Church of God In Christ, Minnesota
A brief historical synopsis
In July 1923, six (6) people were inspired by the Spirit of God to move from Muskogee, Oklahoma to help labor in the vineyard in Minnesota. They were Elder Felix Chaney, and his wife, Alice Chaney; Brother Lincoln Berry and his wife, Lizzie Berry; Brother Robert McConnell and Aiarwe Luella McConnell (Breedlove). They left their homes, their jobs, their families, and their friends to do a work for the Lord. When they arrived in Minneapolis, they stayed in the home of Elder and Mother Drake, who lived on Cedar Avenue in south Minneapolis. (No further information is known about the Drakes). A group left Sand Springs, Oklahoma in August of 1923 to aid Elder Chaney. This group included Elder Malachi Green and his wife; Brother Charlie James, Sr., and his wife, Mother Anna Belle James; Deacon Garrett and his wife, Ella Garrett; and Sister Williams and her husband. The members of these two groups are commonly recognized as the "pioneers" of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota. In September of 1923 these pioneers went to the north side of Minneapolis to establish a church. They accomplished their mission and established the First Church of God in Christ on Olson Highway and Lyndale Avenue North. Mother Reatha Morris (Hearndon) and her twin sister, Leatha are reputed to have come to Minnesota in 1923 to assist in a revival with an Elder Thompson in south Minneapolis. There is no other information available about this Elder Thompson.
In 1927, Elder Antoine Wilson and Mother Hester Belle Roberson Wilson came from Kansas to Minneapolis/St. Paul. He founded the 4th Street Church of God in Christ (now Emmanuel Tabernacle) and was later appointed Overseer of Minnesota. Mother Wilson was a direct descendant of Mother Lizzie Roberson, the first national supervisor of the Women’s Department of the Church of God in Christ. Overseer A. W. Wilson served as overseer of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota until his death in the early 1940’s. Father E. M. Page and Mother Page played a role in the history of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota. Though there is not much information about them, it is apparent, through interviews with the older saints, that Father Page was pastor of a church on the west side of St. Paul. Father and Mother Page were Overseer A. W. Wilson's stepfather and mother.
In 1937, Elder Felix Chaney was sent to Wisconsin. Elder P. L Lockett came and purchased a house in which to worship God. He labored for a while and returned to Detroit, Michigan. Senior Bishop C. H. Mason sent Bishop J. W. Graham to Minnesota. He founded the Graham Temple Church of God in Christ on the near north side of Minneapolis and served as the first consecrated bishop of the jurisdiction. Supt Earl Demmings succeeded him as pastor.
Elder George McConnell and Mother Anna McConnell established the 38th Street Church of God in Christ in the early 1940's. Elder John LaGrone erected the first building for the Church of God in Christ in 1947 at 178 Eaton, St. Paul. It was named the St. John's Church of God in Christ. During that same year, Elder J. C. Wiggins built the second building for the Church of God in Christ at 4001 - 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, known as the St. Paul Church of God in Christ. It is reputed that this was the first church building African Americans constructed in Minneapolis. Supt. Vernell Thomas succeeded Elder Wiggins as pastor.
At the demise of Overseer Wilson in the 1940’s, Elder William B. Williams came from Michigan to serve as pastor of Emmanuel Tabernacle; he later became the second consecrated Bishop of Minnesota succeeding Bishop Graham.
Elder S. H. Overton moved to Minneapolis in 1948 and opened a mission church in 1953. He built a church at 910 Humboldt Avenue North in Minneapolis a few years later. Elder Overton became the third consecrated bishop of Minnesota.
Elder Pink J. Buford organized the Prayer and Healing Station Church of God in Christ in Minneapolis. Dr. Walter L. Battle built a church edifice at 247 Grotto Avenue in St. Paul named Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ in the 1950's. Supt. G. E. Johnson, Supt. Timothy L. Barge, Supt J. D. Foster, and Pastor H. H. Carpenter are other noted leaders in our history.
Upon the demise of Bishop Wm. B. Williams, Elder Stanley Neil Frazier became pastor of Emmanuel Tabernacle and replaced Bishop S. H. Overton in 1985 as the Jurisdictional Prelate. He served for 21 years as leader of the Church of God in Christ in Minnesota.
Elder Fred W. Washington came to Minnesota in 1968 from Louisiana, and in 1972 organized the New Covenant Church of God in Christ, which was at that time the twelfth church in the Minnesota Jurisdiction. Elder Washington was consecrated as the fifth Bishop of Minnesota November 13, 2006. Bishop Washington is strategically positioned to lead the Minnesota Jurisdiction into its promising future.
OVERSEERS
ELDER MALACHI GREEN, Oklahoma,
ELDER T. CURBIN, Texas,
ELDER ALEXANDER, Arkansas
ELDER FELIX CHANEY
ELDER ANTOINE WILSON
BISHOPS
BISHOP J. W. GRAHAM
BISHOP WM. B. WILLIAMS, 1967-1971
BISHOP S. H. OVERTON, 1972-1985
BISHOP S. N. FRAZIER, 1986-2006
BISHOP FRED W. WASHINGTON, 2006-
Note: BISHOP L. H. FORD served in the interim as Bishop of Minnesota following the demise of Bishop Graham and Bishop Williams, and after the tenure of Bishop Overton. BISHOP G. E. PATTERSON served as Bishop of Minnesota after death of Bishop Frazier.
MOTHERS/SUPERVISORS
MOTHER ALICE CHANEY, Oklahoma,
MOTHER REATHA MORRIS HEARNDON,
MOTHER WILLIAMS, Oklahoma
MOTHER ADDIE BURESS
MOTHER BOBBIE A. BUFKINS
MOTHER DOROTHY BUFORD, 1950-1978
MOTHER ETTA SMITH, 1978-1981
MOTHER DOLLIE FOSTER, 1981 – 2007
MOTHER PATRICIA HAYES, 2008 -