Patterson, the nephew of the above-mentioned Bishop J.O. In 1988, after a thirteen-year exodus from COGIC, Bishop G. E. Patterson returned as the founding Prelate of the newly formed Tennessee Fourth Jurisdiction. Education was considered key to advancement of the race. In 1933, he set apart five overseers to the Office of Bishop in the church, the first five bishops of COGIC. Adjutant General Bishop Dickerson L. S. Wells Sr.. General Supervisor, Department of Women Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis. Male as well as female evangelists were instrumental in spreading COGIC throughout the United States as well as around the world. [20], In 1926, Mason authorized the church's constitution, outlining the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the church. All rights reserved. Mother Deborah Mason Patterson#, daughter of founder, Bishop Mason and wife of first presiding bishop James O. Patterson Sr. He testified to receiving entire sanctification after reading her autobiography in 1893. He was one of the nine members of the strategy committee that organized the sanitation strike in Memphis. B. McEwen, came to a head and was addressed at the 57th Holy Convocation. It is a separate and distinct work of grace that occurs in the lives of believers after conversion. Vice chairman of the General Council of Pastors and Elders Bishop Marcus Ways. If you have any further questions, please contact Executive Secretary Sidney A. Buggs. Each jurisdictional bishop appoints a jurisdictional supervisor to lead the work of the women on a jurisdictional level. During the 1940s and 50s, Bishop Mason often invited the white elected officials of the city of Memphis to the International Holy Convocation on Civic Night. He also established the COGIC national headquarters there. Many Holiness Christian groups and fellowships forming at the time wanted biblical names for their local churches and fellowships, such as "Church of God, Church of Christ, or Church of the Living God". Pentecostals have been criticized because of their noticeable absence from the official record of activism that has been largely overshadowed by black ministers of other denominations such as Baptists and Methodists; however, there is evidence to verify and document the role and response of COGIC ministers and other Pentecostal denominations to the cause and struggle for Civil Rights in the United States during the 20th Century. "[92], Elder Carter was attempting to address members of COGIC as to sexual misconduct, and specifically, homosexual practices. President Clinton gave speeches at COGIC meetings including the International Holy Convocation at Mason Temple and the Women's International Convention. We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written Word of God. "[90] This excerpt of Elder Carter's sermon went viral throughout social media and was picked up by major television news broadcasts. [15], COGIC originated among African Americans in the Southern states of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. He was elected four times uncontested as presiding bishop. COGIC licensed female evangelists may also serve as chaplains in military, federal, state, and local institutions requiring chaplains. In addition, the Office of the General Secretary is an integral part of all ceremonial activities, inaugurals, celebrations and ecumenical services. On November 14, 1968, the General Assembly of the COGIC elected the first general board and presiding bishop of the church. She formed her daughters into a singing group who became known as the legendary "Clark Sisters" who helped introduce and became leaders of the contemporary gospel music era. It has nine members, elected by the general assembly, including three bishops, three elders, and three lay members. [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. In 2000 at the Ninety-Third International Holy Convocation, the COGIC General Assembly elected Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson to replace Owens as Presiding Bishop. Regards, Executive Secretary Sidney Buggs, III. [12] Mason stayed in Los Angeles for five weeks and his visit to the Azusa Street Revival changed the direction of the newly formed holiness church. Bishop Prince E. W. Bryant Sr. Board member (2021present). However, after a meeting in Hot Springs, Arkansas that led to the founding of the Assemblies of God, the white constituency of COGIC continued to decline, until it was almost nonexistent by the 1930s. He is also known for his aggressive initiative, "Save Africa's Children" which supports hundreds of African children who have been affected by HIV/AIDS in orphanages in several countries in Africa. Mrs. Anna Broy Crockett Ford was the first organizer and director of the National Music Department, which was formally established in November 1949. After the death of Mother Coffey in 1964, Dr. Annie L. Bailey (19641975), became the third General Supervisor. Churches are organized in dioceses called jurisdictions, each under the authority of a bishop. Student Aid a ministry of support to foreign students. COGIC continues to influence gospel music with a new generation of artists with COGIC roots that include: Kim Burrell, Ivan Powell, Doobie Powell, Kierra Sheard, J. Moss, Micah Stampley, Kurt Carr, Ricky Dillard, Kelly Price, Mary Mary Erica Campbell (musician) and Tina Campbell (musician), Tamela Mann, Dr. Gennie Ruth Cheatham Chandler, Earnest Pugh, Jonathan McReynolds, Jabari Johnson, DuShawn Washington, Instrumentalists: Dr. Vernard Johnson (saxophonist), Samuel Murrell (violinist) and Terrance Curry (trombonist), D'Extra Wiley (II D Extreme) and Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child). The Presiding Bishop is the both the President and the CEO of the corporation, the other eleven members complete the Board of Directors. (19721994). Elder Carter called for a Church trial before the COGIC General Assembly and Judicial Board according to the Constitution of the COGIC. By accessing and using this system, you are consenting to such monitoring and information retrieval for
[32], Bishop Chandler David Owens Sr. was elected Presiding Bishop after the death of Bishop Ford in 1995. She served as chairperson of the board of supervisors, member, Executive Board, member, Screening Committee, member, Program Committee General Church, coordinator, Leadership Conference, International Marshall, secretary, and Assistant General Supervisor for the Department of Women. Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, attended by Mason and others from several states. Together they traveled across the country proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bishop Michael E. Hill Assistant Secretary to the General Board (2021present) and board member (2021present). 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 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. Assistant Secretary of the Board of Bishops Bishop Adrian Williams. The General Secretary. 11 were here. It is one of the largest gathering of Christian women from any major denomination and religious organization. The Church of God in Christ was formed in 1897 by a group of disfellowshipped Baptists, most notably Charles Price Jones (18651949) and Charles Harrison Mason (18641961). World headquarters are in Memphis, Tennessee at Mason Temple. In keeping with the times, the school had some industrial education and training for its students, so that they could learn practical skills. Protestant doctrinal debates about Calvinism and Wesleyan Perfectionism affected how even local African-American Baptist pastors responded to new Christian movements at the time. The General Secretary is the official keeper of the COGIC seal, Registered Agent for the Church and signatory on all official documents. The first general secretary of COGIC was Elder William B. Holt, a white minister. The current General Supervisor of Women is Dr. Barbara McCoo Lewis of Los Angeles, California. Vice President of COGIC World Missions-Bishop Nate' M. Jefferson. Home; Secretaries Please click on the drop down tab. Mason Theological Seminary to train its ministers and ministry leaders. The exception is when the charges are against a Bishop which would be filed with the Board of Bishops. In 1975, he resigned as co-pastor, withdrawing his membership in the COGIC because of leadership disagreements with his uncle, J. O. Patterson Sr. concerning an establishment of another jurisdiction in the city of Memphis. In 2017, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake appointed gospel artist and Evangelist Dr. Dorinda Clark Cole of Detroit, Michigan as the Elect Lady. Bishop Carlis Moody immediately began to reorganize the Missions Department, giving new guidelines. The rope that holds the shaft together represents Charles Harrison Mason, COGIC's founding father. The early pioneers of this newly formed Holiness-Pentecostal body in 1907 were E. R. Driver, J. Bowe, R. R. Booker, R. E. Hart, W. Welsh, A. President, International Youth Department Superintendent Nathaniel Green. Church mothers have historically served as the leader of the women's ministries in the local congregations. The presidium includes a separately elected international presiding bishop by the general assembly who serves a term of four years, who, then appoints two assistant presiding bishops. [31], Bishop Ford also renovated several COGIC structures in Memphis, including Mason Temple. Chairman of the General Council of Pastors and Elders Superintendent Michael Eaddy. She is also the Jurisdictional Supervisor for the First Jurisdiction, Southern California. The result of sin is the depravity of man, broken communion with God, shame and guilt, and physical and spiritual death. Mother Lillian Coffey appointed Mother Reatha Herndon as president of the National Women's Evangelist Board in 1951. He also instituted the Annual Prayer Breakfast, conducted Evangelistic Crusades across the country and developed the Church of God in Christ National Evangelist Registry. These elders became the first Pentecostal General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ. [63] The current president of the Department of Evangelism is Bishop Elijah Hankerson III of St. Louis, Missouri. Field representative, International Sunday School Department Mother Cleolia Penix. As a result, many local congregations, foreign missions, and schools were established through the leadership and efforts of women in COGIC. Hall Sr. Board member (2021present). Name * Email Address (UserID) * Create a Password * Confirm your Password * Birthday * Month: Day: Year: Gender * Male Female Jurisdiction * Church The international membership of COGIC is estimated be between one and three million adherents. Pastor Dennis Martin and Superintendent Willie James Campbell succeeded Bishop White as presidents. His pastor and mentor was Bishop F. D. Washington of Brooklyn, NY. By 1906, the church had grown to nearly 100 congregations in three states. The COGIC has always had a long history with Christian ecumenism, partnering up with and collaborating with other Christian churches and denominations for the purposes of advancing ministry and charity efforts, both in the United States, and globally in foreign countries as well. Three years later on October 12, 1955, he added three more bishops to the hierarchy: Bishop U. E. Miller, Bishop S. M. Crouch, and Bishop O. T. Jones Sr. 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. COGIC believes in divine healing, however, it does not advocate the exclusion of medical supervision. A general supervisor of women is appointed by the presiding bishop and given authority to lead the International Women's Ministry of the church. In the 1920s, Arizona Dranes, a blind Evangelist Missionary became one of the first gospel artists to bring the musical styles of COGIC to the public in her records for Okeh and performances. He consecrated and appointed more than 100 bishops during his twenty-one years of leadership. According to the Church of God in Christ's official website, the role of the General Board, comprised of 12 bishops, is to establish and execute policies for the COGIC membership, as well as . On the local church level in addition to the office of missionary, COGIC developed and has maintained the position of the "church mother." Complete biographical information will be added to this page soon. He self-identifies as Bishop/CEO of his newly organized fellowship called the 7000 Club (not to be confused with The 700 Club from Pat Robertson). Thereafter, missionaries were sent to Africa and the islands of the Caribbean, Asia, and elsewhere. She is the longest serving president of the International Music Department and her influence and legacy have been indelible and are recognized around the world. According to Alex Haley, "He and his wife then received bomb threats at home and at church." COGIC believes, though, that even then in the case of saving the life of the mother, that abortion should still only be considered as a last resort, if all other options to help the mother and the unborn fetus have been thoroughly exhausted. Church Of God In Christ, Inc. 2015-23. 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.