Bill Text: IL HR0622 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognize David C. Penn, Ph.D., on 50 years of serving in the ministry.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-10-24 - Resolution Adopted [HR0622 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-HR0622-Introduced.html

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HR0622 LRB100 14837 MST 29658 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to recognize David C. Penn, Ph.D., on 50
years of serving in the ministry; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is a native of Chicago and senior
minister of the Robbins Church of Christ, where he has served
since 1984; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn preached his first sermon at the Far West
Church of Christ; he has served congregations in Chicago,
Cincinnati, and Milwaukee; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn attended the Nashville Christian
Institute in Nashville, Tennessee; he is a graduate of
Rochester College; City University of Seattle, Washington; the
University of Nebraska; the University of Missouri; St. Xavier
University; Abilene Christian University; Concordia University
of Chicago; California Coast University; the International
Theological Seminary; the Northwestern Theological Seminary;
and the Colorado Theological Seminary; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn's academic portfolio includes an
Associate of Arts; Bachelor of Arts; Master of Education
(Curriculum and Instruction); Master of Arts (Educational

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Administration); Graduate Certificate in Civics and Democracy
(Harvard University); Master of Arts (History); Master of
Religious Education; Doctor of Education; Doctor of
Philosophy; Educational Specialist Degree (Educational
Administration); and a Graduate Certificate in School
Superintendency; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn has also performed post-graduate study at
the University of South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa; a
Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the St. Timothy
Theological Institute and a Doctor of Laws by the United
Theological Seminary; in addition to congregational ministry,
he is licensed in the states of Illinois and Tennessee as a "No
Child Left Behind" social science educator and administrator;
his state endorsements include principal and superintendent
administration, world history, United States history,
geography, civics, and political science; he presently serves
as a Professor of History at Joliet Junior College and
Professor of Biblical Studies and Urban Ministry for
Metropolitan Christian University in Louisville, Kentucky; he
was previously selected to serve as a keynote presenter at the
annual Illinois Council for the Social Studies Fall State
Conference in Lisle; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is the Vice-Chairman and Secretary for
the Churches of Christ National Lectureship Executive

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Committee; member of the Executive Board of Directors and
Academic Dean for the School of Religious Studies in Little
Rock, Arkansas; member of the Board of Regents for Metropolitan
Christian University in Louisville, Kentucky; member of the
Board of Directors and Director of Biblical Accountability for
the National Association of Private Theological Institutions;
and former Chairman of the Midwest Lectureship; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is a co-founder and former chairman of
the Midwest Youth Conference; co-founder of the National
Crusade for Christ; founder of the Windy City Lectureship among
the Chicago area Churches of Christ; founder of Imani
Counseling Services, Inc., a private faith-based non-profit
counseling agency chartered by the State of Illinois; founder
of the Institute of Biblical Studies (Chicago); and editorial
consultant for the National Lectureship Christian Courier
newspaper; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Delta
Epsilon Tau, Phi Beta Delta, and Kappa Delta Pi International
Honor Societies; he is the former vice-president of the Phi
Alpha Theta Pi Nu Chapter of the University of Nebraska; other
memberships include the Nancy Lyman Roelkner Scholarship
Committee of the American Historical Society; the National
Alliance of Black School Educators; the National Council for
the Social Studies; the Illinois Council for the Social

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Studies; the Association for the Study of African American Life
and History; the Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development; and the African Studies Association; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn has conducted evangelistic and revival
meetings along with seminars and workshops in over 30 states
across the nation; he is a frequent speaker on national and
regional lectureships hosted by the Churches of Christ; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is recognized by the National Association
of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists; the National Board of
Christian Clinical Therapists; the National Board of Christian
Professional and Pastoral Counselors; and the National
Christian Counselors Association; additional affiliations are
held with the American Counseling Association; the American
Association of Christian Counselors; the International
Association of Biblical Counseling; and the Southern Africa
Association of Pastoral Work in Pretoria, South Africa; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Dr. Penn authored his first book, "My
Soul Looks Back and Wonders ... How I Got Over"; his second
book, "The Power of His Penetrating Presence", was published in
2006 and is a compendium of sermons presented by various
ministers at the Church of Christ 62nd Annual National
Lectureship held in Chicago; and

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WHEREAS, Dr. Penn has written articles for the "Chicago
Defender", the "Chicago Sun Times", the "Cincinnati Herald",
the "African American Pulpit", the "Christian Courier", the
"Christian Echo", and the "Gospel Times"; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Penn is married to Brenda J. (Martin) and they
have two children, Dortricia and Danielle, and two
grandchildren, Rian Danielle Willingham and Kendall Dior
Dorsey; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
recognize David C. Penn, Ph.D., on 50 years of serving in the
ministry, and we wish him many more wonderful years; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Dr. Penn as a symbol of our respect and esteem.