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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize Bishop John Drew Sheard, who is hosting the National |
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Leadership Conference at the Church Of God In Christ in Dallas on |
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January 16 through 19, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, The National Leadership Conference provides an |
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opportunity for members of the Church Of God In Christ to come |
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together from all over the state to honor their leaders, invest |
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in their faith, and learn the value of discipleship; and |
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WHEREAS, The Church Of God In Christ was founded in 1907 by |
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Bishop Charles Harrison Mason; Mason inherited his faith from his |
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parents, Jerry and Eliza Mason, who were members of a missionary |
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Baptist church in Memphis, Tennessee, during the era of slavery; |
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since its existence, the church has evangelized to diverse |
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nations and has more than 6.5 million members globally, with |
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congregations in 63 countries; and |
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WHEREAS, Bishop J. Drew Sheard is the international bishop |
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and chief apostle of the church, the largest African American |
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Pentecostal denomination in the Holiness-Pentecostal tradition |
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in the United States; a beloved shepherd to his church, Bishop |
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Sheard was elected to the general board in 2012; he was reelected |
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to the board in 2016 and 2021 and was subsequently elected as |
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chief apostle to the Office of the Presiding Bishop; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Bishop Sheard's outstanding leadership, the |
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church has provided enlightenment, hope, and support to |
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innumerable Christians; a blessing to his family and a pillar to |
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his community, Bishop Sheard is a man of spiritual depth and |
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devotion; it is truly fitting that he receive honor for his |
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lifetime of dedicated ministry; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby congratulate Bishop J. Drew Sheard for |
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hosting the 2023 National Leadership Conference of the Church Of |
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God In Christ; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |