Reverend Dr. Charley Hames, Jr.
Beebee Memorial Cathedral
Oakland, CA
Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee, (D-CA)
Date of Prayer: 09/23/2011
One Minute Speech Given in Recognition of the Guest Chaplain:
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to welcome Reverend Dr. Charley Hames to the House floor after delivering today's very powerful opening prayer .
Dr. Hames is an absolutely brilliant pastor at the historic BeeBee Memorial Cathedral in Oakland, California. Under his leadership, BeeBee Memorial Cathedral has grown from approximately 80 members to over 1,400 members, making it one of the Bay Area's fastest growing churches. His ministries touch the lives of many throughout the community.
In addition to his 19 years in the ministry, Dr. Hames served as the chair of the board of the Empowerment Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that fosters community involvement with local government.
Reverend Dr. Hames is the proud recipient of the 2011 CME–Ninth Episcopal District Pastor of the Year, is an active member and chaplain of the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, Inc., and a director for the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce Board. He is married to his wife, Felicia S. Brooks–Hames, and is the proud father of three children.
I thank Pastor Hames for his wise counsel, for his spiritual leadership and for his commitment to making this a better world for all God's children.
Opening Prayer Given by the Guest Chaplain:
Let us pray.
Eternal and Gracious God, we call on your Name by your mercy as One nation under your Divine Counsel.
Dear Lord, I lift up to you today these men and women who have been weighted with the vicissitudes of life by the virtue of the office they have been called to serve for such a time as this.
We ask you Lord to equip and empower these your leaders by your Spirit to faithfully carry out the duty to the office in which affects our daily lives.
Remind them of their divine purpose to bring hope where there has been disappointment, to give peace where there is chaos, and leadership that promotes unity.
Guide their minds to make decisions that embody the good of all our citizens and pilot their hands to give voice to the voiceless.
This is our prayer in your awesome Name. Amen.
To learn more about Members who have sponsored a Guest Chaplain, please visit the Congressional Biographical Directory