C. P. Jones and those Holiness leaders who did not embrace the Azusa Revival experience continued as Holiness churches. 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. Secretary of the Board of Bishops Bishop William Watson, III. [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. We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross provides healing for the human body in answer to believing prayer. During the 1950s and 60s, during the height of the civil rights movement, COGIC ministers and congregations played host to many significant events. 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. COGIC licensed female evangelists may also serve as chaplains in military, federal, state, and local institutions requiring chaplains. He began production of the YPWW Quarterly Topics to train the youth of the COGIC in the faith, doctrine, and polity of the church. 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. In 1968, COGIC established the C.H. It has had rapid growth in many regions as one of the fastest-growing and largest religious groups in the United States.[30]. The ordinances of the church are water baptism by immersion, the Lord's Supper and foot washing. He continued to build on the department through expansion of the Regional Administration into 10 geographical locations across the country. The Youth Congress eventually become one of the largest conventions in COGIC. [19], Mason continued to travel across the nation preaching and establishing COGIC churches. Christ is the Head of the church, and He is the only mediator between God and humanity, and there is no salvation in any other. The three-year initiative would also help encourage COGIC clergy to use their missions and charity ministries in local churches to help offer aid and assistance to African-Americans and people of other ethnic minorities, and people of low incomes in local communities who are considering and contemplating abortion and offer aid and assistance to people dealing with economic and medical issues from pregnancy. According to Alex Haley, "He and his wife then received bomb threats at home and at church." Overseer E.R. President, International Music Department Dr. Myron Williams, General Assembly and Call Meeting (April) Memphis, General Council of Pastors and Elders (May), International Women's Crusade and Convention (May), Auxiliaries in Ministry (AIM) Conference (July), Bishop Mason's Birthday/Founder's Celebration (September), International Holy Convocation and General Assembly (November), Mother Lizzie Woods Robinson first general supervisor (19111945), Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey second general supervisor and founding president of the Women's International Convention (19461964), Mother Annie L. Bailey third general supervisor (19641975), Mother Mattie McGlothen fourth general supervisor (19751994), Mother Emma F. Crouch fifth general supervisor (19941997), Mother Willie Mae Rivers sixth general supervisor (19972017), Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis seventh general supervisor (2017present), Evangelist Emily Bram Bibby#, longest-serving national female evangelist, Missionary Pearl Paige Brown#, foreign missionary. Bishop Prince E. W. Bryant Sr. Board member (2021present). The Ecclesiastical Jurisdictional Pastors and Elders Council is the gate way to the COGIC Judicial system. The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is a Holiness - Pentecostal Christian denomination, [1] [2] with a predominantly African-American membership. 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. But during the early twentieth century, the Pentecostal movement had rapid growth nationally and attracted racially integrated congregants to its worship services. The first youth leader on a national level was Elder M.C. During the tenure of Bishop G.E. [29] COGIC continued to grow and in 1973, the church claimed a worldwide membership of nearly three million. As Pentecostals, the Church believes that demons can be subdued and subjugated through the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. Elder Carter called for a Church trial before the COGIC General Assembly and Judicial Board according to the Constitution of the COGIC. Driver, who was the overseer of California and pastor of the Saints Home COGIC led an interracial congregation made up of many Blacks, Whites, and Latinos, for many years. The first convention was held in Los Angeles, California, in 1951. Malcolm X's Funeral was held in Harlem, New York City at Faith Temple Church Of God in Christ. The COGIC constitution at the time did not identify a clear successor or the authority of the executive board after Mason's death. Divorce is considered inconsistent with biblical teachings and highly discouraged as well. Dr. Mattie Moss Clark#, second and longest-serving president of Int'l. Battles served as president until his death in December 1996. [9] This Holiness group/fellowship adopted the name Church of God in Christ, and COGIC began to develop congregations throughout the South. As a Pentecostal church, COGIC teaches that when one is baptized in the Holy Spirit, the believer will experience an initial evidence of speaking in tongues (glossolalia) by the will of God. Divorce is considered inconsistent with biblical teachings and is highly discouraged as well, but exceptions are made for special circumstances. Patterson, Evangelist Joyce L Rodgers#, Jurisdictional Supervisor, Former Chairlady of Youth Dept., international evangelist, Dr. Lytia R. Howard, Emeritus, President of the Sunshine Band, COGIC Pastor, Mother Leatha Herndon Chapman Tucker#, church organizer, national evangelist, Mother Elizabeth White#, foreign missionary, Dr. Rita Womack, national evangelist, former Elect Lady, Mother Willa Mary Collins#, founding First Lady of Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ in Evansville, Indiana. 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 is the official keeper of the COGIC seal, Registered Agent for the Church and signatory on all official documents. A local church mother since the age of 21, she was committed to strengthening the auxiliaries in the local churches and to prepare the younger women to carry the mission of COGIC into the Twenty-first Century. [15], In 1951, when Bishop Mason was approaching 85 years of age, he set up a "special commission" to help with the administration and oversight of the church. In 1895, C.P. Jones and C.H. Mason were licensed Baptist ministers in Mississippi who began teaching and preaching a Wesleyan doctrine of Christian perfection or entire sanctification as a second work of grace to their Baptist congregations. The denomination considers these to be inconsistent with COGIC doctrine and teaching. He appointed regional presidents to serve as liaisons to the jurisdictional presidents. The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is a HolinessPentecostal Christian denomination,[2][4] and the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Bishop J.W. It has nine members, elected by the general assembly, including three bishops, three elders, and three lay members. We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it. [17][16] The organizers of the meeting in Hot Springs had sent invitations only to white ministers to discuss a new movement. The exception is when the charges are against a Bishop which would be filed with the Board of Bishops. Vice chairman of the General Council of Pastors and Elders Bishop Marcus Ways. His testimony "literally went viral, and brought upon him criticism and sardonicism. He consecrated and appointed more than 100 bishops during his twenty-one years of leadership. 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. Amen. 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. A. Blackwell, E. M. Blackwell, E. M. Page, R. H. I. Clark, D. J. Macklin was selected as the first chairman. The first general secretary of COGIC was Elder William B. Holt, a white minister. In 1951, the first separate National Sunday School Convention convened in Kansas City, Missouri. Secretary General. This group of seven bishops became known officially as the executive commission; they took on greater responsibility over church affairs until Mason's death. Bishop Mason was pivotal in licensing and credentialing both white and African-American ministers, who spread the Pentecostal message and planted new churches. Originally, this gathering of the 'Saints' lasted for twenty days, from November 25 to December 14. Mrs. Anna Broy Crockett Ford was the first organizer and director of the National Music Department, which was formally established in November 1949. In 1964 however, disagreement between the authority of the Senior Bishop and the executive board, led by Bishop A. Mallory retired in 1976 after fifty years of service; and she had a national reputation. OTHER COGIC clergy are allowed to be married. The Elders' Council met and organized the first Missions board of the Church of God in Christ. 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. In November 1975, at the National Holy Convocation in Memphis, TN., with the consent of the General Board, Bishop Carlis Moody Sr. of Evanston, Illinois, was appointed by Bishop J. O. Patterson to be president of the Department of Home and Foreign Missions. A general supervisor of women is appointed by the presiding bishop and given authority to lead the International Women's Ministry of the church. Patterson established protocols of worship, policy and practices. She is also the Jurisdictional Supervisor for the First Jurisdiction, Southern California. Male as well as female evangelists were instrumental in spreading COGIC throughout the United States as well as around the world. Office of the General Secretary Office of the General Secretary Church Of God In Christ | Memphis TN B. McEwen made conflicting administrative and executive decisions. She revolutionized and reorganized the music ministry to become a leading department in the church. 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. COGIC policies and bylaws have also been established regarding sexual misconduct of COGIC clergy and laymembers for disciplinary purposes. [31], Bishop Ford also renovated several COGIC structures in Memphis, including Mason Temple. 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). The constitutional convention drafted and approved a new constitution which dissolved both the office of the Senior Bishop and the executive board; it also established the General Assembly, which meets biannually, as the supreme authority over the church to decide matters of faith and practice. During the tenure of Bishop J. O. Patterson Sr. as Presiding Bishop in the 1970s and 80s, Bishop Patterson established several interdenominational Christian schools and seminaries, and helped to establish the World Fellowship of Black Pentecostal Churches and gained COGIC membership in the Congress of National Black Churches as well, a national caucus of Black church denominations that represent different denominations and organizations of the Black Church in America. The church believes that women are gifted and called to ministry; it does not, however, officially ordain women to the office of elder, pastor, or bishop. 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