MEMORIAL RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF BISHOP CHARLES MASON FORD OF ST. PAUL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST
WHEREAS, On behalf of the citizens of the 3rd Ward of the City of Chicago, the Honorable Pat Dowell, Alderman of the 3rd Ward, dedicates this memorial resolution in honor of the life and legacy, as well as the tireless work, commitment and extensive pastoral and professional accomplishments of the late Bishop Charles Mason Ford, Pastor-Emeritus of St. Paul Church of God in Christ of Chicago, located in the city's historic Bronzeville community; and
WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom and judgment has called the earthly soul of Bishop Charles Mason Ford, a great citizen, religious humanitarian, and friend, to his everlasting reward in the Kingdom of Heaven. As he departed life, Bishop Ford recently left his earthly home in February 2021, walking up the golden stairway to his eternal home; and
WHEREAS, The late Bishop Ford accepted his call to ministry in 1982 when he was ordained by his father, and served as his Assistant Pastor, until Bishop Louis Henry Ford's transition in 1995; and
WHEREAS, Prior to assuming the leadership of St. Paul Church of God in Christ, Bishop Ford served in the City of Chicago's Department of Human Services for 39 dedicated years, rising to the position of Deputy Commissioner in the department, where he was responsible for administering services to protect children, develop youth, strengthen families, and devise strategies to help all Chicagoans in need; and
WHEREAS, Stepping away from from his City post in 1995, Bishop Charles Mason Ford brought that same commitment to helping people to his ministry at St. Paul Church of God in Christ, using his experiences to create the 60-unit Margaret Ford Manor housing for seniors, initiate the Home Day Care Program, dedicate the 24-unit Victoria Jennings Residence housing for the physically disabled, renovate a 12-unit CHA apartment building into the St. Paul Church of God in Christ Community Development Ministries, Inc. (SPCDM), and through SPCDM provide daycare, young enlighten saints (YES), early home start, and Project P.R.I.D.E. programs; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Ford was recognized for his outstanding accomplishments and leadership within the church community, having served as the Chairman of the National Board of Trustees for the Church of God in Christ, Inc. for 12 years, was designated in November 2012 by the International Church of God in Christ as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees, and held many leadership and membership positions in community service organizations in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Charles Mason Ford honored his families legacy by envisioning and bringing to fruition the renaming of the Bishop L.H. Ford Memorial Freeway; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Ford was truly an inspiration and pillar of the Bronzeville community whose impact extended far beyond his church's walls to the thousands that he helped directly through his good works; and
WHEREAS, The Mayor and the Chicago City Council have been informed by 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell about the long-standing dedication, visionary leadership, community commitment and activism of Bishop Charles Mason Ford; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-fourth day of February, 2021, do hereby honor, and wish to express our sincere condolences to the leaders and membership of St. Paul Church of God in Christ and the family of former Bishop Charles Mason Ford, and in recognition of his outstanding and visionary leadership and commitment to religious doctrine which positively impacted the historic Bronzeville community of the city's 3rd Ward, and the memory of his dedication to excellence; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of the late Bishop Charles Mason Ford, as a collective sign of our deep respect, appreciation, and esteem for his many years of excellent ecumenical leadership to the residents of the south side Bronzeville/Grand Boulevard community in the City of Chicago.
Pat Dowell Alderman - 3rd Ward