HR1567 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1567 LRB094 22181 KXB 60842 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church, named for the father of United States Senator William B. McKinley, at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois is celebrating its Centennial in 2006-2007; and

WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church was the first Presbyterian Church in the United States organized specifically for students at a public university; and

WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian's original church building was completed in 1912, an expansion was added in 1952, and the sanctuary was restored and remodeled in 1983; a student ministry foundation building was completed in the midst of the depression in 1930, with the Governor of the State of Illinois giving the dedication speech; a cloister, connecting the church and foundation buildings, was constructed in 1938 and restored in 2006; and a new 5-story student residence and remodeling of the foundation building is planned for 2007-2008; and

WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church has had twelve Pastors, seven who also served as Directors of the Foundation, who have provided leadership over the 100 years; the present Pastor and Director, Rev. Heidi Weatherford, is the first woman to occupy the role; and

WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian's former women's residence, Presby Hall, is being used in 2006-2007 by the Hillel Jewish Student Foundation while the Foundation builds a new facility across the street from the church; the congregation has a history of ecumenical activity and has hosted Pentecostal churches in the late 1970's, late 1980's and at present, the Eastern Orthodox church between 1977 and 2001, a Metropolitan church in 1977-1979, and a Korean Presbyterian church at the present; congregation members also organized the local chapter of the Interfaith Alliance; the church is also a member of the Center for Progressive Christianity national network; and

WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church has a distinguished history of civil rights and social justice involvement that includes, but is not limited to, sponsoring world trips for Presbyterian missions, taking part in civil rights and racial equality marches both in the South and locally, taking part in protests against the military draft and involvement in the Vietnam War, providing a rent supplement program for disadvantaged families, establishing a day-care facility for low income families, repairing abandoned bicycles to give to international students, sponsoring a free used clothing exchange for student and refugee families, aiding in the resettlement of several Laotian refugee families, offering full inclusion and advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, supporting environmental issues, sponsoring mission trips for construction work and health care to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, supporting the sanctuary movement for Central American refugees, housing the Men's Winter Emergency Shelter, supporting the homeless, and taking part in the Iraq peace movement; and

WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church includes an array of beautiful and unique stained glass windows that adorn the sanctuary and represent both its history and values: a priceless Tiffany window depicting the parable of the "Good Samaritan", crafted and installed with the dedication of the Church building in 1912; the only "Inclusiveness" stained glass window in America; a Presbyterian window with the images of reformers Knox and Calvin; a science as God's creation window with images of Louis Pasteur and Marie Curie; a social justice window with images of Rosa Parks and Archbishop Oscar Romero; a children and women's rights window with images of Eleanor Roosevelt and Jane Addams; and three windows dedicated specifically to students; and

WHEREAS, McKinley Presbyterian Church has been a beacon for social justice, student ministry, and Christian service in its first 100 years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the congregation of McKinley Presbyterian Church on their Centennial celebration and wish them the best in the next 100 years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the congregation of McKinley Presbyterian Church.