HR0963 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0963 LRB102 29220 MST 41170 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Bishop Charles W. Gillespie Jr., who passed away on October 2, 2022 at the age of 92; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Gillespie was born in Sandusky to the union of Bishop Charles W. Gillespie Sr. and Cora Newberry Gillespie on July 4, 1931; his family moved to Carbondale after his birth; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Gillespie received his education at local schools; he graduated from Attucks High School in 1948 and joined the Armed Services, where he served his country bravely during the Korean War; upon returning to the U.S., he moved to Detroit, Michigan and married the love of his life, Addie Mae Brooks, in 1961; they had a son, Sorrell Eugene Gillespie, in 1963; and

WHEREAS, In 1967, Bishop Gillespie and Addie began to attend the New St. Paul Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Detroit, Michigan; he was ordained as an Elder in 1970, and upon receiving his degree in Pastoral Theology from Charles Harrison Mason Bible College in 1974, he was installed as the First Administrative Assistant; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, Bishop Gillespie returned to his home in Carbondale and began serving as his father's Second Administrative Assistant; he was also appointed pastor of the Greater Gillespie Temple Church of God in Christ; as a pastor, he continued to serve as mentor for many at the Greater Gillespie Temple Church and began contemplating establishing churches across the nation; he was ordained as Bishop of the March of Faith Outreach Ministries Fellowship in 1998, which later became the March of Faith International Ministries; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Gillespie originally conceptualized the March of Faith Outreach Ministry Fellowship in 1982; from this, a yearly convocation was established, which subsequently led to the formation of March of Faith Outreach Ministries Fellowship; and

WHEREAS, The dream of a fellowship of churches was realized in 1996 when Bishop Gillespie and Mother Addie M. Gillespie called together former members of the Greater Gillespie Temple Church family who had started their own churches; following this reunion, the first March of Faith Outreach Ministries Fellowship convention was held in July of 1997 in Carbondale; the following year in 1998, he was ordained as Presiding Bishop of the March of Faith Outreach Ministries Fellowship, later known as the March of Faith International Fellowship; the ministry grew to over 200 churches across four different continents; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Gillespie served as the Presiding Bishop of the March of Faith International Fellowship for almost two decades from 1998 to 2017; he was a man of many talents and was affectionately known to many as "The Dancing Bishop", "The Singing Bishop", and "The Marrying Bishop", given his ability for matchmaking; even more than his talents, he was known as a man of strong character, a natural leader, and a father to many; he delivered messages of hope, healing, and restoration, as well as loving correction; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Gillespie retired to his home church in Carbondale in 2017, where he continued to serve his faith; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Gillespie was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, William and Joshua Gillespie; and his sisters, Ruth Finley, Gloria Dean English, and Ludora Gillespie; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Gillespie is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Mother Addie M. Gillespie; his son, Bishop Sorrell E. (Pamela) Gillespie Sr.; his brothers, Elder Cornelius (Arsteena) Gillespie and Richard Gillespie, his sister, Mother Naomi Mims; his grandchildren, Minister Brandee (William) Gillespie-Davis, Minister Sorrell E. (Dr. Christian) Gillespie II, and Christopher Gillespie; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, the March Of Faith Community Church Family, the March Of Faith International Fellowship family, and numerous friends around the world; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Bishop Charles W. Gillespie Jr. and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, community, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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