The Office of the Chaplain United States House of Representatives

Reverend Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr.

First Baptist Church of Paschall
Philadelphia, PA

Sponsor: Rep. Rep. Robert Brady, (D-PA)
Date of Prayer: 10/09/2001

One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be here to welcome our guest chaplain, my good friend and former employer, the right Reverend W. Wilson Goode . Reverend Goode has always served God and the public at the same time. He rose from deacon to associate pastor at the First Baptist Church of Paschall.

He rose from a Philadelphia neighborhood block captain to Philadelphia's Mayor, who, in his infinite wisdom, appointed me as his deputy.

He went from organizing his block to leading faith–based initiatives at the nonprofit Public/Private Ventures. He is Associate Professor of Political Science and Urban Policy at Eastern College, where he puts his experience as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, Philadelphia's Managing Director and Mayor of Philadelphia, to work for his students.

Dr. Goode has been awarded 14 honorary doctorates and has published an autobiography, In Good Faith. He is a family man, who has seen his son elected to the city council.

More than anything else, Wilson Goode is a person who can bring people together. He did that as a mayor, he did that in his candidacy, and now does that as a reverend.

Mr. Speaker, in these troubled times it is important that we hear from people like W. Wilson Goode , so I welcome him with pride, and I thank him for being here.

Again, there are a whole lot of titles that he holds, a whole lot of positions that he held, but the one most endearing with me, the position and title that he holds with me, is dear friend. I thank him, and may God continue to bless him, and God bless our troops.

Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:

God we honor You today as both omnipotent and omnipresent.
We now beseech You to bless these hallowed halls in which the affairs of the state are conducted.

We pray especially for every Member of this Congress. We seek for them wisdom that will help them at all times to discern right from wrong. We seek for them passion for this nation and all of its people. We seek for them judgement in the passage of the laws that will establish justice, freedom and equality throughout the land.

We seek for Members of Congress special concern for our children, especially those who are hungry, homeless, living in poverty and who parents are incarcerated.

God we acknowledge Your mighty handiwork in the evolution of this nation and pray now for Your continuing protection. We pray today especially for the men and women of our Armed Forces. We pray for Your Divine protection of them and for the comfort of their families.

Now, Lord, grant to this Congress, at this extraordinary time in our history, an extra measure of Your blessing that they may guide this nation with righteousness and justice. May Divine Providence always guide them as Your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Amen.

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