By Giddings                                           H.R. No. 1124
         77R15046 MDM-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to
 1-2     welcome Bishop Ernestine C. Reems to the Lone Star State May 30 to
 1-3     June 2, 2001, for the 12th annual national conference of the E. C.
 1-4     Reems Women's International Ministries; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Founded by Bishop Reems in 1989, the organization is
 1-6     committed to the empowerment of all women as they aspire to meet
 1-7     the myriad challenges in their lives; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Since childhood, Bishop Reems's unwavering faith has
 1-9     been nurtured by her close-knit family, which includes two
1-10     ministers, her father, Bishop E. E. Cleveland, and her brother, the
1-11     Reverend Elmer Cleveland, and by the singular experience of
1-12     overcoming tuberculosis, which she contracted at the age of 13; and
1-13           WHEREAS, In 1968, with four charter members and boundless
1-14     determination, this remarkable pastor founded the Center of Hope
1-15     Community Church in Oakland, California; today 1,500 strong, the
1-16     congregation is positively influenced by Bishop Reems's
1-17     soul-stirring sermons, which have inspired countless individuals;
1-18     and
1-19           WHEREAS, Bishop Reems holds a special place in her heart for
1-20     those deemed outcasts by society, and she offers spiritual solace
1-21     and practical assistance through dozens of outreach programs
1-22     sponsored by her church; she further serves her community through
1-23     her work with Hope Housing Corporation and Hope Development
1-24     Corporation, both of which she founded and serves as board chair,
 2-1     and she has been successful in the provision of transitional
 2-2     housing for homeless single mothers and affordable housing for
 2-3     seniors and other individuals; she has also authored two books,
 2-4     Counting Everything as Joy! and Through the Storm; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, On a broader scale, Bishop Reems serves as a trustee
 2-6     of the International Charismatic Bible Ministries and as a board
 2-7     member of Oral Roberts University and Monument International Church
 2-8     Assemblies; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Named one of the top 15 black women preachers in the
2-10     United States by Ebony magazine in 1997, her exceptional
2-11     contributions have earned her many additional accolades, including
2-12     the 2000 Rosa Parks Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service
2-13     from the Junior Flair Heritage Foundation and the 1990 Humanitarian
2-14     Award in Memory of Martin Luther King, Jr., for Outstanding
2-15     Leadership and Untiring Service to Mankind, and she was named Woman
2-16     of the Year by the Urban League in 2000; and
2-17           WHEREAS, Bishop Ernestine C. Reems has touched the lives of
2-18     many people during her years of dedicated service to the Christian
2-19     ministry, and she is indeed worthy of our highest praise and
2-20     recognition; now, therefore, be it
2-21           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-22     Legislature hereby welcome Bishop Ernestine C. Reems to Texas and
2-23     extend to her warmest wishes for an enjoyable visit to the Lone
2-24     Star State; and, be it further
2-25           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-26     prepared for Bishop Reems as an expression of high regard by the
2-27     Texas House of Representatives.