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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns, 7th Ward
DATE: September 9, 2016
SUBJECT:
To Acknowledge the Life and Service of Bishop William Haven Bonner.
PURPOSE:
To formally document the Resolution of the Life and Service of Bishop William Haven Bonner.
BACKGROUND:
N/A
DISCUSSION:
N/A
IMPACT STATEMENT:
N/A.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approve the Resolution.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution Acknowledging the Life and Service of Bishop William Haven Bonner.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, (Bishop William Haven Bonner was the spiritual father and founder of the Greater Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ, 6th Jurisdictional Prelate of Illinois, where he answered the call “Here I am LORD, send me.” Bishop Bonner worked tirelessly in the ministry for over 80 years devoting his life to God and the Church.
WHEREAS, WHEREAS, Almighty God has chosen, with His infinite wisdom, to call our beloved Bishop William Haven Bonner to join Him in Heaven. II Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD, and
WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner was called to preach at the young age of 13 and has served Seventy-two years as Pastor of the Greater Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ, and
WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner, married Dorothy Mae Green in May of 1942 and four children were born to this union, Enyess, Willie Etta, Charles and Dorothy, and
WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner was appointed District Superintendent of the Northwestern District, Chairman of the Board of Superintendents, First Administrative Assistant and State Expeditor, and
WHEREAS, Bishop H. W. Goldsberry, Bishop of the 6th Jurisdiction of Illinois decided to allow Bishop Bonner to take the reins of the Jurisdictional Bishop. In 1982, he was consecrated Bishop of the 6th Jurisdiction of Illinois, and
WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner involved himself in the National Church of God in Christ, where he became the co-chairman of the National Finance Committee and Chairmen of the Budgetary Committee of the Board of Bishops, served as the Senior Bishop of the Midwest Region and Expeditor for the Board of Bishops, and
WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner has lived in the City of Aurora for 72 years and has prayed for so many, his kind words of encouragement and has helped to cultivate Aurora Community as well as all over the United States, and
WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner was beloved by the community and was chosen to have a street, and tot lot named in his honor, and
WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner had a reputation as a God fearing man, a humanitarian, a man or hospitality and a man of liberality preceded him, and
WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner never missed a service, attending services faithfully until his health failed, and
WHEREAS, Bishop Bonner answered his final call to the father, Matthew 25:23 “Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful with a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of the Lord.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: That Thomas J. Weisner, Mayor in the City of Aurora, Illinois, acknowledges the dedication, life service and accomplishments of Bishop William Haven Bonner, on this 13th day of September 2016. Today, he would have turned 95. Bishop William Haven Bonner will be greatly missed by all.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be given to the family and a copy be kept in both the Church and the City of Aurora archives.