The announcement was made to those attending the 2003 YWC/CAMC Connection of the Evangelical Covenant Church at the O'Hare Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rosemont on Saturday.

Franklin is generally regarded as the most renowned contemporary Christian gospel music artist in the past decade. In 1991 he formed a 17-member choir called The Family composed of his neighborhood friends with whom he has performed ever since. His album, "Kirk Franklin and the Family," was the first gospel album ever to go platinum, enjoying more than 100 weeks on the Billboard charts.

In 1996 his "Whatcha Lookin' 4" album went gold as soon as it was distributed. In 1997, Franklin began collaborating with the inner-city youth choir God's Property, acting as producer and mentor. Together they produced the hit "Stomp."

Gospocentric released Franklin's latest album, "The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin," in 2002. The album has been nominated for Best Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year category and two of the songs on that album, "Brighter Day" and "Hosanna," have been nominated for Dove Awards in the Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year category. The "Brighter Day" music video is also up for a Dove Award in that category. The Dove Award ceremony is April 10 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Other personalities and bands that have been confirmed for CHIC2K3: Reaction include:

• Jarrett Stevens, the teaching pastor for Axis, a community for "20 something's" at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois
• Rev. Alise Barrymore, dean of university ministries at North Park University in Chicago and a noted speaker in the African-America community and throughout the Covenant church
• Rob Bell, senior pastor at Mars Hill Church in Grandville, Michigan, and noted storyteller and presenter
• Curt Cloninger, an Atlanta-based Christian professional actor, writer and founder of "Theatre With a Lasting Impression" and a past CHIC performer
• Lost and Found, an eclectic Christian band with Michael Bridges and George Baum that performed at CHIC2K in 2000
• Salvador, a seven-member praise band based in Austin, Texas, under the leadership of Nic Gonzales that offered 210 contemporary Christian music performances in a 250-day road schedule last year
• Bob Stromberg, a longtime performer and speaker for CHIC and Covenant events and the co-founder of the internationally renown theater comedy "Triple Espresso"

CHIC2K3: Reaction will take place July 31 through August 6 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. More than 6,500 people were at the 2000 CHIC event at the same location.