FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contacts: Deidre Malone and Alayna Adams,
The Carter Malone Group, (901) 278-0881,
aadams@thecartermalonegroup.com
Church Of God In Christ Embraces Promising Future at Centennial Holy Convocation
(November 15, 2007 – Memphis, TN) The Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) recently
celebrated its 100th Annual Holy Convocation. More than 70,000 saints from around the
world convened in Memphis November 5-12 to commemorate the denomination’s
centennial anniversary.
COGIC made the 100th Annual Holy Convocation accessible to everyone by taking an
international approach to the gathering. The church organized programs that were
designed to include delegates from around the world who did not attend the Convocation.
With the help of technology, services were carried live via satellite and on the Internet.
COGIC sponsored 100 delegates from foreign countries to attend the convocation and
honored them with a special welcome. The Parade of Nations Global Centennial Salute
gave church members the opportunity to celebrate the rich history of the church in each
of the 59 countries in which COGIC is located. “The Parade of Nations was an
extraordinary way to unite our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe,” said
Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake. “This was a great opportunity for saints to come
together and celebrate our growth internationally.”
At the Solemn March and Official Day Opening Ceremony hundreds of Saints, including
the General Board, gathered at E.H. Crump Blvd. to march up to the historic Mason
Temple. Once at the temple, delegates honored the founder of the church, C.H. Mason,
and sang praises of thanks for a prosperous 100 years. While addressing the crowd
huddled on Mason Street, Blake stated, “We have come too far to stop now. God has
brought us too far to leave us. I see COGIC in the future and we look even better than we
do now.”
COGIC members remembered previous Presiding Bishop G.E. Patterson at several events
throughout the convocation. At one notable event, the All Saints Bible College dedicated
its university library to the former bishop. Patterson passed away in March this year.
During the centennial convocation, the church assisted with economic development of the
city by planning to redevelop property it owns near the FedEx Forum. Thursday, the
church broke ground on a Hilton Garden Inn® that the denomination has been planning to
build in downtown Memphis for many years. At the groundbreaking General Board
member Bishop Nathaniel W. Wells Jr. said, “We have been preparing for this day for
seven years. Our church is proud to make a major impact on Memphis. We not only
support the Mid-South by bringing our annual convocation to the Bluff city, we are now
aiding in the re-development of downtown Memphis.”
COGIC not only made an economic impact with redevelopment of property downtown,
but it is also giving back. The Church sponsored Christmas In November, a holiday
community drive that met the needs of some of the Mid-South’s poorest families. “As a
church we wanted an opportunity to give back to the community," said COGIC Charities
Executive Director John Penton, “and so our mission is to bless 1,000 families in the city
of Memphis with food, clothes and toys." At its annual banquet, COGIC Charities, the
benevolent arm of the church, awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to 58
deserving students from around the country as part of its educational focus.
The church closed their week-long Centennial Celebration with an election for Presiding
Bishop. On Monday, November 12, the General Assembly of the Church Of God In
Christ elected Charles E. Blake as Presiding Bishop of the church, fulfilling Patterson’s
unexpired term until regular elections are held in 2008. Blake won with 2,986 votes.
There were approximately 4,320 voting delegates present. Blake nominated Bishop P.A.
Brooks of Detroit as First Assistant Presiding Bishop and Bishop JerryW. Macklin of
Sacramento, Calif. as Second Assistant Presiding Bishop. The general assembly voted on
the motion and the two were overwhelmingly elected to their respective positions.
ABOUT COGIC
The Church Of God In Christ has become the largest African-American denomination in
the world with an estimated membership of more than six million. The Memphis
Convention and Visitors Bureau projected that the convocation would bring in $30
million this year alone.
###
Media contacts: Deidre Malone and Alayna Adams,
The Carter Malone Group, (901) 278-0881,
aadams@thecartermalonegroup.com
Church Of God In Christ Embraces Promising Future at Centennial Holy Convocation
(November 15, 2007 – Memphis, TN) The Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) recently
celebrated its 100th Annual Holy Convocation. More than 70,000 saints from around the
world convened in Memphis November 5-12 to commemorate the denomination’s
centennial anniversary.
COGIC made the 100th Annual Holy Convocation accessible to everyone by taking an
international approach to the gathering. The church organized programs that were
designed to include delegates from around the world who did not attend the Convocation.
With the help of technology, services were carried live via satellite and on the Internet.
COGIC sponsored 100 delegates from foreign countries to attend the convocation and
honored them with a special welcome. The Parade of Nations Global Centennial Salute
gave church members the opportunity to celebrate the rich history of the church in each
of the 59 countries in which COGIC is located. “The Parade of Nations was an
extraordinary way to unite our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe,” said
Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake. “This was a great opportunity for saints to come
together and celebrate our growth internationally.”
At the Solemn March and Official Day Opening Ceremony hundreds of Saints, including
the General Board, gathered at E.H. Crump Blvd. to march up to the historic Mason
Temple. Once at the temple, delegates honored the founder of the church, C.H. Mason,
and sang praises of thanks for a prosperous 100 years. While addressing the crowd
huddled on Mason Street, Blake stated, “We have come too far to stop now. God has
brought us too far to leave us. I see COGIC in the future and we look even better than we
do now.”
COGIC members remembered previous Presiding Bishop G.E. Patterson at several events
throughout the convocation. At one notable event, the All Saints Bible College dedicated
its university library to the former bishop. Patterson passed away in March this year.
During the centennial convocation, the church assisted with economic development of the
city by planning to redevelop property it owns near the FedEx Forum. Thursday, the
church broke ground on a Hilton Garden Inn® that the denomination has been planning to
build in downtown Memphis for many years. At the groundbreaking General Board
member Bishop Nathaniel W. Wells Jr. said, “We have been preparing for this day for
seven years. Our church is proud to make a major impact on Memphis. We not only
support the Mid-South by bringing our annual convocation to the Bluff city, we are now
aiding in the re-development of downtown Memphis.”
COGIC not only made an economic impact with redevelopment of property downtown,
but it is also giving back. The Church sponsored Christmas In November, a holiday
community drive that met the needs of some of the Mid-South’s poorest families. “As a
church we wanted an opportunity to give back to the community," said COGIC Charities
Executive Director John Penton, “and so our mission is to bless 1,000 families in the city
of Memphis with food, clothes and toys." At its annual banquet, COGIC Charities, the
benevolent arm of the church, awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to 58
deserving students from around the country as part of its educational focus.
The church closed their week-long Centennial Celebration with an election for Presiding
Bishop. On Monday, November 12, the General Assembly of the Church Of God In
Christ elected Charles E. Blake as Presiding Bishop of the church, fulfilling Patterson’s
unexpired term until regular elections are held in 2008. Blake won with 2,986 votes.
There were approximately 4,320 voting delegates present. Blake nominated Bishop P.A.
Brooks of Detroit as First Assistant Presiding Bishop and Bishop JerryW. Macklin of
Sacramento, Calif. as Second Assistant Presiding Bishop. The general assembly voted on
the motion and the two were overwhelmingly elected to their respective positions.
ABOUT COGIC
The Church Of God In Christ has become the largest African-American denomination in
the world with an estimated membership of more than six million. The Memphis
Convention and Visitors Bureau projected that the convocation would bring in $30
million this year alone.
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