HR0981 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0981 LRB093 22306 HSS 51386 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to honor the Reverend Steve Bland Jr. of Rockford for his many years of service to the Rockford community; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Bland holds a Bachelor of Science in accountancy with a minor in music from Northern Illinois University; he earned a Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas, with special studies at Virginia Union Seminary in Richmond, Virginia; he is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry through the Samuel D. Proctor School of Theology in Richmond, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Bland is the senior pastor at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Rockford; Pilgrim Baptist Church is a large, historic, and thriving congregation with holistic ministries that meet the needs of the total person and the entire family; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Bland has been very active in professional and civic organizations; he is the chairman of the board of the Pilgrim Village Community Development Corporation; the chairman of the Rockford Area Ministerial Alliance; second vice president of the Baptist General State Convention of Illinois; a member of the board of directors of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc.; vice president of the African American Religious Connection; a member of the board of directors of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas; president of One Church One Child of Illinois; State Division Lecturer of the Baptist General State Congress of Illinois; vice president/chair of education for the Rockford Ministers Fellowship; a member of the Great Rivers Region of American Baptist Churches; a member of the Mayor's Task Force; and a member of the Superintendent of Schools Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Bland has served as a workshop clinician, a guest speaker, a lecturer, a revival leader, and as a weekend gospel radio talk show host; he previously served as the first national president from 1996 to 2000 of the Young Pastors and Ministers Department of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; he was a dean for the Greater Rockford and Vicinity District Association, chairman of the board of the Rockford Ministers Fellowship School of Religion, an executive board member of the Greater Rockford Clergy Association, a member of the board of managers for the Great Rivers Region of the American Baptist Churches, a board member for the Rockford Local Development Corporation, and an advisory board member for Amcore Bank of Rockford; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Bland is married to the former Phyllis Jennette Brooks, an educator, and is the father of three children, Steve M. III, Brandon C., and Sydnie R. Bland; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the Reverend Steve Bland Jr. for his many years of service to the Rockford community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Steve Bland Jr. as an expression of our respect and esteem.