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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E496-E497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO REVEREND ANDREW B. WARNER
______
HON. GWEN MOORE
of wisconsin
in the house of representatives
Monday, April 29, 2019
Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend Andrew
B. Warner. He is a pastor, social justice activist, devoted husband and
father. Reverend Warner is a graduate of Harvard University with a
Master of Divinity Degree.
Reverend Warner is leaving his current post as Senior Pastor of
Plymouth Church United Church of Christ on May 5, 2019. He served in
many pastoral capacities during his 22-year tenure at Plymouth and was
always attentive to the care of his congregants throughout times of
both joy and grief. Under his guidance, Plymouth embodied the spiritual
practice of ``extravagant welcome'' to the building, the mind and the
spirit. I have benefitted from and borne witness to this extravagant
welcome on many occasions as both a visitor and preacher at Plymouth
Church.
Reverend Warner led a major capital campaign and managed the remodel
of the 100-year-old edifice. The project received a Mayor's Design
Award in 2013 for honoring its historic Eschweiler design while
adapting to accessibility and technology needs.
Reverend Warner led Plymouth Church in collaboration with other
organizations on topics such as racial justice, interfaith relations,
and the role of the arts in healing and forgiveness. I personally have
participated in Plymouth's tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the
Voting Rights Act, as well as a tribute to the 150th Anniversary of the
14th Amendment. Reverend Warner created the Reviving Justice, Peace and
Hope series of interfaith social justice conferences held at Plymouth.
Following its remodel, Plymouth has opened its doors to Congregation
Shir Hadash. During his tenure, Plymouth has also continued to fully
live out its Open and Affirming (ONA) status through embrace of and
advocacy for the LGBTQ Community. In the spirit of cross-sectional
community building, Reverend Warner has served on a number of boards
including Pathfinders, Cream City Foundation, and Rotary Club of
Milwaukee.
Reverend Andrew B. Warner now takes leave of shepherding Plymouth to
take on two new roles in the wider United Church of Christ. He will
serve as Director of Development for the Wisconsin Conference where he
will lead the fundraising efforts of the conference to support the
planned giving and effective philanthropy of congregations and work to
organize a foundation-based community foundation model for the
endowments of the conference and congregations. He will also serve as a
Generosity Outreach Officer of the national setting of the UCC. In that
role he will train, coach and mentor conference and congregational
leaders across the country to strengthen the culture of generosity in
the UCC. As part of the work, he will teach as an adjunct faculty
member with the Lake Institute of the School of Philanthropy at Indiana
University-Purdue University, Indianapolis.
Reverend Andrew B. Warner is a truth faith leader. I am proud that he
resides in the 4th Congressional District in the Village of Whitefish
Bay with his husband and two sons--one
[[Page E497]]
in college, the other in high school. He opens his home to friends like
me, where he cooks and practices his gastro-evangelism. I, along with
others in the Greater Milwaukee area and Wisconsin, admire and thank
Reverend Warner for his positive impact on all around him. I am proud
to call Andrew B. Warner my friend. Madam Speaker, for these reasons I
rise to pay tribute to a man whose legacy as a true leader will serve
as a beacon for those who assume his duties upon leaving Plymouth
Church.
____________________