"[90] This excerpt of Elder Carter's sermon went viral throughout social media and was picked up by major television news broadcasts. "Bishop Mason was one who lifted African Americans who were former slaves and the children of slaves, lifted them up from the degradation of slavery, ex-slavery, the brokenness of poverty,". In 1915, after years of court litigation over the name of the organization and use of the name "Church of God in Christ" by the two groups; Mason's group was granted the use of the name and Jones's group organized a legally chartered Holiness body called the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.[14], After moving to Memphis, Tennessee, Bishop Mason established a local congregation called Temple COGIC. They unanimously chose C.H. 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. As a visionary who is both inspiring and influential, the awards and recognitions that Bishop Blake has received are extensive. . 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]. A. As COGIC continued to grow, the various departments began the practice of convening annually to conduct the business unique of their ministries. Patterson Sr. in 1989. Her predecessor was Evangelist Dr. Rita Womack of Los Angeles, California. Bishop Mason appointed her as a young woman to be head of the small school in 1926, after she had been teaching there. Elder L. C. Patrick was added to the National Sunday School. "[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. In 2017, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake appointed gospel artist and Evangelist Dr. Dorinda Clark Cole of Detroit, Michigan as the Elect Lady. They have three children and eight grandchildren. Drew Sheard was appointed Superintendent of the Emmanuel District, by Bishop Herbert J. Williams, Sr., Prelate of the North Central Michigan Jurisdiction. 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. 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten. Owens and became known as AIM (Auxiliaries in Ministry). In November 2008, Bishop Blake was re-elected to serve a four-year term as Presiding Bishop. In addition to the general board, there is a board of bishops that is composed of all jurisdictional and auxiliary bishops, a national trustee board that is composed of 15 members who are elected for a term of four years, the General Council of Pastors and Elders, which is open to any officially recognized pastor and current credentialed ordained elder in the church. Bishop J. Drew Sheard June 22 and the consecration service for the jurisdictional and auxiliary bishop designates June 23, 2021. . 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. The COGIC emphasized the use of the choir as an integral part of the worship experience. Mason as General Overseer and Chief Apostle. Today COGIC has more than 12,000 churches, and several schools, missions, and medical clinics in more than eighty nations, including every inhabited continent. 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. President, International Department of Evangelism Evangelist Gary Sprewell, Elect Lady, International Department of Evangelism . Carter was found in contempt of court for failing to obey the court order and was jailed until he removed all videos and agreed to comply. She also established a musical program. Recognizing the significance of women to the ministry, COGIC has created numerous positions that allow women to work as counterparts to the department presidents as chair ladies (YPWW) and Elect ladies (Evangelism). Mother Deborah Mason Patterson#, daughter of founder, Bishop Mason and wife of first presiding bishop James O. Patterson Sr. In 1976, under the leadership of Bishop J.O. He was recognized in Washington, D. C. by President Barack Obama in 2009 and invited to serve on the White House Advisory, Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Jesse Jackson was invited to speak during the COGIC International Holy Convocation when he was running for the presidency. This came on the heels of former Presiding Bishop Charles Edward Blake Sr.'s October 2020 announcement that he would not seek reelection. The result of sin is the depravity of man, broken communion with God, shame and guilt, and physical and spiritual death. Bishop Blake is the senior pastor of the West Angeles Cathedral COGIC in Los Angeles. He was succeeded by Bishop Joe L. Ealy. In 2000, he was elected as the Presiding Bishop of COGIC. On April 24, 2022, while addressing his local congregation at the West Angeles COGIC for their sunday morning service, he announced that he has been dealing with and coping with Parkinson's disease, "for the past ten years", and that as of April 2022, he was going to be retiring as the senior pastor of West Angeles COGIC, and that his two sons who are also COGIC elders and ministers, Reverends Charles, Jr. and Lawrence Blake, would be taking over as the de facto pastor and assistant pastor of the West Angeles congregation, respectively. [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. Charles Edward Blake Sr. (born August 5, 1940) is an American minister and pastor who served as the Presiding Bishop and leader of the Church of God in Christ, a 6 million-member Holiness Pentecostal denomination, that has now grown to become one of the largest predominantly African American Pentecostal denominations in the United States, from 2007 to 2021. All officers are elected by the General Assembly. In his first year as Presiding Bishop in 2021, in order to combat debt that the church had accrued from previous years, Bishop Sheard helped to launch the "I Love My Church" Initiative, which was a massive fundraising campaign that helped the COGIC denomination to pay off much of its debts, renovate and refurbish its headquarters church, Mason Temple, establish housing complexes for low-income families throughout Shelby County, Tennessee near the church's headquarters, and purchased a former Catholic nunnery convent in Memphis to provide housing for single mothers affected by health challenges, disabilities, teen pregnancies, and domestic violence. [61] Finally, she changed the visible presence of women in ministry with the introduction of the ministry "habit". The current presiding bishop and chief apostle is Bishop J. In her brief tenure, she encouraged the women to stay focused and supportive to the leadership of the church. Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. is the fifth Presiding Bishop and the seventh leader in succession, appointed in November 2007 by the General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ. 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. We believe that the regeneration by the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential for personal salvation. A general supervisor of women is appointed by the presiding bishop and given authority to lead the International Women's Ministry of the church. The pair modeled the pastor and wife ministry team in COGIC. We believe that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Battles served as president until his death in December 1996. 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. The general assembly meets biannually each year in April and November while the presidium acts as the executive branch of the church, overseeing the day-to-day operation when the general assembly is not in session. Mason. [29] The spread of COGIC was due largely to the efforts of its evangelists through crusades and revivals. [55], A 2014 statistical study from the Pew Research Center Forum on Religion & Public Life, reported that most members of COGIC usually got married between the ages of 25 and 30, and that over 42% of COGIC members between the ages of 25 and 65+ were married, at least 19% were divorced or separated, 32% were never married, and at least 5% were widowed. 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. Historically, women in ministry in COGIC are known as "Missionaries" and are designated in two categories: Deaconess Missionary, and Evangelist Missionary. Since so many new holiness groups and fellowships were forming that used the name "Church of God," C. H. Mason sought a name to distinguish his Holiness group from others. White. Churches are organized in dioceses called jurisdictions, each under the authority of a bishop. After graduating from high school, he matriculated to Wayne State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Master of Education degree in mathematics. In 2015, after more than 40 years of faithful service, Bishop Carlis L. Moody was emeritized as Bishop of Missions. They were also instrumental in establishing 75 churches across the nation. Other leaders of the Youth Department who leader became influential leaders of the church included: Bishop F.D. COGIC clergy are also allowed to be married. COGIC also teaches that all the spiritual gifts are for believers today. Blake has also formerly served as an Advisory Committee Member of the Pentecostal World Conference, and as the founder and Co-chair of the Los Angeles Ecumenical Congress (LAEC), an interdenominational coalition of religious leaders and pastors for the city of Los Angeles. COGIC teaches the deity of Jesus Christ, his virgin birth, sinless life, physical death, burial, resurrection, ascension and visible return to the earth. The current chairman of AIM is Bishop Linwood E. Dillard of Memphis, TN.[62]. She also established the Mattie McGlothen Library and Museum in Richmond, California, as a resource for COGIC historical facts and memorabilia. Charles Edward Blake Sr. (born August 5, 1940) is an American minister and pastor who served as the Presiding Bishop and leader of the Church of God in Christ, a 6 million-member Holiness Pentecostal denomination, that has now grown to become one of the largest predominantly African American Pentecostal denominations in the United . [7] The leadership of the Mississippi State Convention of the National Baptist Convention intervened and expelled Jones, Mason, and others who embraced the Wesleyan teaching of entire sanctification. Sin originated in eternity when Satan committed open rebellion against God in heaven. 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. As a classical Holiness Pentecostal denomination,[2][4] COGIC continues to embrace its holiness heritage, teaching modesty in dress, appearance, moderate participation in secular entertainment and prohibitions against profanity, alcohol, substance abuse and immoral behavior. This list may not reflect recent changes . At its first convocation held in 1897, the group identified simply as the "Church of God." These offices are found in every local, district, and jurisdiction to support development and growth of the Sunday School. Nevertheless, as time progressed in the 1950s and 60s, and as COGIC began to grow and became increasingly institutionalized as a denomination, several other churches and denominations began partnering up with COGIC's leaders to help advance the cause of Civil Rights for African Americans, most notably such as the National Baptist Convention, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and many other similar predominantly Black denominations as well. Rev. It includes not only those who are members of COGIC, but all believers who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Bishop Brandon B. Porter Secretary to the General Board (2021present) and board member (2012present). On October 23, 2020, Bishop Blake announced that he will not seek re-election as Presiding Bishop nor as a member of the General Board. COGIC members gathered for praying, fasting, teaching, preaching, fellowship and conducting business related to the national COGIC organization. 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". Dr. Mattie McGlothen (19751994) the fourth General Supervisor, was a tremendous organizer with great impact on the development of the Women's Department. Ford was pastor of the St. Paul COGIC in Chicago and was Presiding Prelate of the Historic Illinois First Jurisdiction. In 1996, the then Elder J. 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. 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. Jones Sr. was elected Senior Bishop by the General Assembly. She built a home for missionaries in the Bahamas, a pavilion for senior citizens and unwed mothers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. During the 1950s and 60s, during the height of the civil rights movement, COGIC ministers and congregations played host to many significant events. Owens continued to serve as a jurisdictional bishop and member of the General Board until his death in 2011. 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. Music Dept. [35], In 2016, the Church had 5.5 million members in 60 countries around the world. Most recently, Biola University conferred an honorary doctorate upon him on June 12, 2010. Church Of God In Christ, Inc. 2015-23. Nevertheless, women are licensed in COGIC to proclaim the gospel as evangelists. COGIC teaches that the Holy Spirit is alive and active in the world. By. [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. Bishop J.W. After graduating from high school, he matriculated to Wayne State. Church mothers have historically served as the leader of the women's ministries in the local congregations. The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and is part of a consortium of the Interdenominational Theological Center. [5] He officially retired on March 19, 2021, and was succeeded by Bishop J. ", COGIC teaches that sanctification is a continuous operation of the Holy Spirit, by which he "delivers the justified sinner from the pollution of sin, renews his whole nature in the image of God and enables him to perform good works". It is a separate and distinct work of grace that occurs in the lives of believers after conversion. His sons Reverend Charles Blake, Jr. and Reverend Lawrence Blake were officially appointed as the senior pastor and assistant pastor of the church in October of 2022.[13]. 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. As previously stated, COGIC although predominately black, had a significant white membership during its first decade of existence, with a number of white ministers holding leadership positions in the church. Upon his return to Jackson, Mississippi, Mason faced opposition when he recounted his experience. The denomination considers these to be inconsistent with COGIC doctrine and teaching. Mrs. Mattie McCaulley of Tulsa, Oklahoma was the first to respond, and was sent to Trinidad. He established COGIC Charities which has provided thousands of dollars in college scholarships and disaster relief efforts such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Other accolades include the Distinguished Leadership Award from the African Presidential Archives and. These jurisdictions are then separated into districts, which consist of 5 to 7 churches and are governed by superintendents (ordained elder or pastor). He is credited with helping to secure the steel needed to construct Mason Temple which was virtually impossible during World War II.[52]. Bishop Prince E. W. Bryant Sr. Board member (2021present). Mallory retired in 1976 after fifty years of service; and she had a national reputation. Mother Jennie Bell Dancy Jones of Arkansas became the first National Field Representative under Bishop Patrick. Presiding Bishop J. The former Detroit-based math teacher was elected as the new presiding bishop over the largest Pentecostal denomination in the country in March. In 1918, COGIC opened its first institution of higher learning, the Saints Industrial and Literary School in Lexington, Mississippi, for both girls and boys. 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. Blake, Sr. and the late Evangelist Lula M. Blake. There is a presiding bishop, known as the chief apostle of the church. Gilbert. 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. The then"Minister & Sister Carter" established and . 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. [25], Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones Sr. was pastor of the Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia and the Jurisdictional Bishop of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Jurisdiction. [26], The parties filed lawsuits in the Chancery Court of Shelby County, Tennessee, to resolve the legitimate authority of the denomination. We believe that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it.