Starting a Church

Starting a Church of God in Christ Church

Starting a Church Of God In Christ church can get you on the path to a spiritually rewarding future but it's important to plan out the startup process in detail before you start. We provide a few secrets on the startup process.

Thinking about opening a Church Of God In Christ church? We tell you what you need to know to get started.

Characteristics of COGIC Churches

The Church of God in Christ (commonly referred to as COGIC) is a Pentecostal, Christian denomination that is geared primarily to African-American believers. With more than 12,000 churches and 6.5 million members in the U.S. alone, COGIC is a major player on the American religious scene and a powerful influence in the nation's African-American community.

Unlike other Pentecostal denominations and movements, COGIC follows a highly visible episcopal polity structure. Local congregations belong to COGIC dioceses under the direct supervision of a bishop and church leaders wear vestments that are typically associated with Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy.

In COGIC circles, women are relegated to their own department within the denomination. Although COGIC does not ordain women as pastors or elders, female members play an influential role in the church -- but may encounter obstacles as religious entrepreneurs interested in planting a new COGIC church.

Leasing Space for a COGIC Church Plant

It's fairly typical for COGIC church plants to lease commercial space until they have achieved enough growth to justify a building purchase or construction project. But leasing commercial space presents unique challenges, especially for religious entrepreneurs who lack experience in commercial leasing.

An experienced advisor can be useful in navigating commercial lease terms and negotiations. But ultimately, it will be your responsibility to make sure your leased space is in a good location and capable of handling your COGIC church's functional requirements.

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