In Memory Of Bishop Chandler D. Owens

A must read:

Calling Out To All COGIC Bishops

Bishop Chandler D. Owens
10/1/1931 ~ 3/6/2011

Supt. Harvey Burnett, the New Bethel/ Bethel Epiphany COGIC, The T.T. Rose Memorial District Of Illinois 3rd Jurisdiction and the Dunamis Word, stop to honor the memory of the late Bishop Chandler D. Owens who passed from this world on Sunday March 6th 2011.

Bishop Owens served as a former Presiding Bishop Of The Church Of God In Christ (1995-2000)  was the pastor of the Greater Community Church Of God In Christ in Marietta, Georgia,  the Bishop of Central Georgia Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and a General Board Member of the church Of God In Christ for over 35 years. He is said to have been a preacher of the gospel for over 70 years.

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Is Yet Another Church Emerging Out Of The Church Of God In Christ?

As the 103rd Annual Holy Convocation of the Saints of the Church Of God In Christ has ended, we must ask ourselves is another church emerging from the church that we have known? The question may offend some and be dismissed out of hand, but we must take a look and be willing to confront issues asking important and pertinent questions.

Traditionally, the Church Of God in Christ was a church known as a "common mans" church. In other words, the church and church leadership was for the everyday person who was saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost. Early on, our style of worship wasn't desired. We were criticized and called "holy rollers" and "holier than thou" among other things. Now even the Methodists and Missionary Baptists incorporate many COGIC inspired practices within their services, including shouting and dancing, which the Saints were known for back in the day. Among the Saints, there were no requirements or "proof" necessary for service, other than anointing, to secure a solid place within the church. The foundation of truth was the most valuable part of the fellowship. There were many talented and gifted people, but because of the social climate, that talent was primarily centered within the church, for the church and by the church.  From the Church Of God In Christ other reformations would later be developed such as the Assemblies Of God, The Apostolic Church, The Pentecostal Assemblies Of The World (PAW), The United Pentecostal Church (UPC), The Glorious Body Church Of God In Christ, The Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Church Of God In Christ International and a host of other churches.



Bishop C.H. Mason (9/8/1866- 11/17/1961)
founder Church Of God In Christ Inc.
Mem. TN.



Early on, one did not necessarily need be a professional singer or entertainer. The preacher did not need a degree as long as he was anointed and knew the scriptures. One certainly did not need a television ministry, a certain amount of money, or some other qualification in order to be validated by the Saints. The "roots" of this church were embedded in anointing, bible belief and the impartation of the Spirit through Holy Ghost manifestation  sanctification and sincerity.  Prayer warriors were the one called to conduct revivals, and they were not grasping the microphone to be seen. they allowed their works to speak for them.

From its humble beginnings in 1897 as a holiness church under the leadership of C.H. Mason, J.A. Jeter, and C.P. Jones, to its reorganization as a pentecostal/holiness church in 1907 until recent times, the roots of the church were hailed as valuable to helping individuals understand the nature of God, the church and the uniqueness of the Saint in this world. The Saint was proud to display a difference of being light in a world of sin and darkness. In fact calling one another "Saints" sprung out of the Church Of God In Christ as the Baptist church didn't call their members by that term and the Catholic church held that designation for those who were dead or who had departed from this life.

There were other differences in the organization itself. For instance, the timing and the place of annual Holy Convocation, the churches primary annual gathering of its adherents, was established around the agricultural practices of farming communities in the south who, around November, would be finished with harvesting their fields, preparing for the winter, and looking forward to a new year. By this time money would have been made and the leaders would have time to spend praising the Lord for an extended period of time. The meeting would always be held in Memphis, TN. as Memphis since 1907, was the headquarters and primary location of the church.  At that time they, the church, by way of it's primary body, the General Assembly, would undertake important issues and chart the course of the church as to what it would practice, establishing or altering rules  and certain regulations and generally carrying on the business of the church. 

Is There A New COGIC Emerging?

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Clockin’ Doodle Dumb Convocation Dollas’

Special thanks to Terry, a blog entry respondent that appears here regularly, for bringing Bishop Jakes schedule information to my attention.

Well, here we go, Bishop T.D. Jakes is scheduled to preach Sunday night Nov. 9th 2008 during the 101st National Convocation of the Church Of God In Christ. Now, I know I’m not popular with some for the stances that I have taken on certain issues so I might as well add additional fuel to the fire and let this baby BURN!

Could It Be All About Da Benjamins?

Now, for all the Jakes lovers, before you get all "swolle up" and bent out of shape, I know based on those who have contacted the ministry and done pricing research that "Da Bishop" usually charges in excess of $50,000 per appearance. Similarly, I know his appearance generally brings in anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 in general or public offerings depending upon the venue.

I’m not aware of any arrangements that he made with The Church Of God In Christ, but I can say this…based on the information I have received from other sources within the church (WHICH I NAME NONE) when they have spoken in these type of venues, they have generally received $0.00 for their appearance in Memphis. Now there may be some that have received honorariums, so don’t paint with too broad of a brush. All I can affirm is the information I have received. Additionally, IF there are any within COGIC who have received something, I am confident that they haven’t received anything close to $50,000, well maybe outside of the Presiding Bishop, but that’s not today’s topic…I’ll leave it at that for now.

In this case however, I find it hard to believe that Bishop T.D. Jakes is appearing in Memphis, TN. For free or for less than his established fee. Feel free to chime in if you know.

Aside From The Money And More Importantly:

In light of the fact that Bishop Jakes preaches false, abominable and ungodly doctrine as outlined and detailed at GCMWatch, and offers an, at best, spurious, if not down right heretical, interpretation and teaching on the origins of man…I don’t understand why the leadership in our church felt it prudent or necessary in any way to further fund Jakes apostasies and heretical doctrine. His appearance may be good for "da money", but is it good for the soul?

I HAVE PERSONALLY heard Jakes say that when God created Adam he created Eve inside of him. He said that man was created "both male and female". He went on to strongly suggest that men have a sensitivity aka femininity about themselves built into their being. This was on The Potters House broadcast Sunday Sept. 21st 2008. Not only is this a foundation for homosexual and bisexual doctrine and false teaching, it’s just plain heretical and fallacious.

Erroneous Unbiblical Doctrine

Just in case you became confused somewhere in your biblical reading regarding this point, be it known that God didn’t create a woman inside of man. He built (banah – established or made a permanent part of creation) woman (Gen. 2:22) and brought her to Adam. This occurred OUTSIDE of man using the same material substance ie; genome of man aka Adam.

Jakes’s confusion comes in when he misinterprets what Adam expresses when he begins to respond to what God had done:

Gen. 2:23 ~ "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

The phrases "she was taken" (Laqach) "out of man" (‘Iysh) simply means that she (woman) has been received in contrast or differently or separately from a man. This terminology was descriptive of her relationship to man and the creation and not descriptive of her emotional character nature or essence.

To complete the thought, verse 24 begins "Therefore" or because of this union/relationship based on what man has received, and that God has established "shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" In other words the precedent is set for families and cross gender marital unions and relationship growth between male and female individuals.

This scripture has NOTHING to do with attributes or characteristics or the sharing of those characteristics, be they male or female. It has nothing to do with emotions, he-motions or being "sensitive". Neither does the scripture deal in any way with human emotional tendencies It has everything to do with Adam looking for his "kind", finding none before God’s intervention, and receiving what God built for him which was suitable for him and ultimately cleaving to that.

As I Close:

Since undoubtedly, this blog is read by an array of individuals, some of which are COGIC leaders, I simply would like to pose the following questions:

Question 1~ How can the church that has endorsed and promoted the tradition of holiness as espoused by the late great Bishop C. H. Mason become subject and dumb down to false teaching for money and or association's sake?

I know this is not normal because under the Former Presiding Bishop Chandler Owens, Sung Myung Moon offered the church $1 Million for the Memphis pulpit during convocation. Bishop Owens loudly, clearly and unequivocally responded by stating that the Church Of God In Christ WAS NOT a WHORE and IS NOT for sale. Thank you Bishop Owens.

Question 2~ How can we, at the end of the day silently and monetarily endorse heretical and apostate teachers preaching false doctrines?

Question 3~ Is our ability to rub elbows with "popular" individuals a motivating factor as it pertains to what we allow and disallow?

Question 4~ Can we not find ministers within the church or associated with the church that offer sound and stable biblical exegesis and promote and encourage their ministries?

Question 5~ Is anyone willing to deal with the "machine" of big religious organization and how it works?

Question 6 ~ Is the quality of our service truly more important than the quantity of funds, relationships, or associations that we receive from service?

Question 7 ~ Has anyone considered the implications of allowing the proliferation of false doctrine in our primary venue (or any other venue for that matter)? If we can’t bring false teachers such as Jakes to accountability, then we have no business teaching against any false doctrine.

Rev. 22:10-17 ~ "10-And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11-He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12-And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13-I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14-Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15-For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16-I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17-And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Blessed!

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