City Council Meeting November 8, 2017
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry has served at All Saints' Episcopal Church in the Ravenswood neighborhood for 25 years; and
WHEREAS, When The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry first arrived on November 1, 1992, All Saints' average attendance was around 25 people. Thanks to her inspired leadership and the dedication of the congregation, All Saints' has kept its doors open and attendance has grown nearly ten-fold; and
WHEREAS, When The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry celebrated Eucharist on All Saints Day 2017, it was her 25th Anniversary at All Saints'; and
WHEREAS, The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry was influential in inspiring the mission that led to the formation of Ravenswood Community Services, which on a weekly basis currently feeds 125 individuals, in addition to providing hundreds of bags of groceries to neighbors in need; and
WHEREAS, Under The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry's leadership All Saints' undertook the 1883 Project, which raised over $1.3 million to fund an award-winning historic renovation of All Saints', the oldest stick frame church in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry has worked tirelessly as a founder of the Chicago Consultation, a group that has traveled the world engaging in deep theological reflection on the full inclusion of LGBT people in the Anglican Communion; and
WHEREAS, The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry was instrumental in creating the CROSSwalk movement, which led a rally of 2,000+ throughout Chicago to call attention to gun violence in our city, and later provided summer internships to at risk youth; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry received the The Rev. S. Michael Yasutake Peace and Justice Award at the 178th Annual Convention of Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, which "recognizes those who hold peace and justice as the key passion of Jesus Christ; who devote time and talent to the cause of the oppressed in our midst and the lifting up of justice where there is little to none"; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her service to the church, The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Perry has a deep love for, and considerable expertise in, kayaking. She is a professional kayaking instructor, regularly leading groups on kayaking expeditions. Bonnie is a 5 Star Leader -Sea Kayak in the British Canoe Association, one of the first women to achieve this level; a Level 4 Instructor/Trainer as certified by the American Canoe Association; and a British Canoe Union Level 3 Sea Coach/Assessor among other kayaking designations; and
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this eigth day of November, 2017, do hereby congratulate The Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry on 25 wonderful years at All Saints Episcopal Church, and express our gratitude for her service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to The Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry.
