SR0234 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0234 LRB096 12452 KXB 25438 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jurisdictional Bishop W.L. Porter of Memphis, Tennessee, who passed away on April 11, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Porter is the founder of the Greater Community Temple Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Memphis, which he began 37 years ago; in 1981, he organized the Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Tennessee Jurisdiction Church Of God In Christ; and

WHEREAS, Central has grown to be the largest COGIC Jurisdiction in the state of Tennessee; the geographic reach of churches in this fellowship spans from Memphis to Chattanooga with Jurisdictional Headquarters located in Jackson, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, Bishop W. L. Porter had been a tremendous force throughout COGIC and had served in several capacities; he worked very closely with Bishop C. H. Mason, Founder of the Church Of God In Christ, and other national leaders; he brought meaningful structure to the organization and significant innovation to COGIC operations over the past fifty years; and he coordinated COGIC's largest convention, The Holy Convocation for over 30 years; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Porter was responsible for transitioning The Holy Convention from Mason Temple to the Mid-South Coliseum, then to The Cook Convention Center and The Pyramid in Memphis; he also served as Director of COGIC Housing for over 30 years; and he created and organized COGIC Courtesy Cars; and

WHEREAS, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake and The General Board announced that Superintendent Brandon B. Porter will succeed his father as Jurisdictional Bishop of Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Tennessee at an installation service to be held during the Holy Convocation of the Church Of God In Christ in November of 2009; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and church family, the passing of Bishop W. L. Porter; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Bishop W.L. Porter as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.