News Conference at City Hall makes the Move Official
(June 16, 2009 – St. Louis, MO) In a news conference Thursday morning in St. Louis, the Church Of God In Christ officially announced it will move its annual Holy Convocation from Memphis, Tennessee to St. Louis, Missouri in 2010. The Holy Convocation is a seven-day spiritual rejuvenation event for the denomination, where over 50,000 members converge on the city to pray, fellowship, minister and reflect on the previous year in order to prepare for the future.
For the entire 102 years of the Church Of God In Christ’s existence, the convocation has been held in Memphis, TN, where it is also headquartered. However, after a General Assembly vote during the 2009 April Call Meeting, church leadership decided to relocate the convocation to St. Louis, Missouri in 2010.
“It is with the sincerest regret that we are forced to leave our founding city,” said Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. “We care deeply for Memphis and our history there. However, this move is all about our members, whom we love and have to provide the best possible spiritual experience for even during very tough economic times. Hopefully this change will give them financial relief and a great new experience in the city of St. Louis,” said Blake.
The move to St. Louis is designed to be more cost-efficient for the members by providing less expensive hotel prices, additional safety due to the close proximity of hotels to each other and the main convention area and flexibility for those who travel nationwide to the event each year. On average, the Church Of God In Christ’s convocation generates over $35 million during its seven-day event, which is a considerable boost to the local economy.
“St. Louis was a really good fit for the Church in terms of affordability and the close proximity of our hotels to the America’s Center Convention complex,” said St. Louis Convention and Visitors Bureau President Kitty Ratcliffe. “We offered the convention
group convenience as well as the flexibility for their many members to travel nationwide to this event each year.” Ratcliffe, Bishop Blake and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay participated in the news conference. 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop Jerry Macklin, Supt. Dickerson Wells and local St. Louis COGIC leaders attended the news conference at City Hall.
The 103rd Holy Convocation for the Church Of God In Christ is scheduled for November 8-16, 2010 at the America’s Center convention complex located in the heart of downtown St. Louis.
About the Church Of God In Christ
The Church Of God In Christ is the fourth-largest Protestant religious denomination in the United States with an estimated membership above 6.5 million members. COGIC headquarters are located at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee.
Media contacts: Deidre Malone or Alandas Dobbins
The Carter Malone Group, 901.278.0881
DMalone@CMGpr.com or ADobbins@CMGpr.com
(In the middle picture) From left to right on back row: Elder Edwin Bass, Kitty Ratcliffe, St. Louis Convention and Visitors Bureau President, Supt. Dickerson Wells, Bishop Jerry Macklin, Mayor Francis Slay in St. Louis, MO after News Conference.
Wow, close to 400 posts about “Church Of God In Christ Moves 2010 Convocation To St.Louis”. The convocation is an event, and I’m sure the saints are blessed each year, there are more important thing going on in the world and in our communities than the move.
In the post by Evangelist Foster, yes we are still saints, I think that we have forgotten we have been redeemed. This is why we are so carnal. We have more reverence for events, leaders and we we treat each other with contempt, its been going on for years.
We pray at prayer meetings and many of us are still the same, carnal and complaining. Yes..we need to pray, pray for us, the world is watching and reading!
My honest opinion, I love Memphis. I’ve live here all of my life. I love to visit St. Louis as well. No matter where you go, when that City knows that a huge convention is coming to town they are going to raise their prices. The Mayor does not have any kind of say so on business that are privately owned and operated. I was raised in Holiness by the Saints of Old. I thank GOD for them. They were VERY strict on us and I’m glad today that they were. I know True Holiness instead of the fakeness that’s going on. They taught us that when trouble arise PRAY and see what the Lord is saying. No matter what he says, good or bad, ask the Lord to help you in this situation. I don’t mind change. I can adapt to change. Even thou the lay members doesn’t have a voice when it comes to the changes of the Church, we still pray and let the Lord take care of everything. If we pray, like I know as the Saints of Old and not waiver, the Lord would do as he always do for our Church which is give this Church just what they ask for. Saints, lets not be bitter or argue about the move. Lets FAST and PRAY and seek the Lord then he’ll do the rest. If the Lord delay his coming and he be willing, I plan to attend some of the Convention in Nov 2010. God Bless our Presiding Bishop (Blake) and Mother Rivers in all of their endeavors!!!!!!
THANKS FOR THOSE REAL WORDS OF WISDOM EVAN. TANDRA FOSTER,YOU’RE RIGHT WE REALLY NEED TO STOP COMPLAINING AND KEEP OUR LEADERS IN PRAYER. HOW CAN SOMEONE SAY THAT OUR BISHOP IS NOT LED BY THE LORD. WHY DO THEY FEEL THIS WAY NOW? IS IT BECAUSE OF THE MOVE? HE IS THE SAME LEADER THAT LED THE CHURCH WHEN WE WERE IN MEMPHIS, SO WHY IS HE NOT LED BY THE LORD NOW? BISHOP BLAKE IS NOT BISHOP MASON, BISHOP PATTERSON OR ANY OF THE GREAT LEADERS WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST. THE LORD HAD A VISION FOR THOSE MEN IN THEIR DAY, NOW BISHOP BLAKE HAS TO FOLLOW THE VISION THAT THE LORD HAS FOR HIM ON HOW TO LEAD THE PEOPLE NOW. THAT’S WHAT HAPPEN TO THE CHILDREN OF ISREAL; THEY ASK FOR A LEADER AND AFTERWARDS COMPLAINED ABOUT EVERYTHING MOSES DID AND THEY MISSED OUT ON THE PROMISE LAND BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE HARD HEADED. I WILL BE HONEST; WHEN I WAS IN MEMPHIS LAST YEAR THE CITY ITSELF HAS REALLY GONE DOWN. THERE ARE MORE EMPTY VACANT LOTS THEN THERE ARE HOUSES AND BUSINESS. IT LOOKS TERRIBLE! IT IS VERY DEPRESSING. I’M GLAD TO BE LEAVING; TO BE IN A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE. I ALREADY HAVE MY ROOM RESERVED IN ST. LOUIS AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT IT.
SAINTS, LETS BE THE REAL SAINTS THAT WE TESTIFY ABOUT, SHOUT ABOUT, SING ABOUT, PREACH ABOUT WHEN WE SEND IN COMMENTS. THE WORLD IS WATCHING US AND THEY ARE LISTENING AND WE NEED TO BE THE THE GODLY EXAMPLE THAT WE WERE CALLED TO BE. THE BIBLE SAYS ” TOUCH NOT MY ANNOINTED NOR DO MY PROPHET NO HARM” BE CAREFUL WHO YOU PUT YUR MOUTH ON.
BE BLESS AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL IN ST. LOUIS
Moving to St. Louis is not only a good business move, but it’s a great spiritual move. Our God is everywhere. He cannot be contained in a building, as He said to David. He has already set His approval on this move some time ago. We just had to allow Him to give us courage to make the move.
Thank God for Bishop Blake and our leaders who exercised courage. Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Superintendent Larry Roach
Magnolia, AR 71753
well i really dont know where the we going as cogic but this is not the same cogic i grew up with…bishop blake is not a bishop that should be over sunday school…..he is a political bishop with no juicy….why move from the birth place and the holy grounds for money…no bishop blake its time for a new leader that will bring the cogic but to the front of the pack…..we are not copy cat’s and all bishop blake see is a dollars sign….2010 bishop blake have to go..we neegot so many good and great bishop….the only reason he uo there is cause of political reason and money….To the board of bishops i want a better leader for my cogic….the one that i loved the one that bishop mason founded……we are not where we should
I am excited about the move to St Louis. I feel that the same spirit of God that met us in Memphis Tn. will meet us in St. Louis. As COGIC members we should obey those who have the rule over us. If Bishop Blake says we are moving we need to go with the flow! I’m glad to be apart of this move of God! Keep up the good work Bishop Blake Faith Temple COGIC, Alabama is behind you 100%
I am thrilled not be going back to Memphis, I am looking forward to enjoying the outpour of the Holy Ghost along the shores of the Mississippi plains of the USA. Remind them of the unpredictable weather temperatures. I hope we will have some affordable rates for the saints,decent places to sleep, and dine. It’s past overdue for our leaders to think about the little people who are not as blessed as others. Thank you Bishop Blake.
I am very disappointed that we are leaving our holy city, our Jerusalem for the Church of God in Christ, Memphis. Words cannot express the great sense of heritage and pride that I feel when entering that city, especially for our Holy Convocation. I know that the church is w/in us and wherever or whenever the saints gather in Jesus’ name, that He will be in the midst. But had there been some spiritual significance for the move, perhaps I wouldn’t have been so disappointed. But there’s just NO price you can put on heritage. And what about Mason Temple…OMG, the prayer room?! “If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.” Psalm 137:5,6
I must agree with Timothy. There was no place like Memphis! The sense of heritage and the history that the saints left in that city has not a price. I am only 23 years old but I have been in this Grand Ole Church all of my life and there was nothing like hearing my grandmother talk of preparation for the convocation. It didnt matter the price, people from all over the US were there to fellowship with other saints. True, we are the church and where ever we go the Lord is but there was something truly specail about our meeting in Memphis. The best time of my life happened in Morning Manner.
My church is planning to go to St. Louis this year and I must admit, this has been the hardest time to prepare for the covocation. Normally it was book your rooms and lets go but now there are registration fees just to book the rooms. As others have stated on here, the money issue seems a bit extreme when the ORIGINAL puprose for the Convocation was to meet, fellowship and worship with the saints from all over the nation, NOT to make some big profit. I know there are expenses that must be met but at the same time, dont make it worse for the saints. Hopefully we will be there with bells on but I wont forget The Old Time Way.
-Kam
I remember my teaching in this Church over the years..The Lord is in control. He allows a thing (a move) to happen for his purpose.Since we can’t see the overall picture as God sees..Let us pray and allow the peace of God to rule in this situation.We are on the world’s stage what will they see ?
GOD BLESS THE SAINTS EVERYWHERE! IT’S SO GOOD TO BE ABLE TO PULL UP THE WEBSITE AND NOT READ SO MANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS. I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO, EVENTHOUGH HAVE SPIRITUAL FEELINGS ABOUT LEAVING MEMPHIS THEY ARE NOT PUTTING A DAMPER ON THE MOVE. WE ARE TO OBEY LEADERSHIP; THE LEADER THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US. WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING OR DECISION THAT IS MADE. OUR JOB IS TO CONTIUNE TO PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS AND KEEP EACH OTHER IN PRAYER AT ALL TIMES. I LOVE THE SAINTS AND HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL IN ST. LOUIS. BE BLESS TIL WE MEET AGAIN