HR0987

LRB096 21384 GRL 37596 r





  
1

HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3
Representatives are pleased to congratulate the members of the 
4
Illinois State Association of Free Will Baptists on the 
5
occasion of the association's 50th annual meeting; and
  
 
6
    WHEREAS, Free Will Baptist churches have had a presence in 
7
the State of Illinois since well before 1850; most of these 
8
churches, however, ceased to be Free Will Baptist after 1911, 
9
when the northern line of the denomination merged into the 
10
Northern Baptist Convention; only in the south central section 
11
of Illinois did a small group of Free Will Baptists maintain 
12
their distinct identity; and
  
 
13
    WHEREAS, After meeting for many years at the Southern 
14
Illinois Yearly Conference of Free Will Baptists, the Illinois 
15
State Association of Free Will Baptists was formed on August 
16
10, 1960 at the Tabernacle campground in Benton; the 
17
association then reorganized the State's Free Will Baptist 
18
churches into districts, elected a slate of officers, and 
19
adopted a constitution and a set of by-laws; the association 
20
held its first annual session at the Tabernacle campground in 
21
Benton on June 23-24, 1961; and
  
 
22
    WHEREAS, Today, the Illinois State Association of Free Will 
 


 






HR0987
- 2 -
LRB096 21384 GRL 37596 r




1
Baptists consists of 40 churches and has numerous boards to 
2
assist its membership with educational, humanitarian, and 
3
religious work; and
  
 
4
    WHEREAS, The current officers of the Illinois State 
5
Association of Free Will Baptists are Dr. David L. Burgess, 
6
moderator; Rev. David Womack, assistant moderator; Rev. Larry 
7
Cook, clerk; Rev. Harlan Jackson, assistant clerk; Mr. Tim 
8
Hayes, treasurer; and Rev. David Shores, promotional secretary 
9
and member of the General Board of the National Association of 
10
Free Will Baptists; therefore, be it
  
 
11
    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
12
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
13
congratulate the members of the Illinois State Association of 
14
Free Will Baptists on the occasion of the association's 50th 
15
annual meeting and wish them continued success and happiness in 
16
the future; and be it further
  
 
17
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18
presented to the Executive Board of the Illinois State 
19
Association of Free Will Baptists as a symbol of our esteem and 
20
respect.