HR1567 LRB094 22181 KXB 60842 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church, named for the
3 father of United States Senator William B. McKinley, at the
4 University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois is celebrating
5 its Centennial in 2006-2007; and
 
6     WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church was the first
7 Presbyterian Church in the United States organized
8 specifically for students at a public university; and
 
9     WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian's original church building
10 was completed in 1912, an expansion was added in 1952, and the
11 sanctuary was restored and remodeled in 1983; a student
12 ministry foundation building was completed in the midst of the
13 depression in 1930, with the Governor of the State of Illinois
14 giving the dedication speech; a cloister, connecting the church
15 and foundation buildings, was constructed in 1938 and restored
16 in 2006; and a new 5-story student residence and remodeling of
17 the foundation building is planned for 2007-2008; and
 
18     WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church has had twelve
19 Pastors, seven who also served as Directors of the Foundation,
20 who have provided leadership over the 100 years; the present
21 Pastor and Director, Rev. Heidi Weatherford, is the first woman
22 to occupy the role; and
 
23     WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian's former women's residence,
24 Presby Hall, is being used in 2006-2007 by the Hillel Jewish
25 Student Foundation while the Foundation builds a new facility
26 across the street from the church; the congregation has a
27 history of ecumenical activity and has hosted Pentecostal
28 churches in the late 1970's, late 1980's and at present, the
29 Eastern Orthodox church between 1977 and 2001, a Metropolitan
30 church in 1977-1979, and a Korean Presbyterian church at the
31 present; congregation members also organized the local chapter

 

 

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1 of the Interfaith Alliance; the church is also a member of the
2 Center for Progressive Christianity national network; and
 
3     WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church has a distinguished
4 history of civil rights and social justice involvement that
5 includes, but is not limited to, sponsoring world trips for
6 Presbyterian missions, taking part in civil rights and racial
7 equality marches both in the South and locally, taking part in
8 protests against the military draft and involvement in the
9 Vietnam War, providing a rent supplement program for
10 disadvantaged families, establishing a day-care facility for
11 low income families, repairing abandoned bicycles to give to
12 international students, sponsoring a free used clothing
13 exchange for student and refugee families, aiding in the
14 resettlement of several Laotian refugee families, offering
15 full inclusion and advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
16 transgender people, supporting environmental issues,
17 sponsoring mission trips for construction work and health care
18 to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, supporting the sanctuary
19 movement for Central American refugees, housing the Men's
20 Winter Emergency Shelter, supporting the homeless, and taking
21 part in the Iraq peace movement; and
 
22     WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church includes an array of
23 beautiful and unique stained glass windows that adorn the
24 sanctuary and represent both its history and values: a
25 priceless Tiffany window depicting the parable of the "Good
26 Samaritan", crafted and installed with the dedication of the
27 Church building in 1912; the only "Inclusiveness" stained glass
28 window in America; a Presbyterian window with the images of
29 reformers Knox and Calvin; a science as God's creation window
30 with images of Louis Pasteur and Marie Curie; a social justice
31 window with images of Rosa Parks and Archbishop Oscar Romero; a
32 children and women's rights window with images of Eleanor
33 Roosevelt and Jane Addams; and three windows dedicated
34 specifically to students; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church has been a beacon for
2 social justice, student ministry, and Christian service in its
3 first 100 years; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
6 we congratulate the congregation of McKinley Presbyterian
7 Church on their Centennial celebration and wish them the best
8 in the next 100 years; and be it further
 
9     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10 presented to the congregation of McKinley Presbyterian Church.