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92_HR1037 LRB9217675RHrh 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 3 Representatives are honored to recognize milestone events in 4 the lives of the citizens of the State of Illinois; and 5 WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that on July 3, 6 2002, the Reverend Henry M. Williamson, Sr. was elected as 7 the 52nd Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 8 Presiding Prelate of the 9th Episcopal District; and 9 WHEREAS, Bishop Williamson was born in Arkansas, reared 10 in Tennessee, and called to ministry in 1967 in Gary, Indiana 11 at Israel Christian Methodist Church; he was ordained Deacon 12 in 1968 and Elder in 1969 by Bishop J. Claude Allen; and 13 WHEREAS, Bishop Williamson earned his bachelor's degree 14 in Sociology from Purdue University, his Master's of Divinity 15 from Garrett Theological Seminary with an advanced degree in 16 Clinical Pastoral Education, and an honorary Doctor of 17 Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary; and 18 WHEREAS, Bishop Williamson is in his 35th year of 19 pastoral service in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 20 which includes Pastor of West Side (Gary, Indiana), New Hope 21 (Evanston, Illinois), Pilgrim Temple (East St. Louis, 22 Illinois), Phillips Temple (Indianapolis, Indiana), and 23 Central Metropolitan (Jacksonville, Florida); he is chairman 24 of the Joint Board of Finance for the Southeast Missouri, 25 Illinois, and Wisconsin Annual Conference; and 26 WHEREAS, Since 1986 as Pastor of the historic Carter 27 Temple in Chicago, Illinois, Bishop Williamson's burden for 28 growth developed the Abundant Life Ministry; there has been 29 both spiritual and economic growth of the church; pride in 30 the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church heritage and area 31 colleges has motivated the congregation to send students to -2- LRB9217675RHrh 1 the Christian Methodist Episcopal colleges and seminary; 2 Bishop Williamson has helped develop a family atmosphere 3 which cares for children, youth, and the elderly; outreach 4 ministries such as More Like Christ (homeless program), 5 African American male ministries (Boys to Men Choir, 6 Christian Methodist Men, and Man-Boy Breakfast), the 7 Sisterhood, scholarships, and television ministries (seen 8 twice weekly in the Chicago area) help take Christ to the 9 community; in addition, Bishop Williamson is the founder of 10 One Church School which Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 11 has embraced and made a national outreach ministry that 12 involves churches and schools in partnership in teaching the 13 value of life and the value of learning to our young people; 14 and 15 WHEREAS, Most proud of his family, Bishop Williamson and 16 his wife of 28 years, the former Doris Yvonne Keyes, are the 17 proud parents of Henry Jr., a graduate of Northwestern 18 University and currently a financial analyst with LaSalle 19 Partners of Chicago, and Kelli Daonne, a graduate of Chicago 20 State University and currently a teacher in the Chicago 21 Public Schools; they are also the proud grandparents of 22 Jonathan, a source of much joy and happiness in their lives; 23 therefore, be it 24 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 25 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 26 we congratulate Bishop Henry M, Williamson, Sr. on his 27 election as the 52nd Bishop of the Christian Methodist 28 Episcopal Church, Presiding Prelate of the 9th Episcopal 29 District; and be it further 30 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 31 presented to Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. as an expression 32 of our esteem.