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What Do You Think?
COGIC will move it's annual convocation from Memphis. What do you think about losing the convention which brings 50,000 people to Memphis each year.
FAST FACTS:
(Memphis, 4/14/2009) Memphis may be the Church of God In Christ's spiritual home, but come 2010, the church is moving its Holy Convocation to St. Louis, Missouri.
"Not only do they have the hotels," explained Reverend Loran Mann, Presiding Press Secretary for the Office of the Presiding Bishop. "But they also have the convention facilities where we can house this convention in one setting in one place the logistics are appealing."
Church leaders say the COGIC family has outgrown Memphis and Shelby County's 21,000 hotel rooms.
An estimated 50,000 saints march into the Bluff City during the annual November convocation.
"We do more for the convocation than any other convention that comes to the city," said Kevin Kane, head of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Kane says the city did everything it could to entice COGIC to stay including discounting room rates and offering free rent at the Cook Convention Center.
"It is the total package not just some elements of the package that make St. Louis have the overall appeal at this time," said Reverend Mann.
The annual convocation pours $35 million into the Memphis economy, but Pastor Brandon Porter of Greater Community Temple in the Hickory Hill area says the city didn't always treat them fairly.
"There are some cases where we feel the church members are taken advantage of in some instances, but that may happen anywhere."
After 102 years, the saints are marching out of Memphis, member Janie Foster is hoping the city can entice the convention to stay, "I'm asking those in charge with the hotel motel association, do not let our church leave its mother land! We must stay home."
Church officials say the deal with St. Louis is only for 2010. That leaves the door open for them to move to another city after.
- COGIC'S Holy Convocation leaving Memphis in 2010
- Convocation moving to St. Louis
- Accomodations and treatment cited as reasons for the move
(Memphis, 4/14/2009) Memphis may be the Church of God In Christ's spiritual home, but come 2010, the church is moving its Holy Convocation to St. Louis, Missouri.
"Not only do they have the hotels," explained Reverend Loran Mann, Presiding Press Secretary for the Office of the Presiding Bishop. "But they also have the convention facilities where we can house this convention in one setting in one place the logistics are appealing."
Church leaders say the COGIC family has outgrown Memphis and Shelby County's 21,000 hotel rooms.
An estimated 50,000 saints march into the Bluff City during the annual November convocation.
"We do more for the convocation than any other convention that comes to the city," said Kevin Kane, head of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Kane says the city did everything it could to entice COGIC to stay including discounting room rates and offering free rent at the Cook Convention Center.
"It is the total package not just some elements of the package that make St. Louis have the overall appeal at this time," said Reverend Mann.
The annual convocation pours $35 million into the Memphis economy, but Pastor Brandon Porter of Greater Community Temple in the Hickory Hill area says the city didn't always treat them fairly.
"There are some cases where we feel the church members are taken advantage of in some instances, but that may happen anywhere."
After 102 years, the saints are marching out of Memphis, member Janie Foster is hoping the city can entice the convention to stay, "I'm asking those in charge with the hotel motel association, do not let our church leave its mother land! We must stay home."
Church officials say the deal with St. Louis is only for 2010. That leaves the door open for them to move to another city after.
no they won't...if they don't want you there they don't want your money,racism is alive and well and they color is not green...when it stops is when Jesus gets here.
vb @ 5:12 PM CST, Jan 26, 2010
We rented a car we had a handicapped sticker and was towed to car storage center, a handicapped sticker was visible, we got a ticket and had to pay for that and the storage. We were surprised the car had been towed away and cost us $750.00 in Memphis, Tn. We felt we were mistreated.
Carole @ 12:55 PM CST, Nov 24, 2009
Please Church Folk Tip the waiters and waitreses. Many black people like to dress up and fi nd any excuse not to tip.Sometime being a good christian means just doing the right thing.
LA Bakker @ 1:07 PM CST, Nov 8, 2009
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