Bishop G E Patterson - fussing thread (see other thread for nice things)
 

The Greatest Leader since their founder, Bishop Mason, Bishop GE Patterson Passed away today.

I really enjoyed his music, visiting his church and even his preaching

COGIC Bishop G.E. Patterson dies
By James Dowd
The Commercial Appeal
March 20, 2007


Bishop G.E. Patterson, leader of the international Church of God in Christ, died today after a long illness, church leaders confirm.

Patterson, chief apostle of the Memphis-based COGIC, was 67. Under his leadership, COGIC grew to more than 6 million members in 54 countries.

Arrangements are incomplete, said Bishop Jerry Maynard, chief operating officer for COGIC. "I've lost not only a friend, but my best friend," Maynard said Tuesday afternoon. "It's like losing a part of oneself."




Copyright 2007, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.

I was about to log out when I saw this...so sorry to read this news...:(

I also am sorry to hear this news. Several decades ago back when there were those high power Mexican radio stations beaming religous programs in the South I used to listen to his radio broadcast and enjoyed it a lot.

I just watched a small tribute on the news - it is sad.

He really had a great presence here in Memphis and throughout the world.

I'll post other articles as they come out.

He was a great preacher.

There was none other then Bishop Patterson. Some Sunday mornings, I would tune him in to hear him preach. He was an exciting minister to listen to...often times singing the last few parts of his sermon.

He will be very missed.

COGIC Biship G.E. Patterson dead at 67

March 20, 2007 06:06 PM CDT




Action News 5 has learned that Church of God in Christ Bishop G.E. Patterson passed away today.

The following is a statement from the Carter Malone Group, which acted as spokesperson for Patterson and COGIC:

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.

Patterson served as the leader of the fourth-largest Protestant religious denomination in the world with an estimated membership of 6.5 million members. He led the denomination since November 2000.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Two years ago, Patterson disclosed he had prostate cancer. In January, he was hospitalized with undisclosed illness.

Below is Patterson's bio (bbless.org):

Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson was born in 1939 to Bishop W. A. and Mrs. Mary Patterson, Sr. in Humboldt, Tennessee. He was reared in Memphis, Tennessee and Detroit, Michigan. Bishop J. S. Bailey ordained him in 1958 as an elder in the Church of God in Christ. In 1962, Bishop Patterson became co-pastor with his father at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee. Bishop Patterson continued his pastorate in 1975 as the founder and pastor of Temple of Deliverance, the Cathedral of the Bountiful Blessings in Memphis, Tennessee. Today, Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ is one of the nation's fastest growing congregations with over 12,000 on its membership roll. The church is located at 369 G. E. Patterson Avenue.

Temple of Deliverance also serves as the home church base for the rapidly growing Bountiful Blessings Ministries (BBM) which is viewed internationally on BET and TBN cable networks weekly, as well as on local TV stations throughout the nation. BBM has a mailing list of over 100,000 active donors from outside the Memphis viewing audience. Bishop Patterson is founder and president of BBM.

Bishop Patterson is a learned minister. He has studied at the Detroit Bible Institute, and LeMoyne Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee. He holds an honorary Doctorate from Oral Roberts University and is the president of the Charles H. Mason Bible College of Tennessee Fourth Jurisdiction in Memphis, Tennessee. Bishop Patterson is the publisher of Bountiful Blessings Magazine and a contributing writer in the Spirit Filled life Bible (King James Version) published by Thomas Nelson Publishers and edited by Dr. Jack W. Hayford. In July 2002, Whitaker House Publishers released Bishop Patterson's first book entitled "Here Comes The Judge".

Bishop Patterson is a 20th century Apostle of Jesus Christ. He is a renowned national speaker, known for his simplistic messages that transcend all barriers of race, gender, age and walks of life for people around the globe. One of his themes, "Be healed, be delivered, and be set free" has become a popular expression. The nation demand for audio and video tapes is overwhelming. Bishop Patterson is the president and general manager of the Memphis based Radio Station WBBP (1480 AM), a full time gospel station with over 100,000 daily listeners.

Bishop Patterson humbly serves God and his community through the ministries he has established at Temple of Deliverance Church (TOD). These ministries have a positive and direct impact on: unemployment-TOD employs over 100 people and has over 100 local and national vendors; wellness-TOD is a member of the Church Health Center; education-TOD issues scores of $1,000 scholarships annually to students entering or returning to colleges or universities; family life-a prayer ministry with more than 40 telephone lines and a prison ministry that serves in the Criminal Justice Center and the Penal Farm in Memphis, Tennessee. There are numerous other ministries at TOD that address the needs of the community.

Bishop Patterson is a leader of church leaders. He is the Presiding Bishop of Church of God in Christ, Incorporated. Bishop Patterson has helped finance many local churches and helped organize seven other churches across the nation.

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.

This is hard to believe, but very true. One of GE Pattersons biggest admirers was Don Imus. He is on MSNBC every morning from 5am to 8am cst.

I didn't know that. Do you know how he became acquainted with the Bishop?

Sad he died lost.

No measurable depth to your compassion, huh?

EPELY!
That was low...I get so tired of you! Your post can be rude, judgemental and sometimes downright stupid!
What kind of man of God says those things??????

UGH! whatever....Im outta here.

PS....SO glad you are not God and dont know the heart of a man!

You are suposed to love people........Get a grip, get a life and while your at it get some altar time!

NYLP,

You should edit your post to avoid being banned. You can word your sentiments very strongly without that language.

Besides I am sure that somewhere there will be a UPC evangelist telling how he baptized Elder Patterson in Jesus name in a hotel swimming pool or something similar!

=

And you wonder why you end up as a lightning rod? This post does nothing more than what you accuse him of.

Love ya Bro Ford....But dont care.....His statement was just STUPID! Period!

Didn't your mama teach you that two wrongs don't make one right?

But if what you say is said in the same manner or worse, then your post comes across as stupid also.

sounds like your the one who needs some altar time!

The passing of my Pastor and Bishop
 

Were you listening to Imus yesterday (Tuesday)? How freaky! He was just asking Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. how Bishop Patterson was doing. They talked about him for a while and how he has been fighting prostate cancer but that he was doing better now.

WHOA!:eek:

My comment was not intended to be ugly if it came across that way I apologize I was just stating a fact the man had not obeyed the message that saves neither did he preach the message that saves. And I am sorry for anyone who dies lost. No nastiness meant if it came across that way I am sorry. But it is a fact all who die that have not obeyed Acts 2:38 is lost. Death fixes nothing that is not fixed in life. Life is for fixing not death. Death only settles the matter.

I'm not sure, but Imus has played parts GE Patterson sermons as "bumpers" for a long time.

This morning they were giving Imus a hard time because Imus missed a returned call from GE Pattersons wife yesterday.

Oh, that's too bad.

I'm sure the homecoming service is going to be unreal!

I missed Imus on Tuesday.

I happened to see Bishop Patterson in the Memphis airport about 8 months ago. I thought he looked pretty good for someone battling cancer./

He will be missed!!

Presiding Bishop G.E. Patterson of the Church of God in Christ died Tuesday of heart failure at 67. He fought prostate cancer in recent years.

COGIC members gather Tuesday at the Temple of Deliverance for a prayer vigil in remembrance of the late bishop. "I've lost not only a friend, but my best friend," said Bishop Jerry Maynard. Story Tools

By James Dowd
Contact
March 21, 2007
From his humble birth in a tiny West Tennessee town, Bishop G.E. Patterson rose to international prominence as the charismatic leader of one of the nation's largest Christian groups.
As presiding bishop and chief apostle of the Church of God in Christ, he oversaw a global media empire that included television, radio, Internet and publishing divisions, and he was instrumental in swelling the denomination's ranks to more than 6.5 million members in 58 countries.

Bishop Patterson died Tuesday afternoon of heart failure at Methodist University Hospital after battling prostate cancer. He was 67.
"He was progressive and a visionary, but at the same time he was a man who never forgot our heritage, and he knew the Church of God in Christ like the back of his hand," First Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake of West Angeles COGIC in Los Angeles said Tuesday. "He was a great preacher, a pioneer of media ministries and he elevated our church in ways that touched millions of lives."

Among them, former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., who mourned the bishop's passing.

"America lost an angel today. He was favored by the Almighty and he used his favor to instruct us all on how to be better servants," Ford said in a statement. "I love him like an earthly father. The only thing that gives me some peace is that I'm certain that the Lord has already put him in charge of the humility ministry in Heaven with his chief job being to continue reminding us all that we serve an awesome and all-knowing God."

Dr. David Hall, pastor of Temple COGIC, gave the keynote address at Bishop Patterson's inauguration in 2000 and knew him for more than a quarter-century.

"He was so big, yet so human and accessible," Hall said. "He was world-renowned for his preaching, but he had such a soft touch and a loving heart for the ordinary man."

Lauded as a visionary, Bishop Patterson's influence extended beyond his Memphis pulpit. His Bountiful Blessings Ministries television program was broadcast worldwide, he served as president of gospel radio station WBBP and as president of Podium Records.

But those who knew him best said Bishop Patterson's greatest attribute was his down-to-earth personality and the ability to make everyone he came in contact with feel special.

"I've lost not only a friend, but my best friend," said Bishop Jerry Maynard, chief operating officer for the denomination. "It's like losing a part of one's self."

Historically, COGIC presiding bishops served until they died, but that changed in recent years because of Bishop Patterson's enormous popularity and support within the denomination.

In 1995, Chandler David Owens of Atlanta became presiding bishop after Bishop L.H. Ford died. Owens was expected to be re-elected to a four-year term in 1996 without opposition, but for the first time in COGIC history, the top spot was challenged.

Delegates had to choose between Owens and Bishop Patterson, who had received the most votes in the General Board election. In the runoff, Owens won by a single vote.

Expressing a desire for church unity, Bishop Patterson did not seek a recount and Owens served a four-year term.

In 2000, Bishop Patterson ran for the office and won with 59 percent of the vote, becoming the sixth leader of the denomination founded in Memphis in 1907 by Bishop Charles Harrison Mason. It marked the first time in COGIC history that a presiding bishop had been unseated.

The two faced off again in 2004, but Owens withdrew from the ballot and Bishop Patterson was unanimously elected. He announced afterward that he would not seek a third term.

Bishop Patterson is credited with expanding the denomination's appeal by focusing on traditional, Biblical teachings. He also redefined the role of presiding bishop, which he once said had become mired in bureaucracy and isolation far above the people it was created to serve.

In an attempt to be more accessible, in 2002 Bishop Patterson returned to founder Mason's practice of holding Bible studies during the annual convocation and held them every year during his time as chief apostle.

"It is a return to the older days, a time of Biblical preaching and prayer," Bishop Patterson said in an interview with The Commercial Appeal in November 2003. "Some of the membership felt it was new, but to me it was simply a matter of worshiping as I did when I was a boy."

In 2005, Bishop Patterson acknowledged he was battling prostate cancer. At the 99th annual COGIC Holy Convocation last November, he said he'd considered vacating the post, but decided against the idea.

"I asked the General Board to have a special election in April to elect an able-bodied man, but I was shouted down," Bishop Patterson said.

Rather than squabbling about denominational politics, Bishop Patterson said COGIC's focus should be on saving souls and building up the church.

And he emphasized at the time that he was ready to do his part.

"If my body being afflicted can get us back to where God wants us to be, then I'm willing to suffer," he said.

Gilbert Earl Patterson was born Sept. 22, 1939, in Humboldt, Tenn., to Bishop W.A. and Mrs. Mary Patterson. He grew up in Memphis before moving to Detroit with his family in 1952.

The young Patterson preached his first sermon at 17 and was ordained as a COGIC elder by Bishop J.S. Bailey in Detroit in 1958. In December of 1961, he returned to Memphis to become co-pastor with his father at Holy Temple COGIC in Memphis.

In 1975, after years of feuding with his uncle, then-Presiding Bishop J.O. Patterson, about establishing new congregations and jurisdictional authority, the younger Patterson left COGIC and founded Temple of Deliverance, the Cathedral of the Bountiful Blessings in Memphis.

Housed in the former Mt. Vernon Baptist Church at 547 Mississippi Blvd., the congregation outgrew the facilities within three years and a new 1,200-seat sanctuary was constructed.

With a price tag of $1.2 million, it was the city's first church built by black workers that cost more than a million dollars.

Eventually, Bishop Patterson mended the family rift and was invited back into active COGIC ministry.

Under Bishop Patterson's leadership, Temple of Deliverance COGIC moved in 1999 to a $13 million campus that featured a 5,000-seat worship center. By 2007, the church -- located at 369 G.E. Patterson -- had grown to more than 13,000 members.

Bishop Patterson is survived by his wife, Louise. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

-- James Dowd: 529-2737

thanks RC for all the info.......good stuff

You're welcome. I didn't realize they didn't have any children.

I always liked Bro. Patterson. Sorry to see him go home.

I attended a funeral last week the preacher conducting the funeral said he did not know the deceased and the man never attended anyone's church. His family actually never remember him every going to church. But his preacher calling the man by his first name put the man inside the pearly gates and I tought he was going to make God vacate the throne and give it to this man.:winkgrin The sad thing is death settles nothing. A man cannot be a false prophet and die and become the apostle of the Lamb. It is truly sad for any man to die without obeying and preaching the gospel. Instead preaching a subsitute gospel that decieved instead of saving. Was David crude in saying "Abner died as a fool dieth?" Was Jesus crude in saying "It was better this man was never born?" We preach our own funerals by what we live and believe.

Bishop Patterson
 

Bishop Patterson became my Pastor when I was 16 years old. He left the Church of God in Christ and had an independent ministry for 11 years. He told me many times that he had been baptized in the name of Jesus and he even preached at the National Convention of the PAW and the title of his message was JESUS ONLY! He was a man filled with the Holy Ghost. I do know that in our independent days - I heard him baptize in the Name of Jesus. You can argue this from daylight to midnight - but I heard him do it.

Did Pastor Epley or any of the rest of you hear what PETER or any other Apostle said when they baptized? Is there any account anywhere of the EXACT WORDS they said??? NOOOOOOOOOO There is NOT! And friends - that is one reason you "Apostolic" people can't even agree your selves and you fight and fuss with each other over every little issue. You are ISSUE oriented preachers. You have to be right to FEEL good about your selves and you have to ........ to hell everybody that is not just like you!

PLEASE SHOW ME THE EXACT WORDS THAT ANY APOSTLE USED IN BAPTISM! SHOW ME THE QUOTE!

I am a ministry son of G. E. Patterson and I know what he was and what he stood for. He was a man of God. He was an Apostle of Jesus Christ. Nothing you can say or do can change that.

It amazes me that I rebuked and my post was deleted and someone wrote - NAME CALLING AND PREACHER BASHING on the post because I said that someone was a liar - which was a FACT!

Elder Epley can get on here and can post that Bishop G. E. Patterson "died lost" and no rebuke whatsoever! AMAZING!

I have really thought long and hard about even posting this as I am sick of judgmental people that want to put in hell everybody that is not their brand of Pentecost.
This forum gets crazier every day. Now go ahead and have at it and bash me for having great respect and honor for one of the greatest men that has ever preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

My first querstion would focus on the very real dilemma that he would be in if he truly believed in being baptized in Jesus Name and being filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. How can you be the presiding Bishop of a false doctrine group and not feel compelled to bring them greater revelation?

My observation through time has been that if a man was truly Apostolic then Apostolic doctrine is going to be an issue. The great command of the Apostle was simple: "Take heed to yourselves and to the doctrine." There could be no confusion in the following words that said, basically, that in doing so you save yourself and them that hear you.

He was in a position to be heard by many and yet, if he was in a position to bring greater revelation to a large organization, we see no signs of it. It is not my intent to berate a deceased man or take a cheap shot at your Pastor. However, while it seems contrary to your opinion, if the doctrine isn't worth standing for then nothing else matters. If it's not an issue then nothing else remotely qualifies.

Again, Apostolic doctrine is an issue to any real Apostolic. That, coincidentally, is what gives Bro. Epley much credibility in spite of his oft biting words. I may not agree with the bluntness of his statement but he remains a respected poster because his stance on doctrine is unwavering.

Judges
 

You know - there are so many different BRANDS of Apostolics and you know that. I guess if you own this you can define what a "real Apostolic" is the same as CC1 can or Elder Epley can. The fact of the matter is there is hardly TWO on here that can totally agree 100% on ANYTHING!

You love to judge others - judge your own selves and let God judge the others. Yes - I do know the COGIC is a Trinitarian organization and YES I continue to preach in it and everyone I have ever baptized in it - I baptized in the Name of Jesus. But still - that is NEVER ENOUGH with you guys - It NEVER BECOMES ENOUGH to be saved!
Let's take the stupid BORAT deal - Did they have BORAT pray a prayer of repentance? NO! Did they sit him down and explain that if you want to be saved you must repent and turn from your sin and pray with him that he would REPENT???? NO - They had one thing on their minds - getting him to speak in tongues. That was not an isolated case. In UPC and Apostolic Camp meetings across America - and in altars in their churches - its SPEAK IN TONGUES. Yes - I have spoke in tongues since I was 5 years old - did that save me - NO - I had to be baptized in Jesus Name or to some that was not enough because It was not in their church or their tank. IT IS NEVER ENOUGH and you guys know it. You cannot even agree among your APOSTOLIC selves as to EXACTLY what to say. Some have told me they say something different every time. Oh, But we always "include" the name of Jesus - how sweet! Give me a break - When is the last time you went to a conference and they cast devils out, got people up out of wheel chairs and busted canes and crutches and commanded the crippled to walk. That my friend is Apostolic!
I hesitate to say I am finished with this forum - but It sickens me to see the childishness of grown men that put burdens and yokes on people that they are not even willing to bear past their own city limits. Men that preach against TV and stay up all night watching them in hotels. Porn addicts, closet homosexuals and abusers of themselves with mankind. I could call names and officials - but what good would it do - it would get ME BANNED!

GO ahead and say Bishop Patterson "died lost" but don't say anything about raving maniac that is a hater of God's people and a letter writer that says the UPC is the Great Whore! Oh yeah - HE is Apostolic! Yeah - Right! If that is "Apostolic" we are all in trouble and the whole world is going to Hell!
As I have said many times when teaching my young ministers - SHUT UP AND PREACH! I don't want to hear your ideas and opinions and what Bishop Patterson or somebody else should have done - who died and made YOU God!
Why don't you do something?

Glad to get this off my chest! And you wonder why we leave you guys and don't want to have anything to do with you??????????????

Yeah, but my definition is the RIGHT one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:happydance :slaphappy :aaa

HEy Hey...I happen to think you and I have a GREAT realtionship.....

:grampa

Dear Bishop Type Mylanta Dude! (LOL You know I love you!)
You said, and I quote,
"Epely says that G. E. Patterson dies last and he gets NO rebuke...AMAZING"!

I would like to point out two things.
#1
Below is my rebuke of him...I guess you misse that.

#2
Good thing Admin edited what I REALLY said to HIM! Just ignore him....
Fact is If he was baptized in Jesus Name and he had the Holy Ghost...Most folks would do well to shut up, back off and let GOD do his thing!

Here is what I said.

"EPELY!
That was low...I get so tired of you! Your post can be rude, judgemental and sometimes downright stupid!
What kind of man of God says those things??????

UGH! whatever....Im outta here.

PS....SO glad you are not God and dont know the heart of a man!

You are suposed to love people........Get a grip, get a life and while your at it get some altar time!"

:eek: Whoa, bro! :grampa

This post was out of line yesterday. It is even more out of line today.

No its not...ADMIN edited it...I quoted as they left it:tiphat