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State senator opens Congress with prayer, eyes return trip Thursday, May 15, 2008 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - After spending time in the House on Wednesday, the Rev. Henry "Hank" Wilkins IV said he may want to return to Congress for a longer stay. Wilkins, a state senator from Pine Bluff, was the House's guest chaplain for the day. He read a prayer to open Wednesday's session and was granted all-day access to the House floor. Whether he decides to try to come back to the House on a more permanent basis depends on the future of Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, he said. Wilkins, 53, said he may run for Congress if Ross ever vacates the 4th District seat. "Once he chooses to end his career in Congress and do something different, I would consider," a House race, Wilkins said. Ross has nominal opposition for a fifth term this year. He is rumored to have his sights on the Governor's Mansion in the future. Wilkins, a Democrat, has been in the state Legislature for a decade and is part of a prominent Pine Bluff political family. His parents were state legislators and his brother-in-law is former Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater. He also has a number of friends in Congress, in addition to the members of the Arkansas congressional delegation, he said. Service as guest chaplain gave him the opportunity to visit with Reps. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas. Ross invited Wilkins to be guest chaplain for a day when he was first elected to Congress in 2000, but scheduling conflicts prevented Wilkins from serving in the largely symbolic position until Wednesday. In his 125-word prayer to open the session, Wilkins asked God to bestow "wisdom and justice" to lawmakers. He said it was "an awesome experience" to stand in the House rostrum to give the prayer. A few friends and parishioners sent him text messages when they saw the prayer broadcast live on C-SPAN television, he added. Wilkins is senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff. "I don't take lightly the history of our nation and the opportunity to stand in that great place to say words of hope and guidance and wisdom to our nation and leaders," Wilkins said. Members of Congress are typically allowed to invite one guest chaplain per 2-year session of Congress. Ross sponsored the Rev. Roy Smith of Little Rock last year. A spokesman for the House chaplain's office said Ross made a special request to invite Wilkins. |
