HR0981

LRB093 22306 HSS 51386 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
3
State of Illinois are pleased to honor the Reverend Steve Bland 
4
Jr. of Rockford for his many years of service to the Rockford 
5
community; and

 
6
    WHEREAS, Reverend Bland holds a Bachelor of Science in 
7
accountancy with a minor in music from Northern Illinois 
8
University; he earned a Master of Divinity from Central Baptist 
9
Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas, with special 
10
studies at Virginia Union Seminary in Richmond, Virginia; he is 
11
currently working on a Doctor of Ministry through the Samuel D. 
12
Proctor School of Theology in Richmond, Virginia; and

 
13
    WHEREAS, Reverend Bland is the senior pastor at Pilgrim 
14
Baptist Church in Rockford; Pilgrim Baptist Church is a large, 
15
historic, and thriving congregation with holistic ministries 
16
that meet the needs of the total person and the entire family; 
17
and

 
18
    WHEREAS, Reverend Bland has been very active in 
19
professional and civic organizations; he is the chairman of the 
20
board of the Pilgrim Village Community Development 
21
Corporation; the chairman of the Rockford Area Ministerial 
22
Alliance; second vice president of the Baptist General State 
23
Convention of Illinois; a member of the board of directors of 
24
the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc.; vice president of 
25
the African American Religious Connection; a member of the 
26
board of directors of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in 
27
Kansas City, Kansas; president of One Church One Child of 
28
Illinois; State Division Lecturer of the Baptist General State 
29
Congress of Illinois; vice president/chair of education for the 
30
Rockford Ministers Fellowship; a member of the Great Rivers 
31
Region of American Baptist Churches; a member of the Mayor's 
32
Task Force; and a member of the Superintendent of Schools 
 


 






HR0981
- 2 -
LRB093 22306 HSS 51386 r




1
Advisory Committee; and

 
2
    WHEREAS, Reverend Bland has served as a workshop clinician, 
3
a guest speaker, a lecturer, a revival leader, and as a weekend 
4
gospel radio talk show host; he previously served as the first 
5
national president from 1996 to 2000 of the Young Pastors and 
6
Ministers Department of the National Baptist Convention, USA, 
7
Inc.; he was a dean for the Greater Rockford and Vicinity 
8
District Association, chairman of the board of the Rockford 
9
Ministers Fellowship School of Religion, an executive board 
10
member of the Greater Rockford Clergy Association, a member of 
11
the board of managers for the Great Rivers Region of the 
12
American Baptist Churches, a board member for the Rockford 
13
Local Development Corporation, and an advisory board member for 
14
Amcore Bank of Rockford; and

 
15
    WHEREAS, Reverend Bland is married to the former Phyllis 
16
Jennette Brooks, an educator, and is the father of three 
17
children, Steve M. III, Brandon C., and Sydnie R. Bland; 
18
therefore, be it

 
19
    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
20
NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
21
honor the Reverend Steve Bland Jr. for his many years of 
22
service to the Rockford community; and be it further

 
23
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
24
presented to Reverend Steve Bland Jr. as an expression of our 
25
respect and esteem.