The Church of God in Christ, Incorporated is the nation's largest Pentecostal
and African-American Christian denomination. [1]
History
Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, founder of the Church of God in Christ, Inc.
The Church of God in Christ, commonly referred to by its acronym, COGIC, was formed in 1907 by Bishop Charles Harrison
Mason (1866-1961), who was expelled from his Baptist church in the late 19th century due
to his views and teachings of salvation, sanctification, and holiness.
Mason was licensed to preach by Mt. Gale Missionary Baptist Church of Preston, Arkansas. He
entered Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1893, but soon became dissatisfied and
withdrew because of the methods of teaching and biblical presentation. Soon afterward he was found preaching and teaching in
every church that would allow him to do so. His messages were primarily based on declaring Christ by precept and example and of
holy and righteous living. His teachings caused the Leavenworth Baptist Association to withdraw the right hand of fellowship from
Bishop Mason.
After being disfellowshipped from the Baptist church, Bishop Mason was able to continue services in the home of Mr. John A.
Lee. These living room services were so well attended that a gentleman named Mr. Watson asked Bishop Mason to transfer services
to an old, abandoned cotton gin house near the bank of a little creek in Lexington,
MS. This was known as the first Church Of God In Christ facility.
During these events, Bishop Mason became associated with Charles Price Jones of
Jackson, Mississippi, J. A. Jeter, of Little Rock, Arkansas, and W. S. Pleasant of Hazelhurst, Mississippi during the Holiness
Movement of the late 19th century. As the result of one of these Holiness revivals breaking out in Jackson, Mississippi, a new church, eventually called the Church of God In Christ, was formed. The
first convocation called by these Holiness individuals was held in 1897 at the Mt. Helm Missionary
Baptist Church in Jackson, MS.
Simultaneously in 1897, while seeking a name to distinguish this Holiness body from others, Bishop Mason came to believe that
the name Church of God in Christ was divinely revealed and biblically supported in I Thessalonians 2:14, II
Thessalonians 1:1 and Galatians 1:22. This name was actually given to
Bishop Mason in 1897.
Later that original Church Of God In Christ would be reorganized with C.P. Jones as General Overseer, Elder C.H. Mason as
Overseer of Tennessee, and Elder J.A. Jeter as Overseer of Arkansas.
In 1906, Elder C. H. Mason, Elder Jeter, and Elder D. J. Young were appointed as a committee by General Overseer C. P. Jones
to investigate reports of a revival in Los Angeles, conducted by the itinerant
preacher, William J. Seymour. Elder C. H. Mason's visit to what was known as the
Azusa Street Revival changed the direction of the newly formed Holiness
COGIC church. Upon his return to Tennessee from the Azusa Street Revival, C. H. Mason began preaching and teaching the
Pentecostal, Holiness message with power and the fire of the Holy Ghost.
In 1907 Elder Jeter and Elder C. P. Jones rejected C. H. Mason's biblical teaching on the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit, resulting in a mutual separation. Overseer C. P. Jones continued to lead his COGIC adherents as a
Holiness church, changing the name in 1915 to the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.. C. H. Mason, called a conference in Memphis,
Tennessee and reorganized the Church of God in Christ as a Holiness Pentecostal body.
The 1907 attendees during this reorganization were Elder E.R. Driver, Elder J. Bowe, Elder, R.R. Booker, Elder R. E. Hart,
Elder W. Welsh, Elder A.A. Blackwell, Elder E.M. Blackwell, Elder E.M. Page, Elder R.H.I. Clark, Elder D.J. Young, Elder James
Brewer, Elder Daniel Spearman, and Elder J.H. Boone. These men organized the first Pentecostal General Assembly Of The Church Of
God In Christ and unanimously chose Overseer C.H. Mason as General Overseer and Chief Apostle.
Overseer Mason was given complete authority to establish doctrine, organize auxiliaries and appoint Overseers or Bishops.
During this time Bishop Mason had the opportunity to ordain and appoint many of the bishops, pastors, and leaders who would go on
to lead organizations such as the Assemblies Of God, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, and the United Pentecostal Church.
Bishop Mason dedicated 20 days, November 25th through December 12th annually as a meeting time for all followers to fellowship
with each other and transact all ecclesiastical and secular affairs pertinent to growth of the National Organization. This
meeting is commonaly called the COGIC National Holy Convocation Of Saints and is held in Memphis.
The first national COGIC meeting was held at 392 S. Wellington St. in Memphis. The first national tabernacle was built and completed at 958 S. Fifth St. in 1925. This tabernacle was destroyed by fire in
1936. In 1945 Bishop Mason dedicated Mason Temple in Memphis.
As the church national meeting site. The miricle of this event was that Mason Temple was built for less than $400,000 during
World War II. The auditorium hall was the largest church structure owned by any black
religious group in America at the time of its completion.
Theology
The Church of God in Christ doctrinal emphasis is the inspired, infallible authority of Scripture, trinitarian, conversion, repentance, salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, regeneration,
justification, sanctification and the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Church believes that the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit is given to all Christian believers who ask for it and that baptism is accompanied by speaking in other tongues
(languages not known to ones self) Acts 2:4, and a holy and righteous lifestyle, attitude, disposition and conduct also known as
the Fruit Of The Spirit as evidenced in Galatians 5:22-24. Divine healing is practiced, not to
the exclusion of medical supervision. Holiness of life and practice are emphasized. The ordinances of the Church, as act of
obedience to Faith, are water baptism (immersion), the Lord's
Supper (Holy Communion) and the Ordinance of Humility (foot washing).
Statement of Faith
Members of the church profess the following Statement of Faith:
- We Believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written word of God.
- We Believe that there is one God eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Ghost.
- We Believe in the blessed hope, which is the rapture of the church of God which is in Christ at his return.
- We Believe that the only means of being cleansed from sin, is through repentance, faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ
and being baptized in water.
- We Believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
- We Believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing for the human body in answer to believing
prayer.
- We Believe that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:4 is given to believers who ask for it.
- We Believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling, the Christian is enabled to live a holy and
separated life in this present world. Amen.[2]
Growth
The church has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception in 1907 with 10 churches. COGIC is generally acknowledged to
be the largest African-American and Pentecostal body in the United States, with over 6,000,000 members[3].
Leadership
The Church of God in Christ recognizes a biblical organizational structure, creating a 12-person General Board who serve
functionally as Apostles. These are Bishops chosen to oversee the National and International work of the Church with a
Presiding Bishop as the positional and functional leader of the Church.
The Church of God in Christ entered a period of mourning at the demise of their national leader, Chief Apostle and Presiding
Bishop of the Churches of God in Christ. The period of mourning and funeral services were conducted from March 28-31, 2007 upon
the death of Presiding Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson, founding Pastor of the
Memphis, Tennessee, Temple of Deliverance Church of God in
Christ. Bishop Charles E. Blake, who formerly served as his 1st Administrative
Assistant, succeeded Bishop Patterson as Presiding Bishop in April 2007. Bishop J. N.
Haynes became the First Administrative Assistant to the Presiding Bishop, and Bishop P.A. Brooks became the Second
Administrative Assistant. These National officers will lead the Church until the next National election. National officers of the
Church are chosen at a General Assembly every four years unless special elections are warranted.
COGIC has a General Assembly consisting of men and women who are ordained/credentialed pastors, elders, evangelists,
missionaries, chaplains, and jurisdictional/auxiliary bishops. In addition to a 12-person General Board, there is a Board of
Bishops, a National Trustee Board, District Superintendents, Council of Elders, and departmental presidents. Some departments are
Music, Youth, Sunday School, Evangelism and Mission Departments under the umbrella of what is now called Auxiliaries in Ministry
(AIM).
Headquarters
The COGIC identifies its world headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, commonly known
as the "Holy Mecca of the Saints of God." The World Headquarters of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. is the historic
Mason Temple 938 Mason Street ~ Memphis, Tennessee. Mason Temple built during WWII
in 1940 was a benchmark effort by a group of African-Americans during that period. It became the largest, Black-owned church
auditorium in America during the 1940's. The historic church auditorium is the location of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's final
message to the world; the "I've been to the Mountain Top" speech was delivered from the pulpit of Mason Temple.
Organization
Women's Department
Of particular note is the International Women's Department. Women in the COGIC have been the most influential in the
leadership and organization of the church since its inception. Lizzie Woods Robinson (1911-1945) was the first "General
Mother/Supervisor" of the church. Her successor, Lillian Brooks Coffey (1945-1964)was the organizer of the 1st International
Women's Convention (1951) and was most influential in organizing many of the departments that exist within COGIC today. Foreign
missions and schools were established through the leadership of women in the COGIC.
Mother Willie Mae Rivers is the General Supervisor of the COGIC Women's Department and President of the Women's International
Convention of the COGIC. She serves the COGIC through the leadership of the Presiding Bishop. Some of her areas of oversight
are:
- District Missionaries, National Evangelists, Public Relations, Secretarial Staff, Usher Board, Mothers' Board, Prayer &
Bible Band, Hospitality, Board of Examiners, Sewing Circle,
- Deaconess Missionary, Minister's Wives Circle, Young Women's Christian Council (YWCC),
- Sunshine Band and Purity Class. Although women within COGIC have not yet been given full status of ordination, COGIC women
are serving as pastors of local COGIC churches, chaplains in the United States Armed Services, college/university, hospital,
hospice, correctional, prison chaplains and other institutions requiring religious endorsements.
Missionary Organization
The COGIC have missionaries and churches in South Africa, Nigeria, Latin America, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Haiti,
India, Liberia, Jamaica, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bahamas, Brazil, Botswana, Great Britain. COGIC operates schools of higher
learning such as the C. H. Mason Bible College and the C. H. Mason Theological Seminary, an Association of Theological Schools
(ATS) accredited institution which is part of a consortium of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta,
Georgia.
References
- ^ "Christianity Today"
- ^ "COGIC Affirmation of Faith".
- ^ Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches reports on record number of
national church bodies, 2007 http://www.ncccusa.org/news/070305yearbook2007.html
See also
External links
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