created equal; that we are endowed by you, our Creator, with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Prick our heart to make decisions that embrace these principles. Let the peace of God rule in our hearts. We pray this prayer in the name of the Most High. Amen.

To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory