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92_HR1054
LRB9217675RHrhA
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- LRB9217675RHrhA
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 he is also a former president of the Rainbow/Push Coalition;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, Most proud of his family, Bishop Williamson and
17 his wife of 28 years, the former Doris Yvonne Keyes, are the
18 proud parents of Henry Jr., a graduate of Northwestern
19 University and currently a financial analyst with LaSalle
20 Partners of Chicago, and Kelli Daonne, a graduate of Chicago
21 State University and currently a teacher in the Chicago
22 Public Schools; they are also the proud grandparents of
23 Jonathan, a source of much joy and happiness in their lives;
24 therefore, be it
25 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
26 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
27 we congratulate Bishop Henry M, Williamson, Sr. on his
28 election as the 52nd Bishop of the Christian Methodist
29 Episcopal Church, Presiding Prelate of the 9th Episcopal
30 District; and be it further
31 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
32 presented to Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. as an expression
33 of our esteem.