HR0598

LRB093 15070 KEF 40655 r









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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives 
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recognize Bishop William Haven Bonner, founder and Pastor of 
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the Greater Mount Olive Church of God in Christ, for his many 
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years of dedicated service; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner is a Theological Graduate of Moody 
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Bible Institute and received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity 
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degree from Trinity Hall College; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Before founding the Greater Mount Olive Church of 
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God in Christ in Aurora, he was Junior Pastor of the Hill 
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Street C.O.G.I.C. in Waukegan and went on to serve in the 
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Pastorate under Bishop Cain Scott, Bishop William Roberts, and 
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Bishop Louis Henry Ford; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner's national church service includes 
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service as former Co-chairman of Finance of the Church of God 
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in Christ, Inc., Chairman of the Budgetary Committee of the 
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Board of Bishops for the Church of God in Christ and  Senior 
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Bishop of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa Jurisdiction; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner's other service and memberships 
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include: Chairman of the Board of Mary's Mission, Inc., 
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Chairman of the Board of the Bonner Foundation for Community 
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Enhancement, weekly television and radio ministry throughout 
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the Chicagoland area, and regularly providing food, clothing, 
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and shelter for the needy; Greater Mount Olive is a State 
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authorized facility for food disbursement; the Helping Hand 
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Fund lends financial assistance to struggling churches; and 
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Bishop Bonner promotes foster care and supports children and 
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families in crisis and has championed the Greater Mount Olive 
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Prison Ministry; and

 
 


 









HR0598
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LRB093 15070 KEF 40655 r







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    WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner has received many awards for his 
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dedication, including  being awarded the honor of having Pond 
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Avenue changed to Bonner Avenue in 1980; other awards include 
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the Religious Workers Guild Award; the Lewis University 
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Outstanding Citizen Award; the Henton Academy Outreach 
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Excellence Award; the Arthur Lockhart Resource Institute 
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Humanitarian Award; the J.O. Patterson, Jr. Mayor's Staff Aide 
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de Camp; and Marie Wilkinson's Black Leadership Award; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner is married to Mother Dorothy Mae 
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Bonner and is the father of four children, Enyess Allen (Bishop 
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Edgar Allen, Jr.), Willie Etta Wright (Elder Augustus Wright), 
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Dorothy Jones (Elder Gregory Jones), and Charles Bonner, 
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deceased (Lillian Bonner); therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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recognize Bishop Bonner's outstanding leadership and 
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dedication to his church and community; and 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 an expression of 
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our respect and esteem.