HR0622 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0622 LRB100 14837 MST 29658 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize David C. Penn, Ph.D., on 50 years of serving in the ministry; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is a native of Chicago and senior minister of the Robbins Church of Christ, where he has served since 1984; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn preached his first sermon at the Far West Church of Christ; he has served congregations in Chicago, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn attended the Nashville Christian Institute in Nashville, Tennessee; he is a graduate of Rochester College; City University of Seattle, Washington; the University of Nebraska; the University of Missouri; St. Xavier University; Abilene Christian University; Concordia University of Chicago; California Coast University; the International Theological Seminary; the Northwestern Theological Seminary; and the Colorado Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn's academic portfolio includes an Associate of Arts; Bachelor of Arts; Master of Education (Curriculum and Instruction); Master of Arts (Educational Administration); Graduate Certificate in Civics and Democracy (Harvard University); Master of Arts (History); Master of Religious Education; Doctor of Education; Doctor of Philosophy; Educational Specialist Degree (Educational Administration); and a Graduate Certificate in School Superintendency; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn has also performed post-graduate study at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa; a Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the St. Timothy Theological Institute and a Doctor of Laws by the United Theological Seminary; in addition to congregational ministry, he is licensed in the states of Illinois and Tennessee as a "No Child Left Behind" social science educator and administrator; his state endorsements include principal and superintendent administration, world history, United States history, geography, civics, and political science; he presently serves as a Professor of History at Joliet Junior College and Professor of Biblical Studies and Urban Ministry for Metropolitan Christian University in Louisville, Kentucky; he was previously selected to serve as a keynote presenter at the annual Illinois Council for the Social Studies Fall State Conference in Lisle; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is the Vice-Chairman and Secretary for the Churches of Christ National Lectureship Executive Committee; member of the Executive Board of Directors and Academic Dean for the School of Religious Studies in Little Rock, Arkansas; member of the Board of Regents for Metropolitan Christian University in Louisville, Kentucky; member of the Board of Directors and Director of Biblical Accountability for the National Association of Private Theological Institutions; and former Chairman of the Midwest Lectureship; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is a co-founder and former chairman of the Midwest Youth Conference; co-founder of the National Crusade for Christ; founder of the Windy City Lectureship among the Chicago area Churches of Christ; founder of Imani Counseling Services, Inc., a private faith-based non-profit counseling agency chartered by the State of Illinois; founder of the Institute of Biblical Studies (Chicago); and editorial consultant for the National Lectureship Christian Courier newspaper; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Epsilon Tau, Phi Beta Delta, and Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Societies; he is the former vice-president of the Phi Alpha Theta Pi Nu Chapter of the University of Nebraska; other memberships include the Nancy Lyman Roelkner Scholarship Committee of the American Historical Society; the National Alliance of Black School Educators; the National Council for the Social Studies; the Illinois Council for the Social Studies; the Association for the Study of African American Life and History; the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; and the African Studies Association; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn has conducted evangelistic and revival meetings along with seminars and workshops in over 30 states across the nation; he is a frequent speaker on national and regional lectureships hosted by the Churches of Christ; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is recognized by the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists; the National Board of Christian Clinical Therapists; the National Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counselors; and the National Christian Counselors Association; additional affiliations are held with the American Counseling Association; the American Association of Christian Counselors; the International Association of Biblical Counseling; and the Southern Africa Association of Pastoral Work in Pretoria, South Africa; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, Dr. Penn authored his first book, "My Soul Looks Back and Wonders ... How I Got Over"; his second book, "The Power of His Penetrating Presence", was published in 2006 and is a compendium of sermons presented by various ministers at the Church of Christ 62nd Annual National Lectureship held in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn has written articles for the "Chicago Defender", the "Chicago Sun Times", the "Cincinnati Herald", the "African American Pulpit", the "Christian Courier", the "Christian Echo", and the "Gospel Times"; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is married to Brenda J. (Martin) and they have two children, Dortricia and Danielle, and two grandchildren, Rian Danielle Willingham and Kendall Dior Dorsey; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize David C. Penn, Ph.D., on 50 years of serving in the ministry, and we wish him many more wonderful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Penn as a symbol of our respect and esteem.