New Presiding Bishop
Elected on March 20, 2021

Bishop J. Drew Sheard Prelate, Michigan North Central in Detroit.

Blake, Sr. announced that he would not seek another term as Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle at the next election in a video released to the members of the denomination. Bishop Blake made the decision to not seek re-election as a member of the General Board or as Presiding Bishop. He requested that the General Board grant him emeritus status at the time of the next election. Bishop Blake will continue as Senior Pastor of the West Angeles Church. His decision to not seek reelection with the national COGIC does not affect his pastoring in Los Angeles.

Died on April 9, 2020

Bishop Phillip Aquilla Brooks, II, the senior pastor of New St. Paul Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Detroit died on April 9, 2020 at the age of 88 of the cause of death was COVID-19 and other health complications. Bishop Brooks was a beloved statesman who played an influential role in the lives of millions over the years as First Assistant Presiding Bishop Church of God in Christ Prelate and First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Michigan.

Died on March 21, 2021

Bishop George Dallas McKinney, the senior pastor of New St. Stephens Church of God in Christ in San Diego died on March 21, 2021 at the age of 88 of the cause of death unkown. Bishop McKinney was Born on Aug. 9, 1932, in Jonesboro, AR, McKinney was one of 12 children. He went to Arkansas State College and did graduate work in theology at Oberlin College and California School of Theology in Glendale before following his father — weekday sharecropper, Sunday preacher — into the ministry. After working as a chaplain at a state mental hospital in Toledo, Ohio, McKinney came to San Diego and started St. Stephen’s with his late wife, Jean, in the pizza-basement space donated by a Pacific Beach parish. It sat about 150 people. The McKinneys built the congregation while they raised five sons, all of whom went into church work. Eventually St. Stephen’s moved to its current location at 5825 Imperial Ave. and grew into a following of almost 2,000 families.

Died on April 24, 2020

Licensed to preach in 1959, Ted Thomas Sr. served the Church of God in Christ in varying capacities as a minister of music, pastor of several COGIC churches in Virginia, a State Sunday School Superintendent, a District Superintendent, and an Administrative Assistant to Bishop David C. Love before being elevated to Jurisdictional Prelate of the Virginia First Jurisdiction in 1984. Aftee his consecration as a bishop, Thomas was elected to be the Secretary of the Board of Bishops, COGIC; a position which he held for 20 years. In addition to heading "VA#1", Bishop Thomas served as pastor of New Community Temple COGIC (the headquarters church) in Portsmouth and St. Stephen'a COGIC in Virginia Beach. Bishop Thomas died on April 24, 2020 and the cause of death was COVID-19.

Died on March 24, 2020

Bishop Nathaniel Wyoming Wells Jr., a stalwart community leader who fought for affordable housing. Bishop Wells was a leading community advocate for the poor throughout his ministerial career. He served as senior pastor for the Muskegon Holy Trinity church for 44 years. Wells, who presided over Muskegon's Holy Trinity Institutional Church of God in Christ. Bishop Wells died on March 24, 2020 and the cause of death was COVID-19.

Died on November 27, 2020

Bishop Matthew Williams of the Florida Southwestern Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, was born in March of 1956 in Lakeland, Florida. He is the son of the late Elder Matthew Williams, Sr. and the late Mother Louise Williams. Bishop Williams graduated from Brandon High School in 1974 and attended Hillsborough Community College to refine his musical skill. In 1975, he started his career with Busch Gardens and remained there until he became a full-time pastor in 1987. He accepted Christ as his personal Savior in 1973, at the age of 17.