RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Reverend Gregory R. Dell, 70 years of age, retired clergy member of Broadway United Methodist Church in Chicago, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016 from complications of Parkinson's disease; and,
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Chicago City LGBT Caucus; and,
WHEREAS, Gregory was born to Anthony and Jeannette (Bingham) Dell in suburban Blue Island in 1945 and grew up in Midlothian with sisters Gloria & Laura, during the turbulent civil rights era of the 60's; and,
WHEREAS, Gregory participated in the marches and efforts to challenge racism in Chicago neighborhoods led by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and,
WHEREAS, Gregory enrolled Illinois Wesleyan in 1963, graduating with honors in 1967, with degrees in religion and philosophy, before heading to Duke University, where he graduated in 1970 magna cum laude from Duke Divinity School,; and,
WHEREAS, Gregory married the love of his life, Jade Luerssen, in August 1967, and she became his full partner in his activism. They have a son Jason, a daughter-in-law Tonya, and two beloved granddaughters Olivia and Ramona; and,
WHEREAS, Reverend Dell was ordained in 1968 and began serving churches in Northern Illinois two years later, his appointments included congregations in Naperville, Minooka, Evanston, Oak Park, and in the Lake View Community of Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, in March 1999, Reverend Dell was subjected to a nationally publicized church trial that resulted from charges filed against him within the United Methodist Church for conducting a Service of Holy Union for two gay men from his Broadway United Methodist Church congregation; and,
WHEREAS, as the second United Methodist minister in the United States to be penalized for the violation, Reverend Dell could have had the suspension lifted if he pledged not to do it again, but he refused and the result of the trial was a yearlong suspension from his pastoral duties; and,
WHEREAS, Reverend Dell ...
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