Church of God in Christ

By andrewb.lack

  • Founding

    The Church of God in Christ was formed in 1897 by a group of disfellowshipped Baptists, most notably Charles Price Jones and Charles Harrison Mason.
  • Period: to

    Bishop C. H. Mason era (1897–1961)

    First senior Bishop

  • First Baptism of the Holy Ghost

    Mason received the baptism of the Holy Ghost; the evidence was believed to be his "speaking in other tongues"

  • Incorporation

    With ten congregations, COGIC became the first legally chartered Pentecostal body incorporated in the United States.

  • First Head of Denomination

    Mason called a meeting in Memphis later in the year and reorganized COGIC as a Holiness-Pentecostal body. These elders became the First Pentecostal General Assembly of COGIC. They unanimously chose C.H. Mason as General Overseer and Chief Apostle."

  • Split of "Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A."

    no emphasis on speaking in tongues to be the result of the holy spirit

  • First Holy Convocation

    Originally, this gathering of the 'Saints' lasted for twenty days, from November 25 to December 14. This seasonal period was selected because most of the COGIC members were farmers and were finished harvesting their crops around this time.

  • Womens Department Formed

    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.

  • Split of the "Assemblies of God"

    About 300 white ministers, representing a variety of independent churches and networks of churches met in Hot Springs, Arkansas. They determined to separate from COGIC and form what would eventually become the Assemblies of God

  • Legal Right to Name "Church of God in Christ"

    In 1915, after years of fighting over the name of the organization and the use of the name "COGIC" by two groups; Mason's group was granted the use of the name

  • Young People Willing Workers (YPWW) & International Youth Department (IYD) Formed

    The first youth leader on a national level was Elder M.C. Green. In 1917, the YPWW was officially organized under the leadership of Elder Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr

  • Sunday School Department Formed

    The first Sunday School Superintendent was Professor L. W. Lee. In 1924, the Sunday School was formally organized under "Father" F. C. Christmas. Elder L. C. Patrick was added to the National Sunday School.

  • Constitution Written

    Mason authorized the church's constitution, outlining the laws, rules, and regulations of the church.

  • First 5 Bishops Consecrated

    Mason set apart five overseers to the Office of Bishop in the church, the first five bishops of COGIC. Those consecrated were I. S. Stafford (Detroit, Michigan), E. M. Page (Dallas, Texas), W. M. Roberts (Chicago, Illinois), O. T. Jones, Sr. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), and R. F. Williams (Cleveland, Ohio).

  • Mission Department Formed

    In 1926, Elder C. G. Brown of Kansas City Missouri, was appointed the first Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Home and Foreign Missions Department by Bishop C. H. Mason.

  • Nation Wide Reach

    By the time of Bishop Mason's death in 1961, COGIC had spread to every state in the United States and to many foreign countries.
  • Period: to

    Bishop O. T. Jones Sr. Era

    Second Senior Bishop
    Described as a "Dark Period" in the history of the Church of God in Christ

  • Second Head of Denomination

    The General Assembly vested authority in the executive board composed of the seven bishops selected by Bishop Mason before his death. The COGIC constitution at the time did not identify a clear successor or the authority of the executive board after Mason's death. A. B. McEwen was elected chairman of the executive board, and O.T. Jones Sr. was elected Senior Bishop

  • The Constitutional Convention Written

    The court ordered the church to convene a constitutional convention in February 1968. The constitutional convention drafted and approved a new constitution that dissolved both the office of the Senior Bishop and the executive board.

  • First General Board

    Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr. – presiding bishop
    Bishop J. S. Bailey – first assistant presiding bishop
    Bishop S. M. Crouch – second assistant presiding bishop
    Bishop W. N. Wells
    Bishop L. H. Ford
    Bishop O. M. Kelly
    Bishop C. E. Bennett
    Bishop J. A. Blake
    Bishop J. W. White
    Bishop D. L. Williams
    Bishop F. D. Washington
    Bishop J. D. Husband
  • Period: to

    Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr. Era

    First elected Presiding Bishop

  • Split of "Church of God in Christ, International"

    Several bishops disagreed with the new organizational structure; they severed ties with COGIC to start their own organizations. The most notable rift occurred in 1969, when fourteen bishops met in Evanston, Illinois, to form the Church of God in Christ, International.

  • Dr. Mattie Moss Clark Elected President of Music Department

    COGIC became a staple of gospel music under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. (1972–1994).

  • New Constitution & Official Manual completed

    Patterson established protocols of worship, policy, and practices. A new constitution and official manual of the church were completed in 1973.

  • COGIC Institutions Established

    Bishop Patterson Sr. established the Charles Harrison Mason Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia; the C. H. Mason System of Bible Colleges; the J. O. Patterson, Sr. Fine Arts Department; and the Historical Museum and Fine Arts Center.

  • Diamond Jubilee & Congress of National Black Churches

    He established the World Fellowship of Black Pentecostal Churches and gained COGIC membership in the Congress of National Black Churches.
  • Period: to

    Bishop L. H. Ford Era

  • Period: to

    Bishop C. D. Owens, Sr. Era

  • Period: to

    Bishop G. E. Patterson Era

  • Period: to

    Bishop C. E. Blake, Sr. Era

  • Period: to

    Bishop J. D. Sheard, Sr. Era