HR1509 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1509 LRB095 22456 GRL 52805 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor Bishop William Haven Bonner for his work in the community; and

WHEREAS, Bishop William Bonner earned his Theological Graduate degree from the Moody Bible Institute and his honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Trinity Hall College; and

WHEREAS, Bishop William Bonner has had a long and distinguished career in ministry; he served as Junior Pastor of the Hill Street Church of God in Christ in Waukegan; he served in the pastorate under Bishop Cain Scott, Bishop William Roberts, and Bishop Louis Henry Ford; he is also the founder and pastor of the Greater Mount Olive Church of God in Christ in Aurora; and

WHEREAS, Bishop William Bonner has served as the Bishop of the Sixth Jurisdiction of Illinois for the last 26 years; he serves as the Chairman of the Budgetary Committee of the Board of Bishops of the Church of God in Christ and is the present Senior Bishop of the Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa Jurisdiction; he is also a former chairman and member of the Budgetary Committee of the Boards of Bishops and a former Co-Chairman of Finance for the Church of God in Christ, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Bishop William Bonner has devoted much of his time and energy to numerous causes in his community; he serves as Chairman of the Board of Mary's Mission, Inc., an organization devoted to housing the homeless, and the Bonner Foundation for Community Enhancement; he is involved with a weekly television and radio ministry throughout the Chicago area; he championed the Greater Mount Olive Prison Ministry; through the Greater Mount Olive Church of God in Christ, a State-authorized food disbursement facility, he has been a regular provider of food, clothing, and shelter to the homeless in Aurora; and

WHEREAS, Bishop William Bonner has been the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of his community service, including the Religious Workers Guild Award, the Lewis University Outstanding Citizen Award, the Henton Academy Outreach Excellence Award, the Arthur Lockhart Resource Institute Humanitarian Award, and J.O. Patterson Mayor's Staff Aide de Camp, and Marie Wilkinson's Black Leadership Award; and

WHEREAS, Bishop William Bonner and his loving wife of 61 years, Mother Dorothy Mae Bonner, have four children, Enyess Allen (Bishop Edgar Allen, Jr.), Willie Etta Wright (Elder Augustus Wright), Dorothy Jones (Elder Gregory Jones), and Charles Bonner (deceased); and

WHEREAS, Bishop William Bonner's dedication to those in need and his unyielding piety and inner strength are worthy of the greatest respect; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Bishop William Haven Bonner for his work in the community and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Bishop William Haven Bonner as a symbol of our esteem and respect.