Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr.

Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr.

One Of Bishop Mason's "Lieutenants" And

One Of His Closest Confidants For Over 50 Years

Above: Left to Right - Bishop Moses Cross, Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., Bishop L. M. Driver, Bishop Christopher C. Owens, President of the Religious

Workers Guild, Inc., And Bishop W. L. Porter.

Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr. is the recipient of the Prestigious Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Award For His

Outstanding Accomplishments. Below, Bishop O. T. Jones is seen to the

right of Bishop C. H. Mason (Center); To Mason's

Left is Bishop Matthew Roberts.

^{Even though Bishop O. T. Jones had always been Bishop Mason's right hand man for over 50 years,}

^{in the General Assembly it pleased the saints to wait a year after Bishop Mason's death}

^{in 1961, before selecting a successor for the Founding Father of the COGIC.}

^{In the Holy Convocation of 1962, the only surviving Bishop of the original five which}

^{had been consecrated in 1933 was Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones,Sr.}

^{of Philadelphia, Pennysylvania.}

^{Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., at the age of 23, accompanied Bishop Mason on a trip to}

^{Los Angeles, California to attend the first Holy Convocation of E. R. Driver, which lasted for 30 days}

^{in 1916. Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., was a close confidant of Bishop Mason before many of the}

^{prominant bishops even appeared on the scene.}

The picture above was taken during the First Holy Convocation

of E. R. Driver in 1916.

You will see E. R. Driver on the bottom row 2nd from the left. You will see Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., immediately to the right of Bishop Mason

on the bottom row.

Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., aside from being the last surviving of the first five Bishops

appointed by Bishop C. H. Mason in 1933, had trained the COGIC youth since 1915.

In addition, he had actually developed the Young People's Willing Workers (YPWW) Topics.

Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., also founded the International Youth Congress of the

Church of God in Christ, and, as a great theologian, he placed the experiences of the saints in words. As a partner with Bishop Mason, he also helped to codify disciplines and

doctrines of the denomination. So then, aside from the the fact that Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr.

assisted in codifying our doctrine, it would be correct to assume that he not only played a major role in formulating our COGIC affirmations concerning ("what we believe"),

but also the doctrinal truths printed on our Sunday School Booklets; this was to insure

that these doctrinal truths would be indelibly imprinted in our hearts and minds.

Because Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., was a great theologian himself, he was always an advocate

for a trained clergy. By virtue of the fact that there was a great deal of unrest

and negative issues brought on by the death of Bishop C. H. Mason on November 17,1961,

Bishop Jones appropriately eulogized Mason on November 25, 1961 using this verse:

"For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God,

fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption." Acts 13:36.

Following Bishop Mason's death, the COGIC struggled to transcend the ordeals

of transition while certain saints succumed to insubordination and corruption.

Even so, Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., led the church amid great tumult. Some historians

erroneously described the period between 1961 and 1968 as the

"Wilderness Wandering", referring to the dispute concerning Bishop Mason's

successor (Senior Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr.).

According to a well documented "Constitutional Rights Expose" addressed to

the members of the Church of God in Christ by Bishop Samuel P. Nesbitt concerning

this very issue (pages 2-7), at Bishop Mason's death pursuant to the COGIC

Constitution, the Board of Bishops was in charge of the Church of God in Christ.

The Board of Bishops granted the Commisioners, who had served with Bishop Mason,

the authority to lead the church for one year, during which time they were to

to set the church in order for the election of a new Senior Bishop.

At the end of the year 1962, the election of the new Senior Bishop was scheduled

to take place during the General Assembly in 1963. However, on the closing night of

the Holy Convocation in 1962, one of the Bishops, who for now will remain nameless,

stood and told of a dream which he had experienced relative to the leadership

of the church. Influenced by what they considered to be the significance of the dream,

the General Assembly was moved to elect Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., as the new Senior

Bishop of the Church of God in Christ.

The Associated Press, and all other news media

carried the news to all the world, and the saints everywhere were rejoicing.

The Documents Which Follow, Refer To The Aforementioned

Decision Which Was Made By The General Assembly

Of The Church Of God In Christ In 1962 And Were Taken From The

Scrapbook Archives Of Bishop Christopher C. Owens Please Take Your Time

And Read These Articles. You Will Certainly Be Enlightened

If You Look Above At Section 5 - The Health & Welfare Of Our Ministers And Workers:

You'll See Bishop E. Lenox, And Elder C.C. Owens At Committee Participants

Historic Reflections

Having been without a leader for almost a year, the church was delighted to have

a leader who had walked with Bishop Mason and who had been a great supporter

of Bishop Mason and the doctrines and laws of the Church. As a

great preacher, he was often called upon to deliver the annual Official message

for Bishop Mason during the Holy Convocation; He was the Leader for whom the people

thought was qualified to help them remain true to the faith.

Therefore they received him gladly.

Bishop Jones received congratulatory messages from all over the Church.

The actual telegrams from the respective Bishops are reflected in this Expose'

of Bishop Samuel P. Nesbitt:

Bishop F. D. Washington N. Y., December 8, 1962

Bishop B. H. Dabney, Chairman Of The Board, December 8, 1962

Bishop O. M. Kelly, NYC, December 10, 1962

Shown Below As They Greet The Newly Elected Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr., Philadelphia:

From Left to Right Second Row: Bishop D. Lawrence Williams, Norfolk, VA;

Chairman, Board of Bishops: Bishop John White, New Orleans, LA;

Bishop L. H. Ford, Chicago, IL; Bishop W. G. Shipman, Detroit, Michigan;

Bishop C. E. Bennet, Gary, Indiana; Bishop Wyoming Wells, Greensboro, NC;

Bottom Row Left To Right:

Bishop W. R. Nesbitt, Florida; Bishop J. S. Bailey, Detroit, Michigan;

Bishop Samuel Crouch, Los Angeles, California;

Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., Newly Elected Senior Bishop;

Dr. Lillian Brooks Coffey, National Supervisor, Women's Department;

Bishop A. B. McEwen, Memphis, TN; Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr., Memphis, TN;

And Bishop J. E. Bryant in Foreground;

Below: Click On Us To Surf To The Top Or Continue To Scroll Down

From the time of his election, December 7, 1962 to April 1963, Bishop Jones

held conferences with Church leaders, and received advice, recommendations

and suggestions for future operations for the Church. After two years

in office, the reports from various parts of the Church were favorable.

Success, Spiritual Growth, and Wonderful Fellowship were Evident Everywhere.

With a desire to secure the Church's real property and to set in place

a functional financial system for the Church, the Senior Bishop called for a report from

the Special Committee which had been set up to study those areas.

Here's where the trouble began, when the committee's recommendations called

for certain changes in the system which seemed to upset certain members

of the Executive Board. The Senior Bishop asked that a further study

would be effected, with modified recommendations to be made subsequently.

From that time the Executive Board appeared to take a negative attitude towards

the Senior Bishop and his team. The Executive Board began a deliberate

campaign to pull the people away from Bishop Jones' leadership. But because

Bishop Jones had a long and outstanding record in the Church, and

those whom he selected to be on his team were persons of outstanding caliber,

the Executive Board's tactics did not work. Bishop Jones was following the Constitution,

but the Executive Board, Which was not in the Constitution claimed to

have the powers to do what Bishop Jones was doing.

According to the Constitution of the COGIC, our Church believed that the office

of Senior Bishop, which is the office of the Chief Apostle were placed in the Church

by the Lord - just as the office of State Bishop or Overseer and Pastor were placed

in our Church by the Lord. This is in our Church's official history:

"The Lord gave Elder C. H. Mason to be Chief Apostle,

to which the whole assembly accepted."

~From "History" In The Official Manual Of The Church Of God In Christ, 1957 Ed. p. 9

The Appointive Powers Of The Office Of Senior Bishop:

I) In the Church of God in Christ, the Senior Bishop appoints

State Overseers or State Bishops and heads of National Departments. This is in

accordance with our Constitution - Article 11 par. I

"Said National Officers [of National Departments] to be appointed by Senior Bishop"

Church Constitution - Article 13 par. 10

2) The appointive powers of the office of Senior Bishop are in accord with the

scriptural "pattern" which gives the leader at each level of the Church,

[National, State and Local] the power of appointment.

Scripture: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set things in

order that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. " Titus 1:5

The Church of God in Christ has been greatly blessed by following its God given "pattern".

Our official history says: "Under his leadership

[that is, the leadership of the first Senior Bishop]

the Church has witnessed a great triumph and growth."

"History" In the Official Manual, Church of God in Christ, 1957

God has always made choice of one man to be the chief

leader of His people at any one time and place. In our Church - he is the Senior Bishop.

The chief leader has always been given bt the Lord the authority not given

to any other office, or person or group of persons. The scriptures warn

and denounce any policyc or procedure - undertaken by any person or group,

deliberately or unintentionally - which seeks to subvert or overthrow the

Divinely chosen leader. "For Rebellion is as the sin of Witchcraft". I Samuel 15:23

Our Church Has Covenanted Not To Change Its "Pattern"

1) While it is true that the General Assembly has the authority to make laws for

the Church, it is not true that the General Assembly has the authority to change

the "Pattern" of the Church's leadership. Article 9 of our Church Constitution

restricts the powers of the General Assembly in this regard.

"It (the General Assembly) shall not set aside or change any of our

articles of faith, nor shall it establish any new doctrines contrary to the doctrines

that now exist in the Church.

" (b) The General Assembly shall not abolish our general form of government,

nor the General Superintendency, nor deprive it of any of the authority given

it by the Constitution." If the Church is to be consistent with its own history,

organizational structure and composition, and Constitution, the General Superintendency

not only consists of state Bishops

(who presently compose the Board of Bishops in - 1962); but also the office of Senior Bishop.

For it was by the authority of the Board of Bishops, that the office of Senior Bishop was

filled after the death of the late first Senior Bishop.

The present Bishop was elected to this office by the General Assembly in 1962,

which was an election held by the authority of the Board of Bishops.

The Executive Board alledged that under the Constitution and by-laws of the Church

of God in Christ, there is no provision for a Senior Bishop, after the death of the

late revered C. H. Mason.

The fact is: There is no place in the Constitution which terminates the Office of

Senior Bishop with the death of the Late Bishop C. H. Mason.

The Constitution anticipates and provides for the continuation of the Office of

Senior Bishop in that it expressly sets forth: "The Overseer will be appointed by

the Senior Bishop or by his appointee. COGIC Constitution - Article 11; part 1"

"Said National Officers (Of National Departments) to be appointed by Senior Bishop."

There is nothing in the Constitution which establishes any other appointive authority

for these vital offices and positions in the Church. It seems reasonable to conclude

that the incumbent in the

Office of Senior Bishop would make the appointments,

no matter what his name might be.

NOTE: When Bishop C. H. Mason died, the "Pattern" which God had given for the

Church did not die with him. Nor did God die, and these rules were prayerfully

sought from God!

So, Senior Bishop O. T. Jones made decisions and appointments without

collaboration and consensus of the Board of Bishops, General Assembly, or

the "Executive Board". NOTE: The Supreme Court of Texas in one case,

and the ultimate in the court case of the Chancery Court of Shelby County,

Memphis, Tennessee both ruled that the "Executive Board" had no place in the

COGIC Constitution.

COGIC Constitution - Article 7; Part 2 - The Constitution does not mention

"Executive Board", for there was no such creature at that time. And by the

Constitution, there is no such creature at this time.

Click On Bishop Christopher Owens Below To Surf To The Top Or Continue To Scroll

Down; There Are More Very Interesting Facts And Twists To This Story!!

Below, Click On Bishop C. C. Owens To Surf To The Top Or Continue To Scroll Down

Below, You May Click On Bishop Owens To Surf To The Top, Or Continue To Scroll Down

Below Left To Right: Bishop Nesbitt, Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr.,

Bishop Christopher C. Owens,

Senior Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., Bishop Louis Henry Ford

Soon after the allegations, disagreement over the power and authority of the

Senior Bishop and the power and authority of the "Executive Board" at the 67th

Convocation in 1964. Factions developed and controversy engulfed the

fledging organization as administrative and executive decisions were being made by

both the Senior Bishop and the "Executive Board" - often conflicting with one another.

Therefore the Executive Board went about creating new jurisdictions and

appointing Bishops over them. It was unconstitutional, but gullible men fell for it.

Considerable confusion was created throughout the Church, especially in the

State of Alabama. In the Case: Emmitt Jackson, ET AL (Complainants vs. )

The Executive Board attempted to divide the Stat of Alabama, and create

what was to be called Diocese #2. Elder J. M. Bailey, Brother of Bishop J. S. Bailey,

member of the Executive Board, was designated as Bishop of said jurisdiction.

Bishop Ashworth, the duly appointed Bishop of the State of Alabama, had contacted

the Senior Bishop to ascertain whether or not the Senior Bishop had authorized

such an action. The Senior Bishop informed Bishop Ashworth that such an action

had not been authorized or apprpoved. When an attempt was made by John F. Key,

Pastor of the East Birmingham Church, to transfer the Church from Bishop

Ashworth's Jurisdiction to the newly illegally created Diosece #2, more than

a 2/3 majority of the members and officers desired to remain with Bishop Ashworth.

After appropriate hearings and conferences, Bishop Ashworth declaired the

the pulpit vacant. When Elder Key refused to vacate the Church,

the officers of the Church petitioned the Court for a restraining order against

Elder John Key and certain members of the Executive Board to prevent them from

taking their Church to the illegally created Diocese # 2.

A temporary injunction was issued, but a permanent injunction was denied.

At the hearing where the Senior Bishop, and his staff and the Executive Board

were present, it was necessary to establish that Bishop O. T. Jones was the Senior Bishop,

that he was duly elected to said office, that he performed in said office, and, by the

Constitution, only he had the authority to consecrate and appoint Bishops.

The Attorney for the Church, representing the Senior Bishop, called for a certain Bishop, who was appointed by Senior Bishop O. T. Jones in 1963, to come to the stand (This

Bishop will remain nameless for now, but later I will disclose pertinent information for

you to personally locate this Expose' by Bishop S. P. Nesbitt, if you are interested).

The Attorney questioned this Bishop as follows:

Was Bishop O. T. Jones elected as Senior Bishop of the Church of God in Christ?

He answered...." No, the Church honored him with that title because of

his many years of service to the Church."

{Mind you, this was the same Bishop who related to the General Assembly the

vision God gave him concerning Bishop O. T. Jones; It was this Bishop's prophetic

dream that compelled the Assembly to elect Bishop Jones as Senior Bishop in the

first place - a whole year before the election was actually supposed

to take place, no less!}

Question: Did you sign any credentials or appointments on which Bishop Jones'

name appeared as Senior Bishop? He answered "No".

It was noted that Bishop Jones' Committee had sought to obtain copies of credentials

from persons who had been consecrated by Bishop O. T. Jones.

But all of those credentialed Bishops refused to respond (Santan was working overtime);

except Bishop Eurie of Delaware, who got up out of his sick bed and flew to Alabama,

to testify and present his credentials. The Senior Bishop's Attorney called

Bishop Eurie to the stand, who presented his credentials, that were signed by

Bishop Jones as Senior Bishop, and also witnessed and signed by the same Bishop

who had previously been on the stand (again, this letter reflected this Bishop's very

own signature as Secretary)! It was now obvious that this Bishop had previously

perjured himself on the witness stand; He was immediately recalled to the witness stand

and required to identify and read an open letter concerning his support of

Senior Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., bearing his signature. This letter was given to the Court

by Bob Mason, the son of Bishop C. H. Mason, who was a great supporter of Bishop

O. T. Jones (The Letter: showing who it was addressed to {one of the Commissioners}

and who had written the letter - the same person who had just perjured himself on the witness stand - and this special letter may also be found within the Expose'

written by Samuel P. Nesbitt).

After this Bishop had finished reading this letter which he had written, there was

a moment of silence in the Court. A recess was called. After

returning, the Senior Bishop's Attorney concluded with these words:

"The uncontroverted evidence shows that Bishop____________ was

not telling the truth. But you can't wipe out the past. You might

advise him to read Omar The Tent Maker, where he said: "The moving

finger writes, and having written moves on. For all your piety nor wit can

lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all your tears to wash out a word of it."

And that's what Bishop_______________ didn't know when he

made that false affirmatiion, that he couldn't wipe out the past."

Below, Click On Bishop C. C. Owens To Surf To The Top Or Continue To Scroll Down

Above: Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr.

Considering what previously transpired with the Executive Board, this blatant act of them renouncing their allegiance to the Constitution of

the Church of God in Christ was a violation of the original article

9 (a) (b) of the original Constitution of the Church which was a safeguard

to protect the Articles of our Faith and the Leadership Style of our Church.

You may go to the web site of {reportcogicabuse /Bishop_Nesbitts_Response_1.pdf}

(www. precedes the beginning and .com is typed after abuse) to discover

missing names and the open letter produced in court.

You might want to keep a copy of this historical Expose' of Bishop S. P. Nesbitt

in your personal files.

Below is a photo of Bishop S. P. Nesbitt

Above we have shown a portrait of Bishop Nesbitt. You may later surf to

the COGIC Pioneers Navigational Page of this web site; we have

included an artical on Bishop Nesbitt's Defense of

Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr.

As you can see, through a lengthy process, and despite the inevitable

differences of opinion, however, through much prayer and with the assistance of,

yet another Court - The Chancery Court of Shelby County, Tennessee, the

COGIC rose above the challenges of change. Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., actually

performed a superb job, having his mind anointed and his steps ordered by God

in maintaining respect, subordination, and order from the clergy while leading

the Church through this trying period.

In 1966 Bishop O. T. Jones was removed from the office of Senior Office, however,

he continued to be honored as the "Senior Bishop" of the COGIC.

In an attempt to regain control of the Church, the pro Jones group led a

failed coup attempt during the 59th Holy Convocation in 1966.

Suits were filed in the Chancery Court of Shelby County, Tennessee to finally

resolve the legitimate authority controversary of the Church of God in Christ.

The Court ordered the Church to convene a Constitutional Convention in 1968.

The COGIC drafted and approved a new constitution that dissolved the office of

Senior Bishop and the Executive Board, and created the office of the Presiding Bishop

and a General Board, who would be elected every 4 years to preside over the Church.

The General Assembly would have the supreme authority over the Church

to decide matters of faith and practice. On November 14, 1968, the

General Assembly of the COGIC elected the first General Board and Presiding

Bishop of the Church; I can't ever imagine how they managed to get around

Article 9 of the Church's Constitution which prohibits the General Assembly from

abolishing and replacing original laws and rules, but we shall rest in the will of God

and know that righteousness will always prevail.

Below is a drawing of Bishop Jones' Church in Philadelphia, PA.

In 1962 Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., was still the International President of the Youth

Department of the Church of God in Christ.

The 27th Yout Congress of the Church of God in Christ was in session

in Detroit, Michigan, June 27 - July 3, 1962.

Even in the midst of all the turmoil within the denomination, the Church of

God in Christ was continuing to march forth with a "Full Hallelujah Praise"

with "full speed"!

Below, Bishop O. T. Jones, Sr., D. D. in 1962 was yet the President

of the International Youth Congress

and his wife, Mrs. O. T. Jones, Sr., was the National President of the Bishop's Wives

Below, Their Son, Bishop O. T. Jones, Jr., Was Part Of The Official Congress

Staff As Of 1962. His Role Was To Serve As The Administrative Assistant

To His Father, Who Was The International President Of The

International Youth Department Of The Church Of God In Christ

A Brief Timeline Of The Life Of

Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones, Sr.

1914} Organized Youth Dept. Of The COGIC And Served As The First President

1916} He Founded And Edited The Y.P.W.W. Quarterly Topics,

Which Received Notoriety As One Of The Largest Pentecostal

Publications In The Nation, A Task He Continued Until 1962.

1920} Appointed Assistant To The State Overseer In Oklahoma

1926} Appointed State Overseer For Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Bishop Jones Watched His Fledging State Grow After His Appointment

From 11 Churches To Over 200.

1928} Founded The International Youth Congress Of The COGIC

The Youth Congress Not Only Beckoned Youth,

But Became The Spawning Ground For Nearly 30

Various Youth Ministries.

1933} One Of The First Five Preachers To Be Consecrated

As The COGIC Denomination's First Founding Bishops.

Was The Last Of The Original Five To Enter Eternal Rest.

1952} In Addition To Being A Trustee Of The Original Corporatiion

Of The Church Of God In Christ, He Was Appointed By Bishop Mason

To A Special Commission Created To Assist Our Founder In His

Waning Years. With Elder Bryant And Bishop Jones Producing The Manual

Containing Our Doctrine And Constitution.

A Foundational Work By The Late Bishop E. R. Driver, Preceded The Manual

Produced By Bishop Jones And Elder Bryant.

1962} The Board Of Bishops Nominated Him To Serve As The New

"Senior Bishop" After The Demise Of Bishop C. H. Mason In 1961.

1965} Opposition To His Reign Concerning Election Policies

1968} After Lawsuits Upon Overlapping Lawsuits Initiated By Factions

(Some Later Left The COGIC Organization And Referred To Themselves As The

Church Of God In Christ, International - They Held On To The

Original COGIC Doctrine But Were Averse To The Election

Policies Within The COGIC Arena. The Courts And The Convention

Established Clear Guidelines For The Elections Of Church Leaders, And

In 1968 Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr., Was Elected As Presiding Bishop.

He Was Revered By Many As Being Exemplary To The Authenticity

Attritributed To His Predecessor, Bishop C. H. Mason. He Is Perhaps

Best Remembered As An Outstanding Bearer Of The Gospel, An Organizer,

An Educator Of Christian Youth, A Family Man (Six Children, All Members

Of The COGIC, A Sainted Character, An Humble, Yet Dignified, Shepherd To

The Whole Flock Of God.

1972} Bishop Jones' Homegoing Was Celebrated In 1972

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