March 20, 2007

This afternoon at 4:03 p.m. at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, the Presiding Bishop of the Church Of God In Christ, Bishop G. E. Patterson, passed away as a result of heart failure. Patterson was surrounded by his wife, Mrs. Louise Patterson, and his family.

Presiding Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson was 67 years old. Patterson was in his second term as presiding bishop of the predominantly African-American Pentecostal denomination, after first being elected in 2006. The Church of God in Christ has 19th century roots and reports a global membership of over six million adherents.
 

Patterson was the editor and publisher of the Bountiful Blessings Magazine with a distribution list of more than 100,000 individuals.
 

Patterson, a native of Humboldt, Tennessee, was ordained in 1958. He was the founding pastor of Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee, was has more than 12,000 members.
 

“The entire church and world mourns the loss of our leader,” said Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., the denomination’s first assistant presiding bishop. “He was the leader of our international church, a leader in the Memphis community and a leader in the Christian community.”
 

Sherry DuPree, an authority on black Pentecostal groups, said Patterson worked to modernize his denomination, helping ministers and others gain health insurance benefits and other services. “I think he carried the church forward,” said DuPree, a member of the Church of God in Christ. “He was working towards helping the church to become more self-sufficient and helping the members of the church to have services that they don’t have ordinarily.”

Patterson prayed at President Bush’s inaugural prayer service in 2005 and supported his faith-based initiative, but also criticized the Bush administration’s plans for the Iraq war and declared that he was “not recruiting African Americans for the GOP.” Vice President Al Gore followed Patterson to the Temple of Deliverance pulpit during the 1996 U.S. presidential campaign after Patterson's sermon, noted the Washington Post, "brought everyone, even jaded reporters, to their feet."
 

Patterson will also be remembered as the host of the famous 1994 “Memphis Miracles” that saw the transition of the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America (PFNA) to the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA). "When we work together across racial and ethnic lines, lifting up the same Jesus, walking in the power of the same Spirit, we say to the world that although America has had deep divisions along ethnic lines, Pentecostal Spirit-filled brothers do not care about skin tones," Patterson told the Pentecostal Evangel . "I think we give a testimony as we work together."
 

In addition to his pastoral and administrative roles in the denomination, Patterson was influential in television and radio broadcasting and was involved in music ministries. He was a Grammy nominee and won a Stellar Gospel Music Award in January for traditional male vocalist.
 

Future updates may be found at the official web of the Church of God in Christ. The following came from the office of Bishop Charles Blake.

Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson was born September 22, 1939 to Bishop and Mrs. W. A. Patterson, Sr. in Humboldt, Tennessee.  He was a gospel Minister for fifty years. 

Bishop Patterson was a scholar as well as a minister. He attended Lemoyne-Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee, Detroit Bible Institute and held an honorary doctorate from Oral Roberts University.  Bishop Patterson was a contributing writer in the Spirit Filled Life Bible (KJV) which was edited by Dr. Jack Hayford. He was the author of the critically acclaimed book, “Here Comes The Judge” published by Whitaker House Publishing.  He was the subject of feature articles in Newsweek, Ebony, Jet and Charisma Magazines.

Bishop Patterson was a man of compassion.  He was a part of the 9 person strategy team which invited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Memphis for the Sanitation Worker’s strike.  His work as a  champion civil rights earned him many awards.  In 1993 Bishop Patterson opened the doors of Temple of Deliverance to the community and began serving free hot meals daily.  The church fed multiple thousands of people during the two year period in which he led this humanitarian cause.   In 2002 he charted COGIC Charities, Inc.  Through this nonprofit corporation, the Church Of God In Christ, Inc. has assisted victims of natural disasters both foreign and domestic as well as other charitable efforts to uplift humanity.

Bishop Patterson was a pastor. Bishop Patterson founded and pastored Temple of Deliverance in 1975 and thirty-two years later Temple of Deliverance Church Of God In Christ has more than 15,000 members on roll with more than 6,500 active members. In May 1999, Bishop Patterson and Temple of Deliverance Church Of God In Christ entered new Worship Center which cost approximately 13 million dollars and seats approximately 5000.  In 2005 the congregation dedicated the G. E. Patterson Family Life and Youth Center which it built at a cost of more than 5 million dollars without securing a bank loan. Temple of Deliverance is one of the fastest growing congregations in the country.  During his ministerial career, Bishop Patterson organized 7 churches across the country.  

Bishop Patterson was a visionary.  He was the founder/ president of Bountiful Blessings Ministries which is viewed nationwide and internationally on the B.E.T. and TBN cable networks and a variety of local television stations throughout the country.  He was the editor and publisher of the Bountiful Blessings Magazine with a distribution list of over 200,000 individuals. He was the president and general manager of WBBP Radio, a 5000-watt, full time gospel radio station.  He was President of Podium Records, a record label whose first project, Bishop G. E. Patterson Presents Rance Allen and the Soul Winners' Conference Choir was nominated for a 1999 Grammy Award. Podium Records  also released the hit CDs “Bishop G. E. Patterson and Congregation Singing the Old Time Way Volume One and Bishop G. E. Patterson and Congregation Singing the Old Time Way Volume Two.” Volume One was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award, making Bishop Patterson personally a two time Grammy Nominee.  Bishop Patterson was the 2006 Stellar Award winner for Best Traditional Male Vocalist.  He was also nominated for a 2006 Soul Train Music Award.

Bishop Patterson was a churchman.  November 14, 2000 Bishop G. E. Patterson was elected as Presiding Bishop of the Church Of God In Christ, Inc.  He was reelected by acclamation in November 2004. In his office as the Presiding Bishop, he was the Chairman of the General Board and President of the Church Corporation.  He was one of the most sought after speakers in the country. Bishop Patterson was married to his beautiful wife, Louise, for 39 years.

Bishop Patterson has been married to his lovely wife, Louise D. Patterson for 35 years.  We are proud to present to you this highly respected and committed man of God.

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The March 31, 2007 homegoing in Memphis, Tennessee, of Presiding Bishop Patterson was commensurate with his dignity and earned honor. Mourners started lining up at 4:30 am to find a seat but thousands had to participate from more than one venue in Memphis. The keynote sermon was given by The Right Reverend Charles E. Blake who now serves the Church of God in Christ International as their Presiding Bishop. Several key leaders from the Church of God in Christ International made their contribution to this three hour celebration of a warrior who will join multitudes that he brought from darkness into light. In addition to Bishop Blake, three keynote addresses started with The Honorable Alphonso Jackson, Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Official Representative of President George W. Bishop. Also speaking was William Jefferson Clinton, 42^nd President of the United State of America. The third speaker was Presiding Bishop James D. Leggett, General Superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and Chairman of the Pentecostal World Fellowship, who had the following to say at this momentous occasion.

“God gifts the church with men and women who exert a powerful impact on their generation.  It was said of David, “He served his own generation by the will of God” or as the ASV states it, “He served the purpose of God in his generation”. 

“Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson was a gift of God to His church.  He was a remarkable servant of the Lord and of the people of God.  He served the church with dedication, dignity and humility.  There was a grace about him that impressed those with whom he came in contact.  He moved with ease and made you feel at ease around him.   His holy life and Spirit anointed preaching make him a spiritual giant to this generation.

“He was a true son of the Pentecostal revival. He possessed a rich heritage and he leaves a remarkable legacy to his family, to his local church, to his denomination and to the Christian world.

“We are well aware of his outstanding pastoral ability and his founding and pastoring one the largest and most influential churches in Memphis.  He was first and foremost a pastor, dearly beloved by his people.  Whether as pastor of the local church or Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, he was faithful to watch over the flock to which God had given him charge.  He provided strong and visionary leadership for his denomination.  I have listened to bishops extolling his leadership in the church.

“Bishop Patterson was a gifted preacher of the word.  When I was elected as general superintendent of our fellowship, my first assignment was to introduce Bishop Patterson as the evening speaker.  People still talk about his powerful sermon on the ‘The Anointing.’  In fact, I invited him back four years later to preach at the conference.  He was a prince of preachers, a passionate proclaimer of deliverance through Jesus Christ.  The church world was able to hear his powerful preaching as well as his singing on the televised services from Greater Deliverance Temple through his televised services.   I often marveled at his skill in the pulpit.  I can still see him preaching from this pulpit in those services.

“His character, his leadership, and his powerful preaching extended his influence beyond the church he loved so dearly.  His ministry on TV endeared him to saints and sinners across the nation and around the world. He was loved and respected by the leaders in the church world and people across America responded to his passionate preaching of Jesus Christ.  God gave Bishop Patterson to the Church of God in Christ and then extended his influence far beyond the church.

“It was a privilege to serve on the board of the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America when Bishop Patterson served as the co-chairman.

“Bishop Gilbert Patterson served his generation by the will of God.  He has finished His assignment and fulfilled the purpose of God for his life.  He now has been gathered to his fathers and he is at home.  Bishop McKinney shared with me a statement that Bishop Patterson made some time ago, and I think it speaks of the faith of this choice servant of the Lord.    He said, “I am soon going home.”  He is at home in the presence of the Lord who he served so faithfully on this earth.  His feet have touched the shimmering, shinning shore of that celestial city, and he is at home forevermore.

“On behalf of the church let me express the deep sense of gratitude that we feel for the remarkable life and ministry of Bishop Gilbert Patterson, pastor, preacher, visionary leader and beloved brother in Christ.

“He served the body of Christ with dignity.  He was so congenial.  It was always a joy to be in his presence.  There was an air of joy and hope in his countenance and his expressions. 

“We are thankful to God for the gift that God gave the church in the life and ministry of Bishop Gilbert L. Patterson.

“His televised services and his singing endeared him to the hearts of many people far beyond the walls of the Church of God in Christ. “