SR0031 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0031 LRB097 08373 GRL 48500 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Arthur H. DeKruyter; and

WHEREAS, Arthur DeKruyter grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he attended Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, After completing his graduate work at Princeton University, Arthur DeKruyter accepted the call of a church in Western Springs, where he served as pastor for over 13 years; in 1965, he was called to the burgeoning community of Oak Brook to found a new church with only 5 families; in just a few years, the church grew to fill the Butler School gymnasium; subsequently, the new church building at York and 31st Street, seating 1,200 people, was dedicated and filled to capacity on Easter Sunday in 1970; and

WHEREAS, In 1951, Arthur DeKruyter began broadcasting weekly to the Chicago area through radio - a pioneering ministry that, in 1980, led to the Pulpit of Christ Church program on area television; and

WHEREAS, Arthur DeKruyter was the author of several books, including 1985's "Journey into Joy", and co-authored "The Suburban Church: Practical Advice for Authentic Ministry" with Quentin J. Schultze; his popular sermon series, titled "Basic Christianity", was translated into Mandarin, published, and has been distributed to over 150,000 people throughout China over the past several years; and

WHEREAS, Arthur DeKruyter has been a member of numerous theological organizations, including the Board of Trustees of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California; he was the Founding Board Chair of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights; he was the Founder of the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary in St. Petersburg, Russia; he was the Co-Founder and Chaplain Emeritus of the Executives Breakfast Club of Oak Brook; he has also served on the Board of Trustees of the O'Hare International Airport Interfaith Chapel, the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, and the Advisory Council of the Chicago Sunday Evening Club; and

WHEREAS, Arthur DeKruyter was the recipient of numerous professional honors, including the 1996 Gutenberg Award; the establishment of the Arthur DeKruyter/Christ Church of Oak Brook Chair of Preaching at Fuller Theological Seminary; recognition as the first recipient of the annual Paul Butler Achievement Award for leadership; selection as one of the Ten Outstanding Preachers in the Chicago area by the Chicago Tribune in 1981; and, most recently, the founding of the Arthur H. DeKruyter Chair in Faith and Communication at Calvin College in Grand Rapids; and

WHEREAS, Arthur DeKruyter was a loving husband to his late wife, Gladys, for 57 years; he was also the wonderful father to his daughter, Lucette, and her husband, Thomas Bamford; the beloved grandfather of Arthur and Tab and his wife, Kristin; and the great-grandfather of Matt and Bobby; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Arthur H. DeKruyter; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Arthur DeKruyter as an expression of our sympathy.