Approximately 25,000 COGIC Saints descended on Memphis over the past week, and they hope to continue making Memphis the seat of the annual Holy Convocation for a long time to come.
But that would likely mean needing more space, such as the FedExForum, COGIC executives said Sunday.
For this Holy Convocation, the first to return to Memphis after moving to St. Louis in 2010, participants filled the main corridor of the Renasant Center, while some used the Cannon Center as an overflow. Others searched online from churches around Memphis.
“It’s glorious for us to be back,” said Bishop Jerry Macklin, COGIC’s first assistant bishop. “That’s where our center is. To be back here and feel the welcome in the city of Memphis, come on, other people welcome us home. And we feel welcome and look forward to moving forward.
The Pentecostal meeting, which began Nov. 8 and ended Tuesday, brought together representatives from all 50 states, as well as foreign delegates from Israel, France, the United Kingdom, the Democratic Republic of Congo and more.
The denomination has an impact, singled out itself as 6. 5 million members worldwide, and is the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States.
Related: COGIC embarks on church housing allocation with $500 million goal
Previously: After COVID-19, within a few years, COGIC Saints return to Memphis for Holy Convocation
While COGIC leaders have praised the return to Memphis, the Renasant is enough space for all Saints who must attend the Holy Convocation, said Bishop Brandon Porter, pastor of the COGIC Greater Community Temple in Memphis and a member of the COGIC General Council, and COGIC members “need to be together” as they worship at their annual meeting.
The name’s contract with the city of Memphis is extended for one year, and Porter said he expects the FedEx Forum to host the event.
The Holy Convocation looks a lot like a family gathering, several saints said, a chance to see others they didn’t see last year. With COVID-19, it’s been even longer since the saints worship together in person.
“After COVID, we lost so many people, bishops, pastors, male and female leaders,” Porter said. “But to see as many as we didn’t see and not knowing how they were doing, knowing they were doing well is a smart thing. “
The Rev. J. Drew Sheard, COGIC presiding bishop, called the return to Memphis “a homecoming. . . for those of us who appreciate the roots of our church. “
“To be here and see what we see, to rediscover ourselves with the environment and the resemblance to what we observed when we were here, is a blessing,” Sheard said. “It’s a wonderful calling. The Lord has visited us and we are very happy to return next year.
Sheard also expressed gratitude to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and Ken Moody, Special Assistant to the Mayor, who were instrumental in orchestrating the denomination’s return to Memphis.
On Tuesday, the Memphis City Council issued a proclamation honoring COGIC for his return to Memphis.
At City Council, Porter said he expects the Saints to be at FedExForum next year and simply ask the City Council to negotiate rates for the city and the county-owned building.
On Sunday, Sheard preached his first official user message since becoming presiding bishop 18 months ago, urging the saints to be “spiritual salt” by spreading the world, bringing sanctification.
On public occasions the call lasted from Tuesday to Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday of this week, pastors and bishops attended the COGIC General Assembly, conducting church business.
The closed sessions included reviewing COGIC’s budget, presenting a draft of a new church discipline, and electing officers to the general assembly.
“Well, the saints are here, they come to our Jerusalem from the 4 corners of this earth. This Holy Convocation 114 are paintings of the Lord and it is wonderful. Look at your neighbor and say, “Wonderful,” said Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis, general manager of COGIC’s International Women’s Department. “Well, here we are piling up after an unprecedented pandemic and a tumultuous season in our lives. God has favored us with His presence all week. . . So on this Lord’s day, the wonderful holy day, it behooves us to be here.
Katherine Burgess covers county and religion. You can reach her on katherine. burgess@commercialappeal. com or follow her on Twitter @kathsburgess.