The publication is reproduced in full below:
CONGRATULATING REV. DR. BENJAMIN THOMAS, SR. ON HIS 30TH PASTORAL
ANNIVERSARY
_____
HON. RUBEN GALLEGO
of arizona
in the house of representatives
Friday, November 5, 2021
Mr. GALLEGO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Reverend Dr. Benjamin N. Thomas Sr., who recently celebrated his 30th Pastoral Anniversary at the Historic Tanner Chapel AME Church, the oldest African American church in Arizona.
Reverend Thomas first came to Tanner Chapel in October 1991 and since then has been dedicated to serving not only his church, but the whole Phoenix community. He has served on the boards of several organizations, including as Commissioner of the Arizona Commission on African-American Affairs, member of the Arizona Department of Economic Security Board of Directors, and President of the Arizona Ecumenical Council of Churches. In 2001, he founded Tanner Community Development Corporation to help families meet their spiritual, economic, educational, health, and housing needs. Prior to coming to Phoenix, he served as the pastor of AME churches in Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Joplin, Missouri. A dedicated family man, Reverend Thomas is husband to Beverly Thomas, father to Rev. Benjamin Thomas Jr., and a proud grandfather.
Reverend Thomas has been a role model to so many throughout the years. Although he has had opportunities to pastor elsewhere or to move up within church leadership, he has remained dedicated to Tanner Chapel and the Phoenix Community. I would like to congratulate Reverend Thomas on 30 years of pastoring at Tanner Chapel, thank him for his decades of service to the Phoenix community, and wish him the best as he continues his journey with members of the Historic Tanner Chapel AME Church.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 195
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