Mrs. Anna Broy Crockett Ford was the first organizer and director of the National Music Department, which was formally established in November 1949. The current Presiding Bishop is Bishop John Drew Sheard Sr., who is the Senior Pastor of the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ of Detroit, Michigan. National officers of the church are chosen at the general assembly every four years unless special elections are warranted. The General Board of the Church of God in Christ, Inc (COGIC) is responsible for establishing and executing policies for the membership, as well as sustaining and perpetuating spiritual order within the Church. Patterson Sr. in 1989. Herndon and her twin sister Leatha were pioneers of the evangelistic work of the Church of God in Christ. Its doctrine and practice are charismatic in nature, much like the Assemblies of God, meaning that they emphasize personal religious experience and divinely inspired powers, such as healing, prophecy, and speaking in tongues. Users should have no expectation of privacy as to any communication on or information stored within the system, [63] The current president of the Department of Evangelism is Bishop Elijah Hankerson III of St. Louis, Missouri. Bishop Charles H. McClelland Board member (2021present). The Pastor of the church shall notify in writing the General Secretary of the Church of God in Christ, the Jurisdictional Bishops where the church is affiliated, and the Jurisdictional Bishop where the church intends to transfer, of intent to transfer, which notice shall be given at least thirty (30) days before the local church's membership can 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. 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. The General Secretary - Just another Church Of God In Christ, Inc. site. 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. 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. COGIC believes in divine healing, however, it does not advocate the exclusion of medical supervision. But during the early twentieth century, the Pentecostal movement had rapid growth nationally and attracted racially integrated congregants to its worship services. Secretary of the Board of Bishops Bishop William Watson, III. Under her leadership, the Women's International Convention added the term "and Crusade" to highlight and promote the evangelistic approach of the convention. COGIC has always been traditionally anti-abortion. The Office of the General Secretary is responsible for developing and maintaining data pertaining to the Church Of God In Christ and oversees the credentialing of those engaged in the ministry of the Church. Bishop Blake is the senior pastor of the West Angeles Cathedral COGIC in Los Angeles. [39], COGIC is a trinitarian Holiness Pentecostal denomination. Dr. Mattie McGlothen (19751994) the fourth General Supervisor, was a tremendous organizer with great impact on the development of the Women's Department. In 1997, Bishop Chandler D. Owens appointed Evangelist Richard "Mr. Clean" White as president of the Department of Evangelism. Ford, as Saints' Academy, a private co-educational grade school. 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 mothers have historically served as the leader of the women's ministries in the local congregations. Coffey also began the use of the title "Jurisdictional Supervisor" for state mothers as more jurisdictions were forming in each state.[59]. The current chairman of AIM is Bishop Linwood E. Dillard of Memphis, TN.[62]. Complete biographical information will be added to this page soon. This group of seven bishops became known officially as the executive commission; they took on greater responsibility over church affairs until Mason's death. [3] On November 14, 1968, the General Assembly of the COGIC elected the first general board and presiding bishop of the church. During the current administration of Presiding Bishop Charles Blake, COGIC unveiled its Urban Initiatives Program to provide 60,000 programs nationwide through its more than 12,000 congregations to continue to promote the work of civil rights, and to reduce poverty, crime and violence, etc. Bishop John Drew Sheard Sr., who had previously been elected to the General Board in 2012 and 2016, was reelected to the General Board and subsequently elected as the current Presiding Bishop on March 20, 2021, in the first-ever virtual online election for the denomination. Create your ARC account Complete the form below to request an ARC account from your Jurisdictional Secretary. Missions work in COGIC began under Elder Searcy in 1925. Owens and became known as AIM (Auxiliaries in Ministry). Each jurisdictional bishop appoints a jurisdictional supervisor to lead the work of the women on a jurisdictional level. The men selected to lead the Church were chosen by God and the membership of the Church Of God In Christ. Historically, women in ministry in COGIC are known as "Missionaries" and are designated in two categories: Deaconess Missionary, and Evangelist Missionary. According to the Articles of Religion in the COGIC Official Manual, COGIC believes in biblical inspiration and holds that the Bible is the supreme and final authority for doctrine and practice. In 1945, Mason dedicated Mason Temple in Memphis as the church's national meeting site. We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross provides healing for the human body in answer to believing prayer. Assistant Elect Lady, COGIC World Missions-Supervisor Lee E.Van Zandt. [93] Leaders within the COGIC, other denominations and Bishop Blake's own family came to his defense. 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. The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is a predominantly African-American Pentecostal Christian denomination, headquartered at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee. There is one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the new constitution created the office of the presiding bishop and a general board of twelve bishops and defined their responsibilities. J. O. Patterson Sr. was the Presiding Bishop at that time. Her predecessor was Evangelist Dr. Rita Womack of Los Angeles, California. The Holy Spirit is the agent that equips, empowers, leads, and guides the church until the return of Christ. Jones Sr. was elected Senior Bishop by the General Assembly. She was greatly interested in the building of Mason Temple and she kept her national building fund drives functioning until she knew the building was ready for dedication. [16], A few years after the Azusa Revival, in 1914, shortly before the United States entered World War I, approximately 300 white ministers, representing a variety of independent churches and networks of churches, including the "Association of Christian Assemblies" of Indiana; and the "Church of God in Christ and in Unity with the Apostolic Faith Movement" from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas; met in Hot Springs, Arkansas. 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). During 19101913, two white ministers, Elder H. A. Goss and Elder Leonard P. Adams, were clergy under the authority of C. H. Mason. 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. Bishop Blake also won a defamation lawsuit in 2016 against Earl Carter, who was ordered to remove all defamatory videos and to cease and desist from further conduct disparaging Bishop Blake. Each department convened its own convention in various cities through 1975. [96][97][98][99], This article is about the Holiness Pentecostal denomination. Pastor Dennis Martin and Superintendent Willie James Campbell succeeded Bishop White as presidents. These elders became the first Pentecostal General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ. Holy Temple COGIC was the first church to open its doors to the garbage workers. Mother Deborah Mason Patterson#, daughter of founder, Bishop Mason and wife of first presiding bishop James O. Patterson Sr. They rejected denominational names such as Baptist, Methodist, or Episcopal. Vice President of COGIC World Missions-Supervisor Sideary King. The denomination reports having more than 12,000 churches and over 6.5 million members in the United States. "[91] Bishop Blake apologized to a young man (Andrew C. Caldwell) who, following Superintendent Carter's message, came forward to proclaim that he had been delivered from homosexuality. One of her contributions was to divide the women's fellowship in the local congregations into two groups: The Christian Women's Council for the middle aged and senior women, and the Young Women's Christian Council (YWCC) for the younger women. Secretary General. Today however, many church mothers have been reserved to titular positions as many pastor's wives have assumed the role of leader of women's ministries in local congregations. Lizzie Woods Robinson (19111945) was the first "General Mother" of the church. [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. According to Alex Haley, "He and his wife then received bomb threats at home and at church." There was the creation of the Sunday School Field Representative. Throughout the dispute, Elder Carter made allegations against Bishop Blake for impropriety, sexual misconduct, and abuse of power as presiding bishop. He became nationally recognized in 1955 for officiating at the funeral of 15-year-old Emmett Till, who was brutally murdered in Mississippi. As the church continued to grow, she created women auxiliaries including the Purity Class and the Sunshine Band. WARNING!!! For many years, West Angeles has been one of the fastest growing churches in the United States and remains the largest COGIC local congregation with a membership of 25,000. Elect Lady, International Department of Missions Mother Maddaline Norfleet. COGIC clergy are also allowed to be married. The exception is when the charges are against a Bishop which would be filed with the Board of Bishops. After being removed from the office of Senior Bishop, he remained the Jurisdictional Bishop of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania until his death in 1972. [60] Units added during her tenure as general supervisor were the: business and Professional Women's Federation, Rescue Squad, Sunday School Representatives Unit, United Sisters of Charity, National Secretaries Unit, and the Jr. Missionaries. During the 1950s and 60s, during the height of the civil rights movement, COGIC ministers and congregations played host to many significant events. A new constitution and official manual of the church were completed in 1973. Education was considered key to advancement of the race. Evangelist Goldia Haynes, Elder Utah Smith, Madame Earnestine Washington, and Marion Williams continued COGIC's influence throughout the fifties and sixties. [8], In 1897, Elder Mason founded the St. Paul Church in Lexington, Mississippi, as the first church of the new movement. 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. C. P. Jones was elected the General Overseer, C. H. Mason was selected as Overseer of Tennessee, and J. Remarriage is highly discouraged, except in the case of the death of a spouse. 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. The General Board received a summation of the actions of the National Board of Trustees and updates on national properties since November 2018. [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. 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. During his visit, Mason received the baptism of the Holy Ghost; the evidence was believed to be his "speaking in other tongues", in accordance with the biblical account found in the book of Acts 2:4. The international headquarters is in Memphis, Tennessee. During her leadership, several new buildings were constructed on the 350-acre campus to serve this expansion. 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. Login ::: Church Of God In Christ ARC Portal ::: Log-in to your ARC account. Welcome to the home page of the General Board of the Church Of God In Christ, Inc. In 2010, Bishop Blake led more than 50,000 delegates to the 103rd International Holy Convocation to St. Louis, Missouri. Later, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, ironically known as the "godmother of Rock and Roll," expanded and highlighted the COGIC sound to the greater American public in the 1930s and 1940s. Winbush General Board Member Jurisdictional prelate", Atonement: COGIC Leader Slams "Disrespectful" Preacher & Apologizes To 'I'm Not Gay No More' Guy | AlwaysAList.com, Bishop Blake Condemns 'Bad Preacher'; Apologizes to 'I Don't Like Mens No More' Guy, "COGIC's Bishop Charles Blake Wins Defamation Lawsuit Against Minister Earl Carter", "Man Who Attacked COGIC Bishop Charles Blake Jailed", "Dr. Earl Carter Responses to Bishop Blake Apology", "A Letter to the Members of the Church of God in Christ, Inc", Succession of Church of God in Christ Leaders, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Church_of_God_in_Christ&oldid=1141739755, Bishop J. O. Patterson Sr. presiding bishop, Bishop J. S. Bailey first assistant presiding bishop, Bishop S. M. Crouch second assistant presiding bishop. Other leaders of the Youth Department who leader became influential leaders of the church included: Bishop F.D. Sister Church Support Ministry a church in the USA giving support to a church on the mission field. They exist primarily in the spiritual realm and are organized according to duty and function. Upon his return to Jackson, Mississippi, Mason faced opposition when he recounted his experience. COGIC became a major force in the collective Black Church and worldwide Pentecostal movement. In 1964 however, disagreement between the authority of the Senior Bishop and the executive board, led by Bishop A. COGIC believes "that if such a case arises, the mother should pray and seek the wisdom and guidance of God and the Holy Spirit on whether or not they should resort to emergency abortion if it is necessary to save her life," but if not, the Church traditionally encourages expecting mothers to "seek God's guidance for other options and choices regarding their unborn child so that they do not have to choose aborting it, and can safely go through with their pregnancy until childbirth. Bishop Blake led the COGIC to become a greater global ministry, primarily in Africa and Latin America, while at the same time investing in the inner cities where many COGIC congregations are located. Macklin was selected as the first chairman. Home; Secretaries Please click on the drop down tab. The General Secretary is the official keeper of the COGIC seal, Registered Agent for the Church and signatory on all official documents. The COGIC constitution at the time did not identify a clear successor or the authority of the executive board after Mason's death. During the formative stages of COGIC, Bishop Mason organized departments to further support the work of the church as it continued to grow and expand. Bishop Blake said, "The Church of God in Christ does not compromise its stance against homosexuality as the Word of God condemns it as sin, but "this preacher's" (referring to Earl Carter) comments were unacceptably offensive and uncalled for, and will not be tolerated by the Church of God in Christ or its leadership. Page in 1927. [94][95], After the November 2016 COGIC Holy Convocation, Carter left the COGIC denomination because Blake had been re-elected as the Presiding Bishop. In 2014, at the COGIC International Holy Convocation held in St. Louis, Missouri, COGIC minister Elder Earl Carter was selected by the General Board to be the keynote speaker for Saturday night. A. Jeter was selected as Overseer of Arkansas. Adjutant General Bishop Dickerson L. S. Wells Sr.. General Supervisor, Department of Women Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis. 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. COGIC became a staple of gospel music under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. Also send a copy to the General Secretary Bishop Lyle. She built a home for missionaries in the Bahamas, a pavilion for senior citizens and unwed mothers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He testified to receiving entire sanctification after reading her autobiography in 1893. In 1946, the National Sunday School Congress began to meet with the Young People's Willing Workers (YPWW) Congress. On the local church level in addition to the office of missionary, COGIC developed and has maintained the position of the "church mother." YPWW became a distinctive trademark for COGIC and the principle training institute usually meeting on Sunday night prior to evening worship services. COGIC considers any physical, sexual relationship outside of the sanctity of marriage to be outside of the sovereign will of God and unbiblical. Patterson, who became presiding bishop in 2000 at the age of 60. Assistant Financial Secretary Bishop David A. Sanders. Many mainline denominations and countless nondenominational churches that once rejected these beliefs and practices have adopted these distinctions in their worship liturgy and lifestyle practices. "[92], Elder Carter was attempting to address members of COGIC as to sexual misconduct, and specifically, homosexual practices. Assistant General Treasurer Bishop Kendall Anderson. Despite what seems to be obvious limitations to minister because of ordination, women have been given great latitude and numerous opportunities to serve in ministry in COGIC. B. McEwen was elected chairman of the executive board, and O.T. He led a group of students to participate in the March on Selma. Administrative Assistant & Member Executive Committee-General Assembly - 1989-Present. In 1945, Bishop S. Crouch of the Northern California Jurisdiction appointed Elder H. C. Johnson as State Sunday School Superintendent who appointed Missionary Lucille Cornelius to be Chairlady, the first woman to lead the supervision of COGIC women in the Sunday School Department. He is credited with systematically restructuring church departments and ministries, expanding the church in Asia, primarily India and the Philippines, and placing the COGIC on a solid financial status. COGIC members gathered for praying, fasting, teaching, preaching, fellowship and conducting business related to the national COGIC organization. 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. By that time, it was known as Saints Academy and Junior College. The early conventions of the Evangelist Board were basically crusades led by Page and a few other Evangelists from across the country. 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. Second Vice Chairman of the National Board of Trustees Attorney Amos Smith. Military chaplains have also been instrumental in spreading COGIC through military installations. It teaches that sanctification should precede the baptism with the Holy Spirit. These twelve bishops, chosen from the Board of Bishops, are voted into office by the General Assembly for a term of four years . Pentecostals have been known and continue to be known for their lively worship, exuberant expressions of praise and worship, and musical compilations, mostly relying on congregational singing of hymns and chants. [6], In June 1896, Jones held a Holiness convention at Mt. He was a strong advocate for social justice. [36], In 2022, it was present in 112 countries in 2022. Bishop Joel H. Lyle Jr. General Secretary Church of God in Christ, Inc. 930 Mason Street Memphis, Tennessee 38126 Bishop Mason appointed her as a young woman to be head of the small school in 1926, after she had been teaching there. The church is thought to have nearly two million members in 7,000 churches on the continent of Africa. Mason Theological Seminary to train its ministers and ministry leaders. According to a 2015 statistical study by the Pew Research Center, the denomination was estimated to have a United States membership of approximately 84% African-Americans, 5% White Americans, 8% Latino-Americans, and roughly 2% Asian-Americans. He continued to build on the department through expansion of the Regional Administration into 10 geographical locations across the country. B. McEwen made conflicting administrative and executive decisions. 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). He was able to bridge denominational barriers and encourage non-COGIC ministries to work collboratively with the COGIC denomination. During 1910-1913, two white ministers, Elder H. A. Goss and Elder Leonard P. Adams, were clergy under the authority of C. H. Mason. Another body operating under the same name Church of God in Christ, International, split and organized in the Northeast area under Bishop R. T. Jones of Philadelphia and later Bishop C. E. Williams Sr. of Brooklyn, New York. The fastest growing areas include Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, and India. He was denied such trial in 2016. During the 1990s, President Bill Clinton was invited by then COGIC Presiding Bishop, Louis Henry Ford to attend the International Holy Convocation. [27], Several bishops disagreed with the new organizational structure; they severed ties with COGIC to start their own organizations. She began women's work on the state level and appointed the first state mothers. Green. (19721994). The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is a Holiness - Pentecostal Christian denomination, [1] [2] with a predominantly African-American membership. In 1916, a few white churches were organized as a white branch of COGIC. Owens outlined a progressive plan to position the COGIC for ministry in the twenty-first century, known as "Vision 2000 and Beyond." [47] COGIC regards homosexuality, infidelity, and any other forms of sexual immorality that does not agree with Biblical scripture as sinful. In 2000, he was elected as the Presiding Bishop of COGIC. 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. Bishop Sedgwick Daniels Board member (2008present). Today COGIC has more than 12,000 churches, and several schools, missions, and medical clinics in more than eighty nations, including every inhabited continent. 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. He re-ignited the church to be a flagship Pentecostal denomination. The current International Sunday School Superintendent is Superintendent Mark Ellis of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the International Field Representative is Mother Cleolia Penix of Chicago, Illinois.[29]. Bishop Charles E. Blake, as the Presiding Bishop of the COGIC from the late 2000s up to the 2010s, was also dedicated to increasing and maintaining stable ecumenical relationships from the COGIC with other diverse Christian denominations, most notably Pentecostal/Charismatic churches, Baptist churches, African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Churches, and A.M.E. Zion churches, and even some non-denominational Christian ministries for the purposes of ministry efforts and collaborating on addressing social issues that affect Christians and specifically the Black Church in America, most notably through his Urban Initiatives program. [16] Al Sharpton, a noted civil rights activist, began his ministerial career as a minister in COGIC. On February 21, 1965, when Malcolm X was assassinated and the family needed a place for his funeral, no major black church or facility would open their doors for the service.