In a huge economic blow to the city of Memphis, the Church of God in Christ has announced plans to move its annual Holy Convocation from Memphis to St. Louis.
Bishop Brandon Porter confirmed Tuesday, January 14th, that the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) will move its annual Holy Convocation out of Memphis beginning in 2026.
According to an official press release, Delegates of the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) General Assembly, the legislative body of the nation’s largest Pentecostal denomination, voted during a special session on Monday, January 13, 2025, to hold the 2026-2028 Holy Convocation in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Church of God in Christ had moved its Holy Convocation to the Bluff City in 2022. But now, it's heading to St. Louis, which had previously hosted the Convention from 2010-2019 pre-COVID.
It is estimated that the COGIC Holy Convocation annually attracts over 30,000 people to Memphis and brings in millions of dollars to the city.
Bishop Brandon B. Porter of Greater Community Temple COGIC in Memphis did not detail a reason for the move, but last year he stated that the cost of hotels was an issue, citing instances of hotel price gouging during Holy Convocation.
COGIC had been pressuring the city to make concessions to the organization considering the huge financial incentive to the city. It is unclear whether officials in Memphis took adequate action to ensure Holy Convocation remained in the city.
In addition, officials in St. Louis had been eager to lure the largest Black Pentecostal denomination back to its city.
A Memphis City Councilman said that the city hopes to add more hotel rooms to attract COGIC back in the future.
Memphis is the world headquarters for the Church of God in Christ.
In the official press release, Presiding Bishop Bishop J. Drew Sheard, stated the following:
"We are excited to return the Holy Convocation to St. Louis, a city that warmly embraced our church for a decade. St. Louis provided us with the infrastructure, hospitality, and resources necessary to host this significant gathering. While Memphis will always be the spiritual home of the Church Of God In Christ, we are grateful for the opportunity to broaden our reach and continue making an impact in St. Louis.”
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