HR0407 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0407 LRB102 19104 ECR 27869 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Senior Pastor James and First Lady Corliss Moody on their retirement from serving as Senior Pastor and First Lady of the Quinn Chapel AME Church; and

WHEREAS, Quinn Chapel is the oldest African American Church in the City of Chicago; it was founded in 1844 and incorporated in 1847 which was just ten years after the incorporation of the City of Chicago; in 1891, it purchased the land at its current site at 2401 Wabash Ave, and a group of African Americans designed and built the church structure that stands today; and

WHEREAS, The Quinn Chapel AME church building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1977 and added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1979; and

WHEREAS, Quinn Chapel was instrumental in the founding of Provident Hospital and Elm House; historically, the church has been and continues to be an influential voice of empowerment and change in the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Moody has been a pastor for 39 years; in 2002, he became Senior Pastor of Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Along with Pastor Moody's many roles and responsibilities as Senior Pastor, he embarked on developing partnerships to restore the church structure befitting its historical prominence; he leaves a tireless legacy of restoration of lives and structures; he has been a community activist and a voice for those who had none, fighting for justice for all; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Moody has worked in the local community, the community at large, the City of Chicago, and beyond to fulfill the mission of the AME church which is "to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people"; and

WHEREAS, Pastor Moody has been a representative of the ongoing fight for civil rights and social justice in this country; he continues to uplift the underserved and to educate throughout all his endeavors by seeking out and saving the lost and serving the needy; and

WHEREAS, Because of Pastor Moody's commitment to service, he has opened the church doors to all that needed a helping hand; he is a man of distinction and honor and has given much of himself to lift the welfare of others; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we wish to congratulate Senior Pastor James and First Lady Corliss Moody on their retirement from serving as Senior Pastor and First Lady of the Quinn Chapel AME Church and wish them luck in all their future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent to Pastor James and First Lady Corliss Moody and the Quinn Chapel AME Church as a symbol of our esteem and respect.