HR0999

LRB094 19657 RSP 56876 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Pastor Thomas 
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Hudson Cross Jr. is retiring from his position as minister of 
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First United Methodist Church in Elmhurst; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He has been an ordained minister in the United 
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Methodist Church for 45 years, serving at several churches, 
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including First Methodist in Huntsville, Alabama; Rainbow City 
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United Methodist in Gadsden, Alabama; Five Points United 
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Methodist in Jasper, Alabama; West Pullman United Methodist in 
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Chicago; Julia Gay United Methodist in Chicago; 
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Yorkville-Millbrook United Methodist; Friendship United 
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Methodist Church of Bolingbrook; First United Methodist Church 
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of Oak Park; and finally at First United Methodist Church of 
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Elmhurst; and

 
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    WHEREAS, During his tenure in the United Methodist Church, 
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he has fought discrimination in every form with great 
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determination, preached sermons of the highest quality that 
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challenged congregations to think and act, and cared for those 
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in need in his congregations; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He has provided vision for churches he has served, 
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enabling them to envision all that they could be; he has 
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encouraged lay leadership, initiated endowment funds to 
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support the financial work of the church, and tithed 
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religiously to the church; he has recognized the work of 
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individuals and groups who gave of their time and talents to 
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the church and shared his never-ending supply of jokes, many of 
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which were really funny; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Pastor Cross is the husband of Ruth Cross; the 
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father of State Representative and House Minority Leader Tom 
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Cross (wife Genie), Brad Cross, Scott Cross (wife Margaret), 
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and Kennedy Cross (wife Diane); and the proud grandfather of 
 


 






HR0999
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LRB094 19657 RSP 56876 r




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Reynolds and Hudson, Emily and Anna, Katie and Claire, and 
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Morgan, Lindsey, and Alexander; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate Pastor Thomas Hudson Cross Jr. on the occasion 
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of his retirement after 45 years of service, and we thank him 
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for many years of leading his flocks with love and dignity; and 
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be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Pastor Cross as an expression of our esteem and 
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with best wishes for a relaxing retirement.