HR0090LRB102 13032 LAW 18375 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives would like to declare African Methodist 
4Episcopal (AME) Church Day on March 27, 2021 and celebrate the 
5AME Church's 205th anniversary of their founding in 1816; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The African Methodist Episcopal Church was born 
7through adversity and grew out of the Free African Society 
8(FAS), which was established in Philadelphia by Richard Allen, 
9Absalom Jones, and others in 1787; due to racial 
10discrimination at St. George's MEC, members made plans to 
11transform their mutual aid society into an African 
12congregation; Bethel AME was dedicated in 1974 with Richard 
13Allen as its pastor; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, The geographical spread of the AMEC prior to the 
15Civil War was mainly restricted to the Northeast and Midwest; 
16the denomination reached the Pacific Coast in the early 1850s; 
17the most significant era of denominational development 
18occurred during the Civil War and Reconstruction; because of 
19its rapid spread below the Mason-Dixon line, AME membership 
20reached 400,000; and
  
 

  
21    WHEREAS, Today, the African American Methodist Episcopal 
22Church has membership in 20 Episcopal Districts in 44 
 
 
HR0090- 2 -LRB102 13032 LAW 18375 r

1countries on five continents; the work of the Church is 
2administered by 21 active bishops and nine general officers, 
3who manage the departments of the Church; Reverend John 
4Franklin White is the 130th Elected and Consecrated Bishop and 
5is the Presiding Bishop of the Fourth Episcopal District of 
6the AME Church (AMEC); he supervises AME Churches and pastors 
7in Canada, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and 
8Illinois; his wife, Mrs. Penny Hartsfield White, is the 
9Episcopal Supervisor of the Fourth District; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
11HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
12we declare African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church Day on 
13March 27, 2021 and congratulate the AME Church on their 205th 
14anniversary; and be it further

  
 
15    RESOLVED, that we recognize the Fourth District Council 
16for its leadership and service, and we wish the AME continued 
17success in its mission to minister to the social, spiritual, 
18and physical development of all people.