Founded in 1897 the Church of God in Christ COGIC has a rich history. It began as a Holiness movement among African-American Baptists in Mississippi. Charles Price Jones and Charles Harrison Mason led this group. They preached a Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification. This was considered controversial by some Baptists. They were expelled.
Mason established the first COGIC church in Lexington Mississippi. The group initially called itself simply the Church of God. Later Mason claimed divine revelation for the name Church of God in Christ from 1 Thessalonians 2:14. The church quickly spread through the South.
In 1906 COGIC had almost 100 congregations. Mason Jeter and Young investigated the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles. Mason received the baptism of the Holy Ghost there. This involved speaking in tongues. It caused a split within COGIC.
Those who embraced Pentecostal teachings followed Mason. They reorganized COGIC as a Holiness-Pentecostal denomination. In 1907 it became the first legally chartered Pentecostal body in the US. Mason became the General Overseer. The Holiness faction continued separately.
Mason moved the COGIC headquarters to Memphis. He established an annual International Holy Convocation. It originally lasted 20 days. This was convenient for members who were farmers. They attended after harvest. The convocation involved prayer fasting teaching and fellowship.
Early COGIC was surprisingly interracial. Mason licensed both Black and white ministers. The first general secretary was a white minister. However by 1914 many white ministers left to form the Assemblies of God. Segregation became more prevalent.
Mason continued to expand COGIC nationally. He sent ministers to cities across the US. This coincided with the Great Migration. The first national tabernacle was built in 1925. It was unfortunately destroyed by fire. Mason Temple replaced it. It became the largest church auditorium for any African-American group.
After Mason’s death in 1961 leadership struggles ensued. A new constitution established the office of presiding bishop. Further splits occurred resulting in the Church of God in Christ International. Despite challenges COGIC continued to grow becoming a major force in the Black church and the Pentecostal movement worldwide. The Church of God in Christ remains a significant institution impacting countless lives through faith service and social justice initiatives. The C H Mason Theological Seminary in Atlanta is a testament to COGIC’s commitment to education and ministry.