Bishop David A. A. Jeter was selected as Overseer of Arkansas. The three-year-initiative with The Human Coalition was also supposed to encourage local COGIC clergy leaders across the United States, both male and female, to partner up with other anti-abortion advocacy groups and Christian ministries to lobby for more anti-abortion restrictions throughout local states.[51]. Furthermore, the new constitution created the office of the presiding bishop and a general board of twelve bishops and defined their responsibilities. Chairman of the National Judiciary Board Bishop Martin Luther Johnson. [21], In 1907, there were ten COGIC churches, but by the time of Bishop Mason's death in 1961, COGIC had spread to every state in the United States and to many foreign countries. He was a strong advocate for social justice. It is one of the largest gathering of Christian women from any major denomination and religious organization. [5] He officially retired on March 19, 2021, and was succeeded by Bishop J. Mason. We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it. Organized in the South and having a predominately African-American membership, COGIC has had a long history in advancing civil rights. Most recently, Biola University conferred an honorary doctorate upon him on June 12, 2010. During the 1950s and 60s, during the height of the civil rights movement, COGIC ministers and congregations played host to many significant events. Co Directors of the Men's Department Bishop Michael B. Bishop Mason was opposed to the ordination of women to formal ministry, but in 1911 created an autonomous department to promote the ministry of women in the church. Chandler David Owens Sr. (October 2, 1931 - March 6, 2011) was an American minister and Holiness Pentecostal denomination leader of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), for which he served as the Presiding Bishop from 1995 to 2000, after the death of Bishop Louis Henry Ford. In April 2018, Bishop Blake led COGIC in partnership with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis to continue to struggle for civil rights in the 21st Century. African-American parents sent their children to this school from across the United States, especially those who had grown up in Mississippi and knew its reputation. Missions work in COGIC began under Elder Searcy in 1925. Presiding Bishop Emeritus of the Church of God in Christ, Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America, "COGIC Re-Elects Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. as Leader - Afro", "PRESS RELEASE: Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. Will Not Seek Reelection", "Why the Power of the Black Church Matters This Election", "Whitehouse.gov - Inaugural Advisory Council: Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships", Succession of Church of God in Christ Leaders, Historically African-American Christian denominations, First African Baptist Church (Richmond, Virginia), First African Baptist Church (Savannah, Georgia). [19], Mason continued to travel across the nation preaching and establishing COGIC churches. Thereafter, missionaries were sent to Africa and the islands of the Caribbean, Asia, and elsewhere. This convention brings thousands of COGIC members representing all the major departments including Sunday School, Missions, Evangelism, Music, and Youth together in July and meets in cities around the U.S. The civil structure of the Church of God in Christ includes a president, first vice-president, second vice-president, general secretary, general treasurer, and the financial secretary. The current leader of the International Music Department is recording artist Dr. Myron Williams, succeeding Dr. Judith Christie McAllister of Los Angeles, California, who is also a praise and worship national recording artist. Vice President of COGIC World Missions-Supervisor Faye M. Butler. COGIC theology and beliefs fall in the tradition of Wesleyan-Arminian theology.[40]. Bishop Carlis Moody immediately began to reorganize the Missions Department, giving new guidelines. In April 2018, Presiding Bishop Charles Blake along with Lee Saunders, Andrew Young, DeMaurice Smith, and Brian Dunn coordinated the "I AM 2018 Mountaintop Conference" at the historic Mason Temple in Memphis to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. COGIC believes marriage is a monogamous sacred, civil, and legal union between a husband and wife that is recognized as a covenant between them and God for the purpose of the couple being a helpmate to each other and raising a family together. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. 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It has had rapid growth in many regions as one of the fastest-growing and largest religious groups in the United States.[30]. The general assembly elects a 12-person general board (presidium) every four years from the college of bishops, who serve functionally as apostles of the church. Assistant Secretary of the Board of Bishops Bishop Adrian Williams. Youth on a Mission (YOAM) a ministry of young people visiting the mission field to serve each summer. Owens continued to serve as a jurisdictional bishop and member of the General Board until his death in 2011. The designated church mother along with other "older and seasoned" women of the church provided the practical teaching of holiness in daily life and practice. Bishop Blake is married to Mae Lawrence Blake, a native of Michigan, and they have three children together, Charles Blake II (Jr.), Lawrence Blake, and Kimberly Blake, and they have eight grandchildren.[6]. He announced that he met with the ministry leaders and church council and trustee board members and consulted with them to approve of Reverend Charles Blake, Jr and Reverend Lawrence Blake, taking over much of his duties as the de facto pastor and assistant pastor of the church. A Jeter and D. J. Herndon and her twin sister Leatha were pioneers of the evangelistic work of the Church of God in Christ. He has one older brother, J. They rejected denominational names such as Baptist, Methodist, or Episcopal. In 1988, he was installed as Pastor of Greater Emmanuel Church. He was a noted evangelist who had pastored several churches, including: Bostick Temple in St. Louis, Missouri; Well's Cathedral COGIC in Newark, New Jersey; and Greater Community COGIC in Marietta, Georgia. Military chaplains have also been instrumental in spreading COGIC through military installations. [22], The years of 19621968 has been described as a "Dark Period" in the history of the Church of God in Christ, because there was polarization and conflict in leadership following the death of the founder. These auxiliaries are found in nearly every church, district, and jurisdiction within COGIC and function to support the holistic approach that COGIC has toward ministry within the church and the larger community that COGIC congregations serve. There seemed no prospect of an integrated Pentecostal movement under the leadership of an African-American such as C. H. The rope that holds the shaft together represents Charles Harrison Mason, COGIC's founding father. Bishop Mason taught COGIC members against going to war, but more so he was against African-American men being called to fight a war overseas for freedom and then coming home and being treated as second-class citizens and being lynched, even in their uniforms, because of racism. Mother Dorothy Exume#, foreign missionary, Evangelist Reatha D. Herndon#, first and longest-serving elect Lady, church organizer, national evangelist, Supervisor Deola Wells Johnson, national evangelist, jurisdictional supervisor, Evangelist Maria Gardner Langston, COGIC pastor, national evangelist, former Elect Lady, Mother Elsie Washington Mason#, third and final wife of Bishop Mason, Mother Lelia Washington Mason#, second wife of Bishop Mason. Mamie Till-Mobley was a member of St. Paul COGIC led by then Elder Louis Henry Ford (who would later become the presiding bishop of the denomination) officiated the service. Second Vice Chairman of the National Board of Trustees Attorney Amos Smith. During the tenure of Bishop G.E. [29], Bishop Charles E. Blake assumed leadership and was elected Presiding Bishop of the church after the death of Bishop G.E. Lizzie Woods Robinson (19111945) was the first "General Mother" of the church. Mallory retired in 1976 after fifty years of service; and she had a national reputation. Battles served as president until his death in December 1996. On May 19, 1952, he added Bishop J. O. Patterson Sr. Pages in category "Presiding Bishops of the Church of God in Christ". It ultimately ended by 1930, when the Depression set in. [29], Bishop Gilbert Earl (G. E.) Patterson began his ministry as co-pastor of the Holy Temple COGIC with his father, Bishop W. A. Patterson. Mother Willie Mae Rivers served faithfully for 20 years as General Mother until 2017 and the age of 91. Field representative, International Sunday School Department Mother Cleolia Penix. [43], COGIC teaches that man was created perfect and sinless in the image of God as a tripartite being having a body, soul, and spirit. They determined to separate from COGIC and form what would eventually become the Worldwide Fellowship of the Assemblies of God. She was the wife and companion of Bishop John Seth Bailey, a trusted adviser of Bishop Mason, and later the first assistant presiding bishop of the church. He was elected four times uncontested as presiding bishop. At the 1907 COGIC Convocation held in Jackson, a separation occurred among Jones and other leaders in the church because of such disagreements. The most active women's auxiliaries include: Missionary Circle, Hospitality, Executive Hospitality, Hulda Club, Wide Awake Band, Minister's Wives Circle, Deaconess, Deacon's Wives Circle, Prayer Warriors, Young Women's Christian Council, Usher Board, Educational Committee, Boy's League, Big Brothers, Cradle Roll, Women's Chorus, Board of Examiners, Public Relations, News Reporters and the Burners Home and Foreign Mission Bands. In 2010 Superintendent J. Sin originated in eternity when Satan committed open rebellion against God in heaven. Today COGIC operates the All Saints Bible College in Memphis, the C. H. Mason system of bible colleges, and the C. H. Mason Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. [63] The current president of the Department of Evangelism is Bishop Elijah Hankerson III of St. Louis, Missouri. The presiding bishop is part of a general board, consisting of eleven other bishops elected by a general assembly consisting of pastors, elders, chaplains, bishops, missionaries, supervisors, and designated lay delegates. In 1924, the Sunday School was formally organized under "Father" F. C. Christmas (19161944). [27], Bishop James Oglethorpe Patterson Sr. was elected in November 1968 as the first presiding bishop of the church by the General Assembly at the Sixty-First Holy Convocation of the church. [8][9] In 1984, after the death of his father, he was ordained and consecrated as a jurisdictional bishop of the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Southern California for the COGIC denomination, and remained in that position until 2009 when he stepped down from the position to dedicate himself fully to the duties of the Office of the Presiding Bishop. [50], In July 2016 during their annual Auxiliaries in Ministries convention, COGIC announced their Urban Initiative Outreach ministries and Missions and Charity departments would be partnering up with The Human Coalition, an anti-abortion advocacy group, from 2016 to 2019 for a three-year initiative to encourage COGIC pastors and ministers to encourage anti-abortion advocacy in their local churches. As has been stated, COGIC does not ordain women as elder or bishop, however, COGIC would not have become the largest predominately African-American Pentecostal church in the world, nor have the largest Women's convention of any major denomination without the contributions of women. In 1996, the then Elder J. She is also the Jurisdictional Supervisor for the First Jurisdiction, Southern California. The international membership of COGIC is estimated be between one and three million adherents. B. McEwen was elected chairman of the executive board, and O.T. Bishop L. H. Ford (Former Presiding Bishop COGIC) - Man of God / Man of the People Yuko Ichioka 396 subscribers Subscribe 360 Share 22K views 8 years ago If he were alive, my grandfatherLouis. In 1992, during the Ford administration, UNAC was disbanded in favor of three separate conventions namely: the International Sunday School Convention, the MY Convention (Music and Youth) and the ME Convention (Missions and Evangelism) again meeting in separate cities.. Dr. Mattie Moss Clark#, second and longest-serving president of Int'l. Ford was pastor of the St. Paul COGIC in Chicago and was Presiding Prelate of the Historic Illinois First Jurisdiction. "[50][51] COGIC also encourages mothers that if they know they will not be able to provide proper care to their child, they should seek assistance to give the child up for either private adoption, legal adoption through domestic or international adoption agencies, or foster care. He was elected as the denomination's leader on March 27, 2021. COGIC became a major force in the collective Black Church and worldwide Pentecostal movement. [18], The H. A. Goss faction left COGIC to join the Assemblies of God USA. Between 2009 and 2011, in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa, Blake founded and was the first president of the Pan African Children's Fund (PACF). Adjutant General Bishop Dickerson L. S. Wells Sr.. General Supervisor, Department of Women Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis. According to the Articles of Religion, "We believe that we are not baptized with the Holy Ghost in order to be saved, but that we are baptized with the Holy Ghost because we are saved". Mother Willie Mae Rivers (19972017) of Goose Creek, South Carolina, succeeded Mother Crouch. Drew Sheard elected as COGIC's new presiding bishop; two Memphis bishops elected to general board Sheard, 62, was elected in late March to lead the predominantly African American . Golden Jr. COGIC licensed female evangelists may also serve as chaplains in military, federal, state, and local institutions requiring chaplains. The presiding bishop and all twelve members of the general board are to be elected every four years and preside over the church when the General Assembly is not in session. In 2017, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake appointed gospel artist and Evangelist Dr. Dorinda Clark Cole of Detroit, Michigan as the Elect Lady. President, International Youth Department Superintendent Nathaniel Green. Education was considered key to advancement of the race. A. Blackwell, E. M. Blackwell, E. M. Page, R. H. I. Clark, D. J. He was also a member of the General Board, the twelve head religious and executive leaders and head bishops of the COGIC denomination from 1988 until 2021. Humanity can only be restored through salvation offered only through Jesus Christ. His pastor and mentor was Bishop F. D. Washington of Brooklyn, NY. COGIC also teaches that all the spiritual gifts are for believers today. After being ejected for accepting these new Pentecostal teachings, Mason called a meeting in Memphis later in the year and reorganized the Church of God in Christ as a Holiness-Pentecostal body. He referred in his sermon to gay men as "sissies", "perverted and lost", and said, "If you want to feel like a girl; I wish God would give you the monthly of a girl; I wish He had you bleeding out of your butt. These women have been listed for their significant contributions and impact to the church. At the start of the new millennium, then COGIC presiding Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson, continued to support the advancement of civil rights. It has nine members, elected by the general assembly, including three bishops, three elders, and three lay members. Bishop Jones was the only living bishop of the five original bishops consecrated by Bishop Mason. Drew Sheard was consecrated as Jurisdictional Bishop, succeeding Bishop Herbert J. Williams, Sr., the founding prelate of North Central Michigan Jurisdiction. As the church continued to grow, she created women auxiliaries including the Purity Class and the Sunshine Band. As COGIC has continued to grow, new departments, auxiliaries, and ministries have been established including the music department, the National Adjutancy, Men's Department, COGIC Charities, and Urban Initiatives to name a few. She established a high school and gained accreditation for it, and then for the junior college which she founded on campus. Built in the 1940s during World War II, the nearly 4000-seat building was the largest church auditorium of any African-American religious group in the United States. The early conventions of the Evangelist Board were basically crusades led by Page and a few other Evangelists from across the country. He believed that the name, taken from 1 Thessalonians 2:14, was divinely revealed and biblically inspired. Bishop Charles H. McClelland Board member (2021present). [46], COGIC teaches that the baptism of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is an experience subsequent to conversion and sanctification, can be experienced by all believers who ask for it. [33] C. E. Blake served as the Presiding Prelate of the First Jurisdiction of Southern California. The pair modeled the pastor and wife ministry team in COGIC. Known for the achievements of her students and school alumni, she had also served during these years, by invitation and appointment, on national federal commissions and with noted African-American women's groups. On April 3, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I've Been To The Mountaintop" speech, at Mason Temple Church Of God in Christ in Memphis. During her leadership, several new buildings were constructed on the 350-acre campus to serve this expansion. We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling a Christian is enabled to live a holy and separated life in the present world. In 1982 during the Seventy-Fifth Holy Convocation, the diamond jubilee of the church, COGIC published its own hymnal, Yes, Lord!, which included many arrangements and songs written by COGIC and African-American musicians and songwriters. She organized the sewing circle and after meeting Elder Searcy, she encouraged the women to support mission work through the Home and Foreign Mission bands. Bishop Owens led the COGIC in its centennial celebration in 1997 with the theme, "Holiness, a Proven Foundation for a Promising Future!" [35], In 2016, the Church had 5.5 million members in 60 countries around the world. However, his out-spoken criticism of the racial prejudice and discrimination of whites led most, if not all of them, to leave his church for other ministries where the message against racism was not so obvious and offensive to them. In 1918, COGIC opened its first institution of higher learning, the Saints Industrial and Literary School in Lexington, Mississippi, for both girls and boys. Bishop J. The jurisdictional supervisor is assisted by district missionaries who oversee the women's ministry of the district. When the COGIC was first founded by Bishop Mason in the 1910s, he wanted the denomination to have ecumenical relationships with other predominantly Black Methodist and Baptist churches, but many of them were unwilling to do so at the time because of Mason's controversial history with being expelled from his former Baptist ministry associations and churches in Mississippi for preaching sanctification and Pentecostalism. In 1945, Mason dedicated Mason Temple in Memphis as the church's national meeting site. Then in 1946, the YPWW Department was combined with the Sunday School Department for joint conventions until 1951 when they were separated once again. COGIC policies and bylaws have also been established regarding sexual misconduct of COGIC clergy and laymembers for disciplinary purposes. Originally, this gathering of the 'Saints' lasted for twenty days, from November 25 to December 14. From 1985 to 2009, he maintained the position of Prelate for the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of California, where he was responsible for overseeing over 250 churches.