Church marks return to its Memphis roots
COGIC brings its annual convocation back to its birthplace, showing spiritual significance
When Mason Temple first opened in Memphis, it was the largest African-American church in the United States.
Some people called it the Church of God in Christ’s Holy Sepulchre. Others have called Memphis a “Mecca” or “Jerusalem” for what is today the largest African-American Pentecostal denomination in the country.
After 11 years away, the Church of God in Christ will return its annual convocation to its birthplace, something that members of the church and others say has spiritual significance both for the denomination and for the city.
“When we left the city of Memphis, Tennessee, it was quite a shock to the church to move,” said Bishop J. Drew Sheard, a member of the denomination’s general board. “A lot of people yearned to be The return of Holy Convocation signals downtown growth in Memphis.
back at our roots.”
The annual Holy Convocation was held in Memphis for more than 100 years before moving to St. Louis, with leaders in the denomination citing high hotel rates and a lack of meeting space in Memphis as reasons for the move.
In St. Louis, the group met in one location, whereas the Memphis gathering (estimated to bring 30,0000 to 40,000 people) will be split between the FedExForum, the Memphis Cook Convention Center and Mason Temple — a church that is also the denomination’s world headquarters.
“St. Louis is a place where we were all under one roof. I know that’s not possible in Memphis yet, but because home is always important, we make certain sacrifices just to get back home,” said Bishop Brandon Porter, the only Memphian on the church’s general board. He is also pastor of Greater Community Temple Church of God in Christ in Memphis.
Moving to St. Louis was a loss for both Memphis and the Church of God in Christ, said Pastor Gregory Askew Sr. of Jubilee Church of God in Christ in Memphis.
The denomination has deep roots in Memphis. Its founder and first senior bishop, Charles Harrison Mason, was born in Shelby County in 1864 to former slaves. In 1907, Mason established his work with the Church of God in Christ in Memphis. In 1945, he dedicated Mason Temple as the church’s national meeting site and international headquarters.
Some say the completion of Mason Temple was a miracle in itself, since its construction came during the steel shortages of World War II and racial segregation.
“Mason Temple is a monument and a reminder to people of what God can do, even to those who are disadvantaged,” Porter said.
The church started in Memphis by the son of former slaves had a worldwide impact. Today, the denomination is the fourth largest Protestant group in the United States with churches in 100 countries worldwide and a membership of nearly 6.5 million.
“A lot of people are looking forward to the homecoming of the saints from across the country,” Askew said. “Regardless of where we can go, you can only have one home. This is our original home.”
The Church of God in Christ has also played a major role in the history of Memphis. In 1968, Mason Temple was a meeting place for striking sanitation workers.
It was also at Mason Temple where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his historic “Mountaintop” speech the night before he was assassinated.
At the time of King’s speech, Mason Temple was the largest African-American controlled venue in the South.
Today, the temple is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as one of the historic sites of the Civil Rights Movement.
After the church announced it would bring its 10-day Holy Convocation back to Memphis in 2021, Memphians began to tell stories of past convocations. Some remembered how African-American families would open their homes to attendees of the convention when white-owned hotels wouldn’t welcome people who were black.
Porter remembers his father coordinating the Holy Convocation for years in Memphis, including putting signs around the city to announce that the “Saints were coming.”
Although the connection between Memphis and the denomination has dwindled since the Holy Convocation moved to St. Louis, Memphis remains an important place for the church.
Mason, the church’s founder, is entombed at Mason Temple. The building still serves as world headquarters for the church, although its presiding bishop lives in Los Angeles.
The church also operates All Saints Bible College in Memphis, which had approximately 46 students enrolled last year.
Joseph Fisher, president of the college, said he hopes the convocation’s return to Memphis will help the college draw students from across the southeast, not just from the tri-state area. He also hopes it will have a spiritual impact on his students.
“Many of them probably haven’t been able to participate at a national convocation,” Fisher said. “By them being here it will give them an additional advantage of being uplifted spiritually. To see the magnitude of the convocation, I think it certainly would be overwhelming for many of them.”
Askew said that, ultimately, returning the church’s Holy Convocation to Memphis will have a spiritual impact on the city. The event’s 10 days include time for worship and prayer, fellowship banquets, classes, seminars, a charity banquet, the presiding bishop’s annual address and the consecration of new bishops. In the past, people associated with other denominations have also attended to hear the teachings and join in the worship.
“It’s important that we reconnect with our roots, and not only that, our young generation needs to know that greatness comes from Memphis and continues in Memphis,” Askew said.
Verlean Kelly, a lifelong member of a Church of God in Christ congregation in Memphis, said Memphis is home for all members of the church, not just those who live in the city.
She expects even more people to come to the convocation in 2021, she said, and thinks past decline in numbers was due to the move to St. Louis.
“It’s going to be an awesome celebration,” Kelly said. “People will not only be coming for the convocation, they’ll be excited and illuminated because the convocation is back here in Memphis.”
Katherine Burgess covers county government and the suburbs. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.