The current interpretation of the constitution of the Church of God in Christ gives no rights to the local people whatsoever. The Bishop is under no obligation to consider the desires of the people when it comes to a Pastoral appointment. The General Board and the Board of Bishops defend this and all other rights of a Bishop extremely vigorously.
The trust clause is currently interpreted to mean the National Church owns the property. In a court of law, the General Board and the General Council Bishop Enoch Perry III, contend the National Church owns all property, they are the National Churches representative in all matters, therefore… Only the General Assembly can change that; they are the only law making doctrine expressing body in COGIC.
Here is the Official Manual of the Church of God in Christ in E-Format.
Here is the Green and White Book in E-Format. The certified amendments were the ones sent to the Secretary of State of Tennessee as required by Tennessee Code. The proposed amendments were never sent to the Secretary of State, a clear violation of the state law. The Resolutions are not required to be filed because they do not change something that is in side the borders of the Charter (pages 1-39). This is also the only part the court considers.
THE 1972 CHARTER WAS THE LAST AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER THAT WAS FILED WITH THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AS REQUIRED BY TENNESSEE CODE ANNOTATED 48-60-105 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ASCENSION CLAUSE.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE FILING AND AMENDMENT RECORD FROM DECEMBER 18, 1922 TO JANUARY 06, 2012.*
If any of these links stop working please let me known and I will repair it. Thank You
Here is a PDF copy of all COGIC charters from the Tennessee Secretary of State:
The 1922 Charter, the 1926 Charter, the 1927 Charter, 1952 Charter, the 1968 Charter and the last one the 1972 Charter.
OTHER THAN THE NEW ASCENSION CLAUSE FILED 01/2012, THE ONLY OTHER CHANGE TO THE CHARTER HAS BEEN, A FEW ADDRESS CHANGES AND CHANGE OF REGISTERED AGENTS.
*This is information available from the Tennessee Secretary of State.
Here is the OFFICIAL MANUAL in PDF and the Green and White Book in PDF. The Green and White Book is the one which has amendments ,(in Part II) that have never been filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State as required by Tennessee law (Tenn. 48-60-105 see below). Some of these “amendments” were passed in 1982 and are enforced in the Church but never filed, a violation of Tennessee State Law.
In the Church of God in Christ the words Constitution and Charter, are synonymous; it is the same document. The Charter/ Constitution is a document which tells the state, how you operate and what your rules are. That is why the state REQUIRES you to file the amendments with them. Notice in the statute copied below the word “shall“; in the legal world that means there is no choice, you must do it. It is a document of the state, not a religious document.
Can we please update the Official COGIC Manual asap. There are to many loopholes out there that some people use to get around some of our rules and regulations.
The General Assembly must do that, however it is hampered by what the Chairman allows to go forward.
What book can I get in regard to the Cogic constitution. I’m specifically trying to find the 30 church rule to start a jurisdiction.
There is no book, this action was taken and approved by the General Assembly when the General Board no longer had the authority or power to create jurisdictions. That power rest solely with the General Assembly.
the process consist of;
1. A request to form a new jurisdiction is presented to the General Board. If it fits their criteria, they then send a request to the Standard and Extension Committee.
2. The committee investigates which among other things consist of on site visit.
3. Committee shows the Genral Board its findings and presents its report to the General Assembly for acceptance or rejection. As of 1990 or 1991, only the General Assembly creates, merges, or dissolves jurisdictions without regard to geographical boundaries.
Can a superintendent be removed by a district or does it have to be the jurisdictional prelate directly?
Article VIII, Section C governs the removal of any Jurisdictional Official. A district does not have the authority to remove a superintendent, it can file charges using the procedure found in Article VIII, Section B.
Could a Cogic jurisdictional bishop be a pastor of a local pastor?
No, that is a grab for power.
Could a Cogic jurisdictional bishop be a pastor of a local pastor? I’m a member of the church of God in Christ, inc. in the west African state called Liberia and this is troubling me; because since my birth, I ve been a full flesh member of this great church: Holy Temple Church of God in Christ and what I am seeing is quite different. Pls help me asap
No, the Bishop is not the pastor of a local pastor. There is nothing in the Constitution that gives the bishop that right.
Can a superintendent appoint a pastor? Can a church trustee board overturn the selection of a new pastor by the superintendent or bishop if their bylaws indicate the trustee board has final approval of the selection of a new pastor.
In COGIC, unless the bishop has given the superintendent the authority to do so, only a Jurisdictional Bishop can appoint a pastor. No, the trustee board cannot overturn the selection. However, your Bishop has given his word to the General Assembly that he would do the following “The General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ has assigned to you, as Bishop the following duties. To function as administrative head of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to which you were assigned. To seek out and discover, in cooperation with your district superintendents and congregations, a suitable pastor for each congregation under your care.”
This is part of the Consecration Charge found on page 215 of the Official Manual
Is a copy of the current constitution available to membership? And how can we see a copy of the national church bylaws?
Although you hear them talk about bylaws, there is no document titled “Bylaws”. COGIC is governed by the Constitution found in the Official Manual, the Green and White Book and Article VIII-Judiciary Board. You have to look at all three of those, the latter have amendments in them. You can find each of those documents in the library section of this website
Where can I see rules governing Auxiliary Bishops?
Here is a link to a book written by Dr. Frederick Jenkins. It can be found in the library section under “Books written by Dr. Jenkins”.
As a disclaimer Dr. Jenkins is in no way affiliated with this site
Our church is legally filed with the state as an incorporated church. Our pastor passed away. Are we able to continue our church as a nondenominational church?
No; if you are a COGIC church, you can only leave with the permission of the General Assembly.
Your bishop will appoint a pastor.
Where can I find the most recent copy of the COGIC manual?
The Black Book from 1972 is the latest.
Who can create a new jurisdiction? Does him or they has/have to consider General Assembly proceed? What are the precedents or documents that say about this competence?
At first the General Board created jurisdictions. When Bishop J.O. Patterson, Sr. died, one of the first things Bishop Ford did was carry out one of his final wishes; by amending the COGIC constitution. There were three readings and at the final reading the constitution was amended in April of 1990 and now reads;
“Ecclesiastical jurisdictions shall be determined, established, consolidated or dissolved by the General Assembly, without regard to geographic areas or subdivisions. Such actions shall be considered upon the recommendation of a majority of the General Board. The General Board shall refer its request to the General Assembly’s Commission on Extensions.”
This is found in what is called the Green and White Book/Ross Documents.
As I stated, this was passed in April of 1990 and it can also be found in the April 1990 minutes of the General Assembly.
So again, this amendment is found in the April 1990 minutes and also in the Green and White Book. This was an amendment not a resolution.
What does the COGIC Constitution say about Sheppardess?
The COGIC constitution is silent when it comes to a Shepardess. That is a position that is made up but it allows a bishop to place a woman over a church under his supervision.
Many states have recently adopted the new Non Profit Code which requires many changes for Church and Orgs. Especially those that’s been around for 50 years or more.
In many causes they have eliminated the “religious society” status. For example, a church had until 2014 to opt out in D.C.
Has the state of Tennessee adopted the new codes? Has anyone checked?
How to get copy of Church of God Christ Bylaws
There is no document titled “bylaws”. The Constitution/Charter and what is found in the Green and White Book, as well as Article VIII-Judiciary Board are the governing documents. One can download each of these documents from the library section of this web site.
When will we place in the constitution that bishops appoint Women Chaplains completely affirmed Pastoral Congregational Leaders (appointed as Pastors of an already established church)? They have met the standards of a fully ordained clergyperson and have experience as pastors in the Military and Institutions.
When there is a vote for a new jurisdictional bishop, when does the 50 plus one rule apply? There were 4 people who ran for bishop, one person received 8 votes, one person received 7 votes, 1 person received 1 and another person received 1 vote. There was not a second vote. Does this go against the constitution and if so, what needs to be done to have a re-vote?
A simple majority is what is required. It is rules of the General Assembly which would require a second vote. That is not a constitutional requirement. If the pastors put on a united front, it can Possibly get a second vote of the two with the highest votes. Please note this, this is a poll, not a vote.
what is cogic membership voting rights
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It is a representative form of government. Delegates to the General Assembly are elected by the people of their jurisdiction. Jurisdictional representatives consist automatically of Bishops, Supervisors. All Pastors, Elders can be delegates. Four District Missionaries and six lay delegates. These delegates elect the officers and create the laws.
Our church is legally filed with the state as an unincorporated church. Our pastor passed away. Are we able to continue our church as a nondenominational church?
Our church in California is registered as a Baptist church some of the members have been ordained by cogic denomination, our pastor died. Does the national cogic church have any jurisdiction over us
No but if your deacons trustees and members don’t stand together you will come up short.
I just found that I am under a dictatorship by having no rights whatsoever who will become my pastor, I came into COGIC in 1963 and just found that out, I no longer feel as proud as I did before by being a cogic
Who votes in the general election for general board and officers?
Only registered delegates. These are the people eligible.
a. General Assembly Chairman and wife; and widows of former General Assembly Chairmen;
b. Members of the General Board and wives; and widows of General Board Members and widows of former General Board Members;
c. All Bishops and their wives/widows;
d. Jurisdictional Supervisors of the Department of Women and former Jurisdictional Supervisors in good standing;
e. Pastors of Local Churches and Ordained Elders;
f. COGIC Commissioned Chaplains;
g. Four (4) District Missionaries from each Jurisdictional Assembly;
h. Six (6) Lay Delegates from each Jurisdictional Assembly;