Mediaboss Marketing

Bishop J. Drew Sheard, presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ.(Photo: Stephen Savage,Savage Graphics,LLC)

A Detroit pastor, J. Drew Sheard,has been elected to leadChurch of God in Christ (COGIC), a growing denomination with millions of members, the latest example of clergy from Michigan becoming national leaders of faith groups.

Sheard, 62, who leadsGreater Emmanuel Institutional Church in Detroit, was elected Saturday by delegates with COGIC at their national assembly, which was held online, to be COGIC's presiding bishop, its highest ranking leader.

To be elected to serve as the Presiding Bishop for the Church in which I was born, raised, and have learned and served all my life, is a dream and desire that can only be fulfilled by Gods loving grace and guidance," Sheard said in a news release. "The opportunity to serve such an extraordinary organization at our highest recognized level of priesthood is beyond humbling."

Another local pastor, Bishop Michael Hill ofKingdom International in Dearborn, was elected to be one of 12 members of COGIC's board, which includes Sheard.COGIC is reportedly the 5th largest Christian denomination in the U.S. as of 2012, according to the National Council of Churches.

Sheard's election was celebrated by faith and political leaders in Michigan, where COGIC, a predominantly Black and Pentecostal denomination,has a strong presence. Bishop P.A. Brooks, an influential faith leader in Detroit who died last year at 88, was a member of COGIC's national board.

"I am absolutely ecstatic,"Bishop Edgar Vann of Second EbenezerChurch in Detroit, who has been afriend of Sheard for decades since they were teenage preachers, told the Free Press on Monday."He represents in his denomination a whole new refreshing generation of leadership. ... It's a very crucial post in Christiandom right now. It is one of the highest denominational posts in the African American community. And he will lead that denomination with distinction ... with innovation and creativity."

Sheard becoming leader of COGIC is "a great distinction for Detroit and it makes Detroit really the epicenter for this particular denomination," Vann said.

COGIC's national leaders are generally older, and so having Sheardbecomepresiding bishop at a younger agemeans "he's going to, by the grace of God, be there a long time to give a whole new, fresh look at that denomination, to enhance the faith community internationally."

Sheard's father is also a COGIC pastor, Bishop John Sheard, who leadsGreater Mitchell Temple Church of God in Christ in Detroit. His mother, Willie Mae Sheard, died last year of COVID-19 at 84. Sheard's wife,Karen Clark-Sheard, is known nationally for her gospel music along with her sisters.

BET (Black Entertainment Television) once had a reality TV show, The Sheards, about their family.

Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones also praised Sheard becoming presiding bishop, writing on Twitter: "You have worked hard, helped many & deserve this honor."

The Rev. Charles Williams, pastor of Historic King Solomon Baptist Church of Detroit and Chair of the Michigan chapter of the National Action Network, the civil rights group led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, said on Twitter: "Congrats to Bishop J. Drew Sheard! Keep standing with the people! Looking forward to seeing the future ofCOGIC."

Sheard is the latest Detroit pastor to become a national faith leader. In 2010, Bishop Charles Ellis III of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit became the national head of Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, a positionhe served in for several years.

Bishop Edgar Vann gives a sermon at Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit, 2012.(Photo: Monica Farrior)

Sheard has previously served on the general board and led its Michigan branch.

The Church of God in Christ isa Pentecostaldenomination that its leaders say has 6.5 million members. Although headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, its reach is global.

The position of the presiding bishop became open after the previous presiding bishop,Charles Blake Sr., announced hewould not seek reelection and requestedemeritus status.

Here are the other 11 members elected to COGIC's general board, itshighest executive board:

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or 313-223-4792. Twitter @nwarikoo

Read or Share this story: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/03/22/detroit-pastor-j-drew-sheard-cogic-presiding-bishop/4802425001/

Read the original post:
Detroit pastor J. Drew Sheard elected as national head of COGIC denomination, Dearborn pastor elected to board - Detroit Free Press