The Church of God in Christ

The Church of God in Christ

930 Mason St
Memphis, TN 38126
United States

Attesting Officer
Dr. Ronald V Duncan
General Director


Media Contact
Elder J.H. Lyles, Jr., General Secretary

35.1215419, -90.0491001


The Church of God in Christ was founded in 1897 in Lexington, Mississippi by Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, a former Baptist minister, and organized as a Pentecostal Church during the early stages of the holiness movement and, more specifically, as an outgrowth of the Azusa Street Revival of Los Angeles, California, in 1906-9.

Initial growth of the church was attributable to the organization of four departments between 1910-1916, the Women's Department, the Sunday School, Young People's Willing Workers and Home and Foreign Missions.

The Church is Trinitarian and teaches the infallibility of Holy Scripture, the need for regeneration and baptism of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues. It emphasizes holiness as God's standard for Christian conduct and recognizes as ordinances Holy Communion, Water Baptism and Feet Washing.

Its governmental structure is basically episcopal and consists of three branches. The General Board represents the Executive Branch, the General Assembly is the Legislative Branch, and the Judiciary Board represents the Judicial Branch.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
1991
5,499,875
0
0
5,499,875
15,300
1982
0
0
0
3,709,661
9,982
1965
0
0
0
425,000
4,500
1964
0
0
0
413,000
4,100
1963
0
0
0
413,000
4,100
1962
0
0
0
419,466
4,150
1961
0
0
0
411,466
4,000
1960
0
0
0
392,635
3,800
1959
0
0
0
382,679
3,800
1958
0
0
0
380,428
3,800
1957
0
0
0
360,428
3,600
1956
0
0
0
360,428
3,500
1955
0
0
0
343,928
3,500
1954
0
0
0
328,304
3,240
1953
0
0
0
338,304
3,600
1952
0
0
0
328,304
3,600
1951
0
0
0
323,305
3,505
1950
251,204
0
316,705
3,407
1947
0
0
0
300,000
3,000
1944
250,000
0
50,000
300,000
2,000
1936
28,534
0
3,030
31,564
772
1933
200,470
0
10,000
210,470
1,200
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
1991
28,988
0
0
33,593
1982
9,204
0
0
10,426
1965
4,000
0
0
6,000
1964
3,850
0
0
5,250
1963
3,850
0
0
5,250
1962
3,900
0
0
5,500
1961
3,800
0
0
5,100
1960
3,600
0
0
4,900
1959
3,600
0
0
5,600
1958
3,600
0
0
5,400
1957
3,400
0
0
5,000
1956
3,300
0
0
4,800
1955
3,260
0
0
4,760
1954
3,000
0
0
1,056
1953
3,200
0
0
5,250
1952
3,000
0
0
5,116
1951
2,884
0
0
4,099
1950
2,794
0
1,383
4,177
1947
0
0
0
1,500
1944
0
0
0
1,500
1936
0
0
0
1,500
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
1964
3,800
29,550
73,000
102,550
1963
3,800
29,550
73,000
102,550
1962
3,810
29,450
72,000
101,450
1961
3,709
29,450
71,500
100,950
1960
3,559
29,000
70,000
99,000
1959
3,550
27,500
69,000
96,500
1958
3,550
27,500
69,000
96,500
1957
3,350
26,500
67,000
93,500
1956
3,250
26,000
65,000
91,000
1955
3,200
16,349
62,220
78,569
1954
3,000
16,127
60,000
76,127
1953
3,500
17,127
68,873
86,000
1952
3,500
16,127
69,873
86,000
1951
3,429
15,772
68,501
84,273
1950
3,349
15,372
65,501
80,873
1947
585
19,281
1944
585
19,283
1936
585
19,282
1933
585
0
0
19,282
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
1950
$0
$74,160
$0