RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago has been blessed by the presence and continuing efforts of religious leaders who are able to minister to their congregations while seeing their ministry as able to affect our society as a whole; and
WHEREAS, one such leader is Bishop Charles Mason Ford, who this year will celebrate 20 years as pastor of St. Paul Church of God in Christ; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Ford's 20th anniversary as pastor will coincide with the Church's 81st anniversary celebration and 20th year anniversary of St. Paul Community Development Ministries on June 14, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been informed of these milestone events by the Honorable Robert W. Fioretti, Alderman of the 2nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, the Church of God in Christ was founded in 1897 by a group of churchmen including Charles A. Mason, for whom Bishop Ford is named; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul Church of God in Christ was founded in Chicago in 1934 by Bishop Henry Louis Ford, who served as pastor until his death in 1995; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Charles Ford learned from his parents to see that people of faith must address the very real needs of those around them as taught in the 25th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew: by treating the needy as one would treat Jesus himself. This Bishop Charles Ford has done with great success and greater humility; and
WHEREAS, after succeeding his father as pastor, Bishop Charles Ford led his congregation to identify and help fill crucial needs in the local community: he oversaw establishment of St. Paul COGIC Community Development Ministries, Inc., which thus far has sponsored the Chaney Ford Child Care Center, the Chaney Ford Early Head Start Program, the YES (Young Enlightened Saints) After School Program, and Project P.R.I.D.E, which connects young people to the skilled trades so that they may obtain gainful employment that in turn develops the community around them; and
WHEREAS, under Bishop Ford's leadership, St. Paul COGIC Community Development Ministries also developed Margaret Ford Manor, containing 60 units of housing for seniors, and Victoria Jennings residences, containing 30 housing units for people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Ford has also served his denomination in positions of great responsibility and trust: 12 years as chairman of the National Board of trustees of Church of God in Christ, Inc., responsible for holding title to the properties owned by the church, and budgeting for property development; member of the Board of Directors of the church's First Jurisdiction -Illinois, the denomination's regional governing body; member of the Board of Directors of the Jurisdiction's not-for-profit arm, Moriah Community Development Corporation; as well as' president of the Boards of Directors of St. Paul's housing developments; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul Church of God in Christ and Bishop Ford have also played important roles in the life of the City as a whole: the church once owned - and preserved - the Widow Clarke House, the oldest residential building the in the City, which the City purchased for conversion into the Clarke House museum. And Bishop Ford, again expressing his desire to serve those in need, was Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Human Services, where he developed and managed programs for child protection, youth and family development, community organization, and an intervention program to deliver emergency services to those in truly difficult circumstances; and
WHEREAS, Bishop Ford is recognized nationally, and most frequently described by those who have worked with him, as "determined, forthright and considerate." With true humility, he seeks no recognition for his many and varied accomplishments; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 18th day of March, 2015, do hereby honor St. Paul Church of God in Christ on the occasion of its 81st birthday, and we wish the church continued success in setting an example to individuals and to other organizations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we congratulate Bishop Charles Mason Ford on his 20 years of stewardship and leadership at St. Paul Church of God in Christ, as we express our gratitude for his many contributions to the improvement of Chicago and our sincerest hopes for success in all his future endeavors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies of this Resolution be presented to Bishop Charles Mason Ford and to St. Paul Church of God in Christ, as a token of our esteem and appreciation.