Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten has made history as the first St. Louisan to be elected to the 12-member Church of God in Christ, Inc. (COGIC) General Board.
COGIC is the largest Pentecostal Holiness Christian Denomination in the United States with over six million members.
Wooten, prelate of the Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Jurisdiction of the COGIC and pastor of Williams Temple COGIC was elected to the General Board by the COGIC General Assembly for a term of four years. After that, he must run for re-election.
“I am humbled and awed at the honor and privilege to serve in one of the highest offices in the Church of God in Christ,” Wooten said. “This is an historical moment for me to become the first St. Louis Bishop elected to the COGIC General Board.”
Wooten’s platform was made up of intangible qualifiers he identifies with an acronym spelling FAITH: Faithful, Accessible, Integrity, Trustworthy, Holy. “This will add to the value of the General Board,” Wooten said.
The election was held during the 105th Annual Holy Convocation of the COGIC at the Edward Jones Dome in downtown, St. Louis. Wooten, Pastor of Williams Temple COGIC for 33 years was one of 23 candidates elected to 12 open positions on the General Board.
He joins other new members for a seat on the General Board including Bishop J. Drew Sheard of Detroit, Mich., Bishop Ted Thomas Sr. of Portsmouth, Va., and Bishop Brandon Porter of Memphis, Tenn.
The remaining eight seats that make up the General Board were filled by incumbent bishops, including Pastor Charles E. Blake Sr.—who in addition has been elected by the General Assembly to a new 4-year term as Presiding Bishop of the COGIC, Inc.
The General Assembly is composed of members of the General Board, jurisdictional and auxiliary bishops, jurisdictional supervisors of women’s work, pastors of local churches, ordained elders, four district missionaries and six lay members from each jurisdiction.
The General Board is responsible for establishing and executing policies for the membership as well as sustaining and perpetuating spiritual order within the church.
As a member of the General Board, Bishop Wooten said he would suggest implementation of a retirement program for pastors along with proposing a system to help young, new struggling pastors with reports. In addition, Wooten said he will introduce ideas to enhance the financial stability of the church.
Wooten has led the Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Jurisdiction’s nearly 50 churches since September 2000. Since his appointment as a jurisdictional bishop, Wooten has received a number of awards including the distinguished appointment as area bishop over Missouri and Iowa. He emphasizes his commitment to leading his jurisdiction to global missions and evangelism.
“I believe that we have a message the world needs to hear,” Wooten said. “We believe in personal salvation. We are committed to reaching the lost worldwide at any cost.”
Wooten has taken that message abroad, making a global presence in Uganda, East Africa. He is heavily involved in evangelism and mission work in Uganda and has sponsored and supported over 200 orphans in Uganda.
“My wife, International Evangelist Shirley Wooten and I are so committed to mission work in Uganda that we have adopted two daughters—Sarah and Grace from there,” Wooten said.
“We are committed to transforming Uganda by helping African orphans with medical expenses, food, shelter and education.” That commitment prompted Wooten to purchase over six acres of land in Uganda to plant crops and provide food not only for orphans but for the entire community.
As pastor of Williams Temple COGIC, Wooten has established over 50 ministries. He has developed the Neighborhood Outreach Center, which brings clients from dependence to independence. The center includes an award-winning GED program, drug rehab, job placement, financial management, family counseling, apartment housing, emergency food and clothing assistance and computer classes.
Wooten also has created the Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten Family Life Center which includes a gymnasium, variety shop, fitness room and recreation area. That ministry includes the recent establishment of Loving Care Adult Day Care Center.
Wooten has served in various key positions and has received a number of notable achievements including serving as former chaplain for the Seventh District Police Department, former president of the Florissant Valley Kiwanis Club, member of the St. Louis Clergy Coalition. He currently serves as president of the St. Louis Ecumenical Leadership Council.
