History of the Church of God in Christ United

The History of the Church of God in Christ United has been told from many points of view. It has been told from the view of the ‘Dark Years’ of the COGIC Inc., from the view of the contributions of the Feltus Family to the COGIC Inc. in the state of Louisiana, and from the viewpoint of the history of First Church of God in Christ United in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Each historical view has a great impact on the history of this great church. The best place for us to start is with our Founder, Bishop James Feltus, Jr., who was born and reared in the COGIC Inc. and remained faithful during his 50 years as a member. He knew and loved the COGIC and its great founder, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason.

 

Bishop James Feltus, Jr. was born during the formative years of the  COGIC and during the time his father and uncle organized the churches in the state of  Louisiana. He served in many capacities in the church and was consecrated Bishop of Honduras by Bishop C. H. Mason and Jurisdictional Bishop by Bishop O. T. Jones.

 

CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FELTUS FAMILY TO THE EARLY ORGANIZATION OF THE COGIC

Overseer Henry Feltus and Overseer James Feltus, Sr.

Organized The Church of God in Christ, Inc. in the State of Louisiana.

 

In Louisiana holiness was introduced in the early nineteenth century when two men by the names of Elder E. D. Smith and Elder C. Coleman traveled to southeast Mississippi preaching the doctrine of Holiness. Among their converts were brothers Henry and James Feltus from Centerville, Mississippi. They initially opposed the movement but after continuing to hear the Word of God from the Evangelist, they were converted and soon became devoted supporters of the Holiness movement.

 

In 1910, Henry Feltus began pastoring the new converts of Holiness at the church in Baton Rouge. The gathering was called Railroad Avenue Church. Later that same year, the General Overseer of the Church of God in Christ, Inc., Bishop C. H. Mason, journeyed to Baton Rouge and also preached the doctrine of Holiness. After hearing the powerful and anointed teaching of Bishop Mason, Henry and James Feltus received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

The two brothers continued to serve under Elder E. D. Smith but disagreed with the erroneous belief that saints would never die the natural death, unless they had sinned against God. The Feltus Brothers invited Bishop Mason to enlighten them on the truth concerning the "never die doctrine". Bishop Mason came to New Orleans in 1913 to repudiate the doctrine. But Elder Smith did not receive the exhortation. The Feltus brothers then decided to follow Bishop Mason instead of Smith, marking the beginning of the Church of God in Christ in Louisiana.

 

In 1914 under the leadership of Elder Henry Feltus and Elder James Feltus, Sr., The First Church of God in Christ, formally the Sixth Street Holiness Church in New Orleans joined in with Bishop Mason. At that time The Church of God in Christ in Louisiana operated as one jurisdiction. Bishop Mason appointed Elder Henry Feltus as Overseer and Mother Eliza Hollins as State Supervisor. As the membership grew, Overseer Henry Feltus saw the need for assistance in leadership. He appointed Elders S. Lazard and C. Ealy to serve as District Superintendents.

 

 The Feltus Brothers were instrumental in planting churches and aiding the development of ministries across the state of Louisiana. Many Pastors needing Godly leadership were appointed reaching men and women who embraced the Holiness movement.

 

Henry Feltus served as overseer of Louisiana from 1914 to 1920, organizing the state into districts. Overseer James Feltus, Sr. succeeded his brother and served 26 years (1920-1946). In 1938, he created more districts and appointed Elders John White, C. B. Norris, and James Edwards superintendents of the new districts. At the death of Overseer James Feltus, Sr. in 1946, they had established more than 200 Churches of God in Christ, Inc. in the state of Louisiana.

 

With rapidly increasing membership came administrative and organizational problems. The members west of the Mississippi River had an organizational set up that was different from that of the members east of the Mississippi River. This dispute was part of the catalyst which caused Bishop Mason to divide the state into two jurisdictions. After the death of Overseer James Feltus in 1946, Bishop Mason divided churches and districts east and west of the Mississippi River into two jurisdictions. He appointed Elder C. Lazard to Eastern Louisiana and Elder John Walter White to Western Louisiana.

 

Elder James Feltus, Jr., at age of 25, succeeded his father as pastor of First Church of God in Christ, then the largest COGIC in the state of Louisiana. Aside from pastoring First Church and St. Bernard COGIC, Supt. James Feltus, Jr. served as Assistant Secretary of the State Sunday School Department, Superintendent of District Number 8, and member of the Board of Elders. 

 

In 1953 Superintendent James Feltus Jr. was ordained Bishop of British Honduras by Bishop Mason and was instrumental in bringing the Island to The Church of God in Christ. On the national level Bishop James Feltus, Jr. served as a member of the Doctrinal Committee, Dean of The National Sunday School Department, member of the Constitution Committee, and Member of the Board of Bishops.

  

The ‘Dark Years’ of the COGIC INC

 

Bishop Charles Harrison Mason founded a great, great church that grew to 400,000 members in 4,000 churches by the time he transitioned in 1961. Today the COGIC, Inc. is the largest Black Pentecostal denomination in the United States with more than 12,000 churches. Bishop Mason organized the church, wrote the constitution, and planned for his transition. At the death of Bishop Mason in 1961, crisis arose regarding authority and leadership; there was a 10-year debate over the legitimate authority and who would be in charge.  During those 10 years several Bishops were forced out and others severed ties with the COGIC, Inc. and started organizations with the same doctrine, different administration, and Church of God in Christ in the name, i.e. COGIC United. Today there are hundreds of such organizations.

 

After Bishop Mason’s death in 1961 and in the midst of the church crisis, popularly called ‘The Dark Years of the Church’, Bishop James Feltus, Jr. pledged his loyalties to Bishop C. H. Mason’s successor, Bishop O. T. Jones.  In 1968 Bishop James Feltus, Jr. was appointed Bishop of Eastern Louisiana Second Jurisdiction of the COGIC by Presiding Bishop O. T. Jones.  Fellowship Convocations were held annually from 1968-1972 under the leadership of Bishop James Feltus, Jr. and State Supervisor Johnny B. Melton. The fellowship attracted many whose lives and church stability had been shaken by the ongoing COGIC, Inc. dispute, which ultimately resulted in Bishop O. T. Jones being voted out of the Office of Presiding Senior Bishop. 

 

The History of the Church of God in Christ United

In 1972, after 5 years of Eastern Louisiana Second Jurisdiction Fellowship Convocations, Bishop James Feltus, Jr. severed ties with the COGIC Inc. because of the burden that the ‘Dark Years’, and the dispute regarding authority and leadership, had brought on the church. It was then that God led Bishop Feltus to establish a more organized and permanent work than the fellowship, and the five major principles upon which to establish the Church of God in Christ United:

·      We will defend no doctrine but the doctrine of the Bible and no church but the church that Christ died for.

·       The local church shall be the focal point all church activities.

·     The church shall not assume the form of a political federation, but a Christian fellowship.

·   National assessments shall be replaced by local commitment and financial pledges and contributions.

·       The Bible is the Magna Charta and constitution of the church.

 

On January 20, 1973, Bishop James Feltus, Jr. and his devoted wife, Missionary Hazel Luter Feltus, met with Bishop Reece A. Campbell of London, England and Bishop Marshall Hebert of Baldwin, Louisiana in New Orleans, LA. They agreed to organize and unite under Bishop Feltus’ vision for a church organization.

 

Mother Feltus came up with the name ‘Church of God in Christ United’ and it was accepted by the group along with Bishop Feltus’ five principles. The following positions were put in place: Bishop James Feltus, Jr., Chief Bishop; Bishop Marshall Hebert, First Administrative Assistant; Bishop R.A. Campbell, Second Administrative Assistant; and Supervisor Hazel L. Feltus, General Supervisor of the Women’s Department. Bishop James Feltus, Jr. & Supervisor Hazel Feltus built the Southeast Louisiana Jurisdiction, Bishop Marshall Hebert & Supervisor Gloria Hebert built the Mid-South Jurisdiction and   Bishop R. A. Campbell established the church in the United Kingdom and London. What had been a fellowship was now a church organization, separate from the mother church in administration but one in doctrine.

 

The COGICU was an international work from its inception with Bishop R. A. Campbell as National Bishop of London. Soon there were Churches of God in Christ United in several of the United States, The United Kingdom/England, Haiti, Virgin Islands, Trinidad, Bermuda, Barbados, Canada, Jamaica, Africa, Pakistan, and India. Although Bishop Feltus had a desire to grow the church internationally, he did not fly in those early years. He would humorously say: “God said Lo I will be with you he didn’t say anything about flying high.” As a result, during the early years of the church, other Bishops represented him at the churches in Jamaica and other foreign lands.

 

In 1976 the Island of Jamaica became affiliated with the COGICU. Bishop James Bryce became National Bishop of Jamaica and Bishop Lawrence Walker was appointed Auxiliary Bishop to the Island of Jamaica until his death in 2008. Bishop Marshall Hebert, Sr. and others also traveled to Jamaica many years to represent the Senior Bishop in the evangelistic efforts that helped to further the vision of the founder and the mission of the church: “The World for Christ.”  Ultimately Bishop Feltus did fly and  travel the world setting up churches wherever God led him. There were always faithful adjutants eager to serve his efforts.

 

First Assistant Bishop Marshal Hebert was a great Evangelist before joining COGICU.  His crusades attracted many to the Mid-South Jurisdiction and the COGICU. His extensive community involvement in Louisiana brought the church civic recognition through his World Missions Inc. organization. Bishop R. A. Campbell was experienced in community and organizational leadership. His expertise in business affairs was an asset to the growing organization.

 

 First Church of God in Christ United in New Orleans hosted the International            Convocation from 1972 until 2005 when hurricane Katrina dispersed the membership all over the world and the headquarters church collapsed. The members of First Church prided themselves in having a theologically sound and educated leader, respected throughout the church.

 

 In 1985 Bishop Artice Wright of Portland, Oregon declared that the man standing on his porch was the same leader that God had shown him in a dream. He joined the COGICU and became the Jurisdictional Bishop of the Oregon Jurisdiction. In 1986 Bishop Arnold Little I joined the COGICU. Between 1987-1993 Bishop James Baker, Bishop Edgar Jackson, Bishop Barry Elliott, Bishop Lamont Tellis, Bishop Walter Durham, and a large group from the Illinois / Michigan area joined. The church was growing. Sons of the church began coming to United: In 1994 Bishop Earl LeViege, Sr. brought in the second largest church at that time, and in 2000 Bishop Rufus McGee of Rochester, NY joined the work. 

 

Between 2000 – 2004 Bishop Feltus focused on the ecumenical structure of the church.  He built the boards and departments strong. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans and dislocated the headquarters and many of the Saints. The momentum of the church was affected. The growth of COGICU slowed down as the members from New Orleans and surrounding areas struggled to recover. After 33 years of the International Holy Convocation being hosted by the First Church, in 2006 it was held in Dallas, TX, and in 2007 in Baldwin, LA. By the grace of God, in 2008 the COGICU Convocation returned to New Orleans and welcomed Bishop Reginald S. Givins, Sr. and Supervisor Lorie Givins of California, Bishop Wm. Marcus Pollard and Pastor Jean Pollard of Oregon, and Bishop Irwin Slack of California.

 

In the midst of the Katrina recovery, Bishop Marshal Hebert went home to be with the Lord on February 11, 2007. The first of the four original Organizers and First Administrative Assistant transitioned. Bishop R. A. Campbell became the First Administrative Assistant and Bishop Article Wright was appointed Second Administrative Assistant, a position that he would hold until his demise in 2011. 

 

 In 2012, Bishop Campbell became the Assistant to the Senior Bishop, the Executive Board was erected with Bishop Feltus as President, Bishop Arnold Little I as Chairman, Bishop Rufus McGee as Executive Secretary, Bishop Earl LeViege, Sr. as International Financier, Bishop R. A. Campbell as member, and Bishop Reginald S. Givins, Sr. as Chairman of the Board of Bishops.

 

During the organization of the COGICU in 1972, Mother Feltus was placed over the International Department of Women. She led gracefully for 35 years. She organized, following the pattern that she had helped to design for the COGIC, Inc. In 2008, Supervisor Feltus passed the torch to Mother Maggie Wright of Portland, Oregon and Mother Gloria Hebert of Baldwin, LA to serve as Co-International Supervisors of the Department of Women. Elect Lady Eunice Feltus Little served as International Chairlady. Mother Feltus was honored with the title of International Supervisor Emeritus. 

 

On Wednesday, October 12, 2016, Bishop James Feltus, Jr. transitioned from life to reward. At the 2016 Holy Convocation in August Bishop Feltus preached his last Official Message. His subject was: “Ride On King Jesus, Ride On.” He left us with something to remember. Preaching from his wheelchair, he was electric, speaking in tongues, and rejoicing.  He was 95 years old.

 

That message carried the church through a lengthy transition and Bishop Reese Alvin Campbell became the Second International Presiding Prelate and Senior Bishop, and remained National Bishop of Jamaica. The following appointments were made under Bishop Campbell’s Administration:

·            Bishop Arnold Little I, Asst. International Prelate and National USA Prelate

·            Bishop Reginald S. Givins, Sr., Chairman of the Executive Board

·            Supervisor Hazel L. Feltus, Executive Board Member (The First Female)

·            Bishop Michael Ford, Executive Board Member

·            Bishop William Marcus Pollard, Chairman of the Board of Bishops

·            Supervisor Eunice F. Little, National Supervisor of the USA Women’s Dept.

 

At the death of International Presiding Bishop R. A. Campbell in 2021, Bishop Arnold Little I became the Third International Presiding Prelate of the COGICU and remained the National Bishop of the USA. He sat at the feet of Gamaliel for over 30 years, studying in Feltus’ Theological Seminary, and serving the COGICU in many capacities. Bishop Little’s appointment resulted from loyalty, faithfulness, and obedience to God and his earthly leaders. He epitomizes the servant leader, personable, approachable, and well spoken. The doctrine taught by Bishop Little has passed from generation to generation, and it upholds Holiness, traditions, and the goals and objectives of the founding fathers of the COGICU.

 

Bishop Little’s tenure as International Bishop started during the disastrous period of COVID 19. God was yet with UNITED as He led Bishop and Supervisor Little to call the COGICU together on Zoom and Facebook Live for a 50-day prayer revival, Countdown to Pentecost, a Worker’s Conference, a 30-day Holy Convocation, a 30-day National Bible Study, Jurisdictional Convocations, Mission & Evangelism Conferences, and more. The church remained United through the pandemic. Bishop Little stressed that we are ‘Better Together’ and to be united we must be ‘All In’ and we must ‘Hold Fast the Traditions’.

 

During the 2020 Convocation Bishop Little made the following appointments:

·         Bishop Reginald S. Givins, First Administrative Assistant

·         Bishop William Marcus Pollard, Second Administrative Assistant

·         Bishop Ronald Richardson, Executive Board Member

·         Bishop Barry Elliott, Executive Board Member

·         Bishop Edward Watson, National Bishop of Jamaica

·         Bishop Joseph Williams, Assistant National Bishop of Jamaica

·         Bishop Roy Anderson, National Bishop of the United Kingdom

·         Bishop Charles Niblet, Assistant Chairman of the Board of Bishops

·         Bishop William R. Little, Jurisdictional Bishop of Texas #1

·         Bishop Lamont Tellis, Jurisdictional Bishop of Oregon #2 (restored)

·         Supv. Eunice Little, Asst. Int’l Supv. of Women & Interim Executive Sect.

·         Supv. Lorie Givins, International Chairlady of the Women’s Department

·         Supv. Georgia Ford, Chairlady of the Supervisors Cabinet

·         Supv. Kerry Anderson, National Supervisor of the United Kingdom

·         Supv. Barbara Tellis, Jurisdictional Supervisor of Oregon #2

·         Supv. Shannon B. Little, Jurisdictional Supervisor of Texas #1

               

In 2022, Africa rejoined the COGICU with Jurisdictions in Nigeria and Ghana. Bishop Osawe Onons was appointed National Bishop and  Dr. Blessing Adelanwa as National Supervisor of the Department of Women.

 

Bishop R. A. Campbell transitioned on July 16, 2021 after 49 years of service to the COGICU. He traveled from the UK and Jamaica to New Orleans for the Holy Convocation for 49 years, missing only two meetings. He will always be remembered for his expert business practices, dynamic preaching, and the declaration “I’m Preaching Now You Know”.  Bishop Campbell was the third of the original organizers of the COGICU to transition from life to reward.

 

In August 2023 Supervisor Emeritus Hazel Feltus missed the Convocation for the first time in 51 years because of illness. On October 9, 2023, Supervisor Feltus transitioned from mortality to immortality at the age of 95, to enjoy eternal life with the Lord. Highly respected by all as a Holy and Saintly Mother, her passing greatly impacted male and female clergy from all denominations.

 

In August 2023, Supervisor Gloria Hebert was also absent from Convocation for the first time in 51 years because of illness. On April 24, 2024 Co-International Supervisor Gloria S. Hebert went home to be with the Lord. Mother Hebert was an anointed and enthusiastic worshipper. She loved the Lord, the COGICU, Baldwin COGICU, and the Women’s Department. Her teachings on faith and examples of holiness are indelibly stamped in our hearts.

 

The year 2024 claimed two other Leaders from the Women’s Department: Supervisor Almeta Luter Leviege and Supervisor Mona Mitchell. Supervisor Leviege served as Co-President of the Finance Dept., President of the International Supervisor’s Advisory Board, Southeast LA Jurisdictional Supervisor, and First Lady of Gethsemane COGICU for 50 years. Her impact on the COGICU and women throughout the body of Christ was phenomenal. Supervisor Mitchell served as Jurisdictional Supervisor, The Int’l Supervisor’s Advisory Board member, and Pastor of Household of Faith COGICU in Monroe, LA.

 

Bishop Feltus, Bishop Hebert, Bishop Campbell, Mother Feltus, and Mother Hebert - all those who were instrumental in organizing this great COGICU are no longer physically with us, but their spirits are forever with us. The present administration, led by International Prelate Bishop Arnold Little I, is devoted to keeping the theological teachings of Bishop James Feltus, Jr., and the spiritual guidance of all the   organizers of this great church, alive, as history continues to evolve.

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The Church of God in Christ United is a strong, stable, Holy Ghost filled, praying organization. We believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. We place special emphasis on sanctification, justification, regeneration, adoption, and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. For these reasons, the peace, tranquility, stress-free, and oppression-free method of leadership and membership continues to attract many to the Church of God in Christ United.

 

Presently the COGICU is established throughout the United States,

The Island of Jamaica, The United Kingdom, and Africa.

THIS GREAT CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST UNITED IS MARCHING ON!!!