HR0580 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0580 LRB096 13570 GRL 28329 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Paul Koch on the occasion of his retirement as Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Lutheran Church on June 30, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Paul Koch was raised in New York City; he attended school at Concordia Junior College in Bronxville, New York and Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana; after spending a year with Richard John Neuhaus in 1965, he enrolled at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri; he received his Master of Divinity degree from the seminary in 1970; that same year, he was ordained and began a five year pastorate at Transfiguration Lutheran Church, the oldest African-American Lutheran congregation in St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, Paul Koch accepted the call to serve at Grace Lutheran Church in Detroit (now Genesis Lutheran Church); he also transferred his roster status to the American Lutheran Church at that time; in 1981, he accepted the call to serve at Black Hawk Lutheran Ministry in Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa, which was formed as a new cooperative ministry of five ALC congregations; during his 8 years of service there, the ministry expanded to include LCA congregations and grew to eleven members; the ministry also helped to establish regional food banking and build bridges between the white and African-American communities; and

WHEREAS, In 1989, Paul Koch was called to serve as senior pastor at Ebenezer Lutheran Church; during his tenure as senior pastor, the church's strategy has been to position Ebenezer as a spiritual and community center for those who live in Andersonville and the north side of Chicago; today, the building's constituency includes Latinos, African-Americans, Africans, gays, lesbians, seniors, youth, families, and those with special needs seeking support; and

WHEREAS, Paul Koch and his wife, Sharon, have two grown sons, Jeremy and Philip; he will now have more time to enjoy his favorite hobbies, which include movies, reading, cycling, and creating art glass projects; and

WHEREAS, Paul Koch has served as a model of dedication, integrity, and hard work for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Paul Koch on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Paul Koch as an expression of our esteem and respect.