C O V E R S T O R Y
Emerging On A Firm Foundation
With approximately 12,000 congregations in
105 countries and millions of adherents, the
Church Of God In Christ (COGIC), founded
by Bishop Charles Harrison Mason in 1907, is
the fourth largest Protestant denomination in
America and the largest Pentecostal church in
the world. This Church has birthed many of the
most talented and most-esteemed teachers,
preachers and orators of the Gospel.
Standing as the Headquarters for the Church
Of God In Christ, Tennessee has a long-standing
history of producing amazing leaders. Every
successive leader’s commitment to the principle
of unity of the diversity of gifted men and women;
style, personality types; value systems; social,
economic, and educational classes; posture; and
ministry. Over the years, that diversity made the
denomination magnetic drawing millions around
the world and ignited exponential growth without
compromising its governance, polity, faith or doctrine.
From a diocese perspective, though its formal
governance, credentials, and polity are the same,
no one jurisdiction is exactly identical. Just as
any organization, every jurisdiction has a unique
organizational culture, personality, style, approach,
focus and value system. In most cases now, pastors
and churches have an opportunity to serve
harmoniously and faithfully in COGIC within a
respective jurisdiction of choice that may best
relate to their needs, expectation, culture and style.
Due to the consistent visionary, spiritual, and
progressive leadership of several dedicated
and passionate men, Tennessee has experienced
tremendous growth, expansion and development
over the past 121 years. The Holiness-Pentecostal
witness has yielded countless souls being added
to the kingdom and the establishment of many
churches and jurisdictions.
Reflecting a new perspective and refreshing
approach to the Church, the General Assembly
of the Church Of God In Christ approved and
presented the formation of a new diocese in
the State of Tennessee, namely, the Tennessee
Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction,
November 12, 2018.
08
The Honorable Bishop-Designate Linwood
Elijah Dillard, II was consecrated to the
Sacred Office of Bishop in the Church Of
God In Christ and appointed as Prelate of
the newly created Tennessee Metropolitan
Jurisdiction by the Presiding Bishop Charles
E. Blake, Sr.
Thus, emerging as the 20th and youngest
Bishop concreted in the Church Of God In
Christ from the state of Tennessee, Bishop
Dillard is standing on the firm foundation of
19 men of faith and integrity. I Corinthians
4:15 states, “For though ye have ten thousand
instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many
fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten
you through the gospel”.
The rich legacy and heritage of faith and
servanthood includes: Bishop C.H. Mason
(State of TN); Overseer R.E. Hart (State
of TN); Overseer R.H.I. Clark (State of TN);
Bishop A. B. McEwen (State of TN later TN
Western); Bishop J.O. Patterson, Sr. (TN
Eastern & TN Headquarters); Bishop Audley
King (TN 2nd); Bishop F.D. Macklin (TN
Headquarters); Bishop W.L. Porter (TN
Central); Bishop H. Jenkins Bell (TN 2nd
later named TN Eastern 1st); Bishop Samuel
L. Lowe (TN 5th); Bishop G. E. Patterson
(TN 4th); Bishop J. O. Patterson, Jr. (TN
Headquarters); Bishop James M. Scott
(TN Eastern 2nd); Bishop Felton M. Smith
(TN Eastern 1st); Bishop Jerry L. Maynard
(TN 4th); Bishop Brandon B. Porter (TN
Central); Bishop David A. Hall (TN
Headquarters); Bishop William S. Wright
(TN Southwest) and Bishop Jerry W.
Taylor (TN 5th).