Up to 30 Bishops, Pastors Have Died from COVID-19 in Largest Black Pentecostal Denomination
The deaths of multiple leaders from COVID-19 have taken a massive toll on the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the largest black Pentecostal denomination in America.
In an article by The Washington Post, various reports of at least a dozen to up to 30 bishops and prominent clergy have died from COVID-19 in COGIC prominent states including Michigan, New York, and Mississippi.
Prominent COGIC leaders who died include First Assistant Presiding Bishop Phillip A. Brooks of Detroit, who was No. 2 in the COGIC; Mississippi Bishop Timothy Scott, who served the denomination for almost 50 years; and two Michigan bishops, Robert E. Smith Sr. and Robert L. Harris.
Health officials report that possible causes of the outbreak in the COGIC were from conferences and funerals in the denomination.
For instance, large annual gatherings in February and March are held with COGIC representatives from more than 200 jurisdictions —or —regions, while Worker’s Meetings consist of clergy, lay leaders and church staff.
Some of the meetings include the Historical Louisiana First Jurisdiction meeting in Shreveport, La., and the Kansas East Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Ministers and Workers Conference in Kansas City, both held in mid-March.
The outbreaks have scarred the black community and the COGIC as they are more susceptible to the virus.
“This is a moment of real crisis for them,” said Anthea Butler, a University of Pennsylvania religious studies scholar who wrote a book on the COGIC. “It will upend the axis of leadership in a way they may need to think about, including how do we put in younger people.”
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