HR1509

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


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

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

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

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


 






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and

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

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

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


 






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

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

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