HR0966 LRB093 22241 HSS 51179 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Pastor James E.
4 Washington on being promoted to the office of Bishop in the
5 International Church of God in Christ; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Pastor Washington is currently the pastor of Saint
7 Paul Church of God in Christ in Rockford and Mount Calvary
8 Church of God in Christ in Freeport; the journey to promotion
9 began in February of this year with a recommendation for the
10 position; Pastor Washington completed the training institute
11 for the office in March of 2004; the General Assembly, the
12 governing body of the International Church of God in Christ,
13 ratified the appointment in April of 2004; he will be installed
14 in a consecration service on Monday, May 24, 2004 at
15 Jurisdictional Headquarters in Chicago; the consecration
16 service will be conducted by the Presiding Prelate of the
17 International Church of God in Christ, Bishop Gilbert E.
18 Patterson; and
 
19     WHEREAS, On Tuesday, May 25, 2004, Pastor Washington will
20 assume responsibility for Illinois Fifth West Jurisdiction and
21 will be the leader of churches included in that jurisdiction;
22 the jurisdiction is a member assembly of the International
23 Church; the International Church of God in Christ has a
24 membership of 6,000,000 people worldwide and is the fourth
25 largest religious body in the world; and
 
26     WHEREAS, Pastor Washington is a progressive and visionary
27 leader in the Freeport and Rockford community; he will bring
28 innovative and visionary administrative skills to the office of
29 Bishop; he received his call to ministry in February of 1961;
30 he served as assistant pastor for 15 years to Bishop Freeman
31 Guy Green; he was installed as Pastor at Saint Paul Church of
32 God in Christ in July of 1981; he has established 25 ministries

 

 

HR0966 - 2 - LRB093 22241 HSS 51179 r

1 through his work at that church; he has led the building of new
2 edifices, the purchase and establishment of coaches for S.P.
3 Charter Service, and several projects through Hands that Help,
4 Inc.; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Pastor Washington was installed as Pastor of Mount
6 Calvary Church of God in Christ in 1998; he has established 10
7 ministries as a result of his work with that church; under his
8 leadership, land has been purchased for a new facility and
9 plans are in the works; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Pastor Washington is active in his communities; in
11 Rockford, he is a Vice President of the Rockford Ministers'
12 Fellowship, a past president of the Northern Illinois Southern
13 Wisconsin Pentecostal, and a member of the C.N.O. (Council of
14 Neighborhood Organizations); in Freeport, he is a member of the
15 Freeport African American Ministers United for Change; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Pastor Washington is married to Georgia Mae Lovett
17 Washington; he is the father of Yolanda and Vincent and the
18 extended family of Cabria and Kina; he has five grandchildren
19 and many godchildren; therefore, be it
 
20     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
22 congratulate Pastor James E. Washington on being promoted to
23 the office of Bishop in the International Church of God in
24 Christ; and be it further
 
25     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
26 presented to Pastor James E. Washington as an expression of our
27 respect and esteem.