We regret to inform you of the loss of Evangelist Joy Hamilton, beloved wife of General Board Secretary and former General Secretary, Bishop W.W. Hamilton. There are never the right words to express how deeply saddened we are to lose such a valiant warrior in the Kingdom of God. She will be truly missed by everyone who knew her no matter where they crossed her path in life.

Evangelist Hamilton was a giver, never a taker. She was always there to help no matter how busy she was; no matter the time of day; and, never asking or needing anything in return. Friends like Evangelist Hamilton are few in life and it is with a heavy heart that we grieve with Bishop Hamilton, the Hamilton family, the Greater Victory Church Of God In Christ, the California Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and the Church Of God In Christ worldwide.

The Celebration of Life Service for Evangelist Hamilton is as follows:

Place:           

Greater Victory Temple Church of God In Christ

1620 Broadway Ave

Seaside, CA 93955

Time: 11:00 AM

Date:  Saturday, January 23, 2010

Officiant: The Most Reverend Charles Edward Blake

Cards and Condolences may be sent to:

Bishop Wilburn Wyatt Hamilton

14570 Mountain Quail Road

Salinas, CA 93908

Contact Person:               
Miss’y Carolyn Fryson (831) 901-9395

Mortuary:

Mission Memorial Park and Seaside Funeral Home

1915 Ord Grove Avenue

Seaside, CA 93955-4130

Our continued prayers are with Bishop Hamilton and all who loved and cared for Evangelist Hamilton.

In His Service,

Bishop Joel H. Lyles, Jr.

General Secretary

Church Of God In Christ

This week, a horrific earthquake in Haiti resulted in the loss of many lives and has devastated the nation. The need by people in Haiti is so great, that the Church Of God In Christ community must jump into the relief effort. It is imperative that our congregations around the world show forth the compassion of Christ as the local government cannot effectively respond by itself. We must take into consideration the portion of the gospel where Jesus said I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink, and I was naked and you gave me clothes, at this time we are the hands, feet and mouth of Christ, so we must try to be Christ-like. We are blessed when we can help others, therefore, the least that we can do is share the blessings that God has given to us.

With thousands of lives lost, and thousands homeless and without food following the devastation by the earthquake, the members of the Church Of God In Christ need to step up to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Therefore, I make an earnest appeal to all members of the Church Of God In Christ to make donations immediately. You can make your contribution payable to COGIC Charities Relief Fund , which has been designed to assist the church in responding to this and other disasters of this magnitude.  Please mail all contributions to P.O. Box 38 Memphis, TN 38101 – 0038.  We desire to receive all contributions on or before Friday, January 29, 2010. Further information and electronic donations can be made by visiting cogic.org.

Our Presiding Bishop, Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. has appointed a Rapid Response Team that will be on the grounds in Haiti as early as Friday, January 15^th to make assessments so that The Church Of God In Christ will have first hand information. We are grateful for his vision and leadership and urge the full support and participation of all COGIC members. Working collaboratively we can impact the lives of many who have been affected by this tragedy. Let’s to continue to pray for God’s strength, guidance and comfort during these trying times.

In His Service,
Bishop Joel H. Lyles, Jr.
General Secretary
Church Of God In Christ

Wednesday, July 1st

I Quit: Have You Been Called or Drafted – Dr. Bernard Reese
Ten Ways to Be a More Successful Jurisdictional Secretary – Mrs. Linda Wilkins/Ms. Mary Walls
Maintaining a Godly Atmosphere – Dr. Carl E. King, St.
New Secretaries Training – Supt. Curtis T. Schley
Regional Coordinators Training _ Supt. Eddie Whitelaw

Thursday, July 2nd

2009 Loyalty Campaign – Bishop Jerry W. Macklin, 2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop
2009 Preparation, Guidelines and Deadlines – Bishop Joel H. Lyles, Jr., General Secretary
Bridging the Digital Divide – Evangelist Lisa Morgan
2010 Census – Elder William N. Ward

Jurisdictional secretaries benefited from the wealth of information provided and left inspired to exhibit a “Spirit of Excellence” and “Move from Good to Great” as expressed by this year’s theme.

The following presentation(s) are available for download:

Maintaining-a-Godly-Atmosphere – Dr. Carl E. King, Sr.
2010 Census – Elder William Ward

The session gathered with refreshments courtesy of the Florida and Georgia secretaries. Superintendent Curtis T. Schley, Special Assistant to the General Secretary lead the delegates in a period of devotion and Superintendent William Gaylord gave greetings on behalf of the local secretaries. The official opening was facilitated by General Secretary Lyles, who greated the delegates and detailed information critical to the operations of the secretariat.

Superintendent Talbert W. Swan, II, Assistant General Secretary, facilitated the opening seminar, entitled, “Being an Effective Administrator.” Superintendent Swan was followed by First Lady Vell Lyles, who facilitated “Effective Data Base Management.” The sessions concluded with sessions facilitated by Superintendent Curtis Schley, “New Secretaries Training,” and Dr. Carl E. King, Sr., “Establishing and Maintaining Boundaries.”

The following powerpoint presentations are available for perusal:

Being an Effective Administrator, Superintendent Talbert W. Swan, II
Establishing and Maintaining Boundaries, Dr. Carl E. King, Sr.

Each Quadrennial, the General Assembly, on behalf of the Church of God in Christ, elects General Officers for a four year term of office. These officers include: a fifteen member body to serve as the National Board of Trustees, a Financial Secretary, a General Treasurer, a General Secretary and twelve members from the Board of Bishops to serve on the General Board. From these twelve, the General Assembly elects the chief Apostle, who is officially referred to as the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ. Administratively, he serves as Chairman of the General Board and Ecclesiastically, as Prelate of our Holy Church, and Chief Defender of the Faith.

The Presiding Bishop presides over all sessions of the General Board and has the power and the authority to conduct the executive functions of the Church Of God In Christ when neither the General Board nor the General Assembly is in session. All action taken by the Presiding Bishop is subject to the approval by a majority of the members of the General Board and subject to the will of the General Assembly.

With the exception of the Chairman of the Council of Bishops and the Chairman of the General Council of Pastors and Elders, who are elected by the members of their respective Councils, The Presiding Bishop, with the approval of the General Board, appoints all Departmental and Auxiliary Leaders for the denomination. These Departmental Heads and Auxiliary Leaders are installed to their several offices by the Presiding Bishop.

The Quadrennial Installation and Inauguration of the Presiding Bishop, General Board and General Officers occurs during the April Session of the General Assembly, (The April Call Meeting), and includes four phases. The first phase includes the Call to Worship and Processional, which is presided over by the Chairman of the General Assembly. During the second phase, the Chairman of the General Assembly presides over the Inauguration and Installation of the General Secretary of the Church, the Official Custodian of Church Records and the Secretary of the General Assembly. Likewise, the Inauguration and Installation of the General Officers, the General Board and the Presiding Bishop are presided over by the Chairman of the General Assembly. The Fellowship of the Lord’s Table between the Presiding Bishop, members of the General Board, Chairman of the General Assembly, the General Secretary, the General Treasurer and the Chairman of the Board of Bishops conclude the third phase. In the fourth phase, the Department Heads and Auxiliary Leaders, who will serve the National Church, will be announced and installed by the newly installed Presiding Bishop.

ELECTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NOVEMBER, 2008

AND

INSTALLED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN APRIL 2009

THE PRESIDIUM AND GENERAL OFFICERS

THE GENERAL BOARD

His Grace, The Most Reverend Charles Edward Blake, Sr.

Presiding Bishop, President and Chief Apostle

The Right Reverend Phillip Aquilla Brooks

First Assistant Presiding Bishop and First Vice President

The Right Reverend Jerry Wayne Macklin

Second Assistant Presiding Bishop and Second Vice President

The Right Reverend Wilbur Wyatt Hamilton

Secretary of the General Board

The Right Reverend Roy Lawrence Hailey Winbush

Assistant Secretary of the General Board

The Right Reverend Chandler David Owens

The Right Reverend James Neaul Haynes

The Right Reverend Samuel Lee Green, Jr.

The Right Reverend George Dallas McKinney

The Right Reverend Nathaniel Wyoming Wells, Jr.

The Right Reverend Sedgwick Charles Daniels

The Right Reverend Frank Otha White

THE GENERAL OFFICERS

The Right Reverend Joel Harley Lyles, Jr.

General Secretary of the Church, of the Corporation and of the General Assembly

The Reverend Frank Anthone White

Secretary of Finance

The Right Reverend Samuel Leon Lowe

General Treasurer

THE NATIONAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Right Reverend Charles Mason Ford

Chairman

The Reverend Dwight Eugene Walls, Sr.

First Vice Chairman

The Reverend Josephus Shepherd

Second Vice Chairman

The Reverend Dickerson LeMoyne Schillicutt Wells

Secretary

The Right Reverend William Theophilus Cahoon

The Right Reverend Dwight Lavon Green

The Supervisor Mildred L. Linzy

The Missionary Georgia Macklin Lowe

The Reverend Brandon Burdett Porter

The Reverend Charles Harrison Mason Patterson, Sr.

The Assistant Supervisor Sylvia Hamlett Law

The Missionary Carrie Barnes

The Reverend Amos Smith

The Reverend Joseph Chase

The Reverend David Allen Hall, Jr.

The Deacon Walter Benjamin Jones (Emeritus)

Welcome to the Office of the General Secretary!

It is our goal to provide our member churches with pertinent data and information that is readily accessible. We continue to work with and support the vision of our Presiding Bishop, C. E. Blake, Sr., as the Church of God in Christ continues to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Please utilize our site to access pertinent information on the Church of God in Christ and the various departments of the General Secretary’s office. Check often for periodic updates as we endeavor to provide the most up to date information.

In His Service,

Bishop Joel H. Lyles, Jr.

General Secretary