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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CELEBRATING THE 140th ANNIVERSARY OF ST. PAUL AME
WHEREAS, St. Paul AME is celebrating 140 years of ministry in the Village of Glencoe; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul AME is the only African American church in Glencoe; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul AME has been a house of worship since 1884, and is widely known as a core building block of Glencoe, attracting members from throughout Cook County and beyond for their powerful services; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul AME’s origins can be traced back to 1884 when Homer Wilson, Glencoe’s first Black homeowner and an anchor in the community, became one of 18 members to comprise the newly formed congregation; and
WHEREAS, congregants initially met in Homer Wilson’s home for services, before he opted to mortgage his home to purchase the property where St. Paul AME currently stands; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul AME become officially affiliated with the AME church in 1888; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul AME’s was rebuilt after the original structure was set ablaze by arsonists in the 1930s; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul AME weathered racism and segregation while continuing to provide a welcoming space for congregants to gather and worship; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, St. Paul AME was unanimously established as a certified landmark by the Glencoe Village Board of Trustees, safeguarding St. Paul AME’s legacy in the community; and
WHEREAS, the St. Paul AME congregation is led by Reverend Celona D. Hayes Adebayo, Esq., a Chicago native; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Hayes pours herself into role at St. Paul AME, leading with love, peace and joy; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul AME is the spiritual home for many generations of parishioners; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul AME’s 140 years of excellence will be celebrated at a gala on August 3, at the Glencoe Historical Society; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby celebrate and honor St. Paul AME for 140 incredible years of service, and for the indelible mark St. Paul AME has left on the Glencoe community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of the Resolution be tendered to St. Paul AME as a means of communicating our most sincere gratitude for their work as a pilar in nthe community, congratulations on their historic legacy, and best wishes for their future and continued service to residents.
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