Churches Of God In Christ

The Church of God in Christ is of Pentecostal origin. Worshipers bring their life experiences before God and open themselves to the power of the Spirit. Spontaneous expressions of praise such as shouting, dancing, and clapping are encouraged. Yet there is also an order and discipline that checks abuses of that freedom. The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) emerged out of the Pentecostal revivals at the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles in the first decade of the twentieth century. Originally the Pentecostal revivals were racially integrated, but groups soon formed along racial lines, reflecting the reality of a segregated society. Founded by Bishop C. H. Mason, the COGIC became the spiritual home for many black Pentecostals. While COGIC members of African heritage take pride in their African roots, the church understands itself as an expression of an orthodox Pentecostalism that transcends racial and ethnic barriers. A Passionate Activity. The theological essence of Sunday morning …