COGIC 118th Holy Convocation Set for St. Louis in November as Church Launches Voter Mobilization Drive

The Church of God in Christ will hold its 118th Holy Convocation in St. Louis, Missouri, from November 3 to 10, 2026, the denomination confirmed in October. The event marks a significant departure from Memphis, Tennessee, which has served as the traditional host city for the convocation for decades.

Bishop Brandon Porter confirmed the St. Louis location in January 2025. The move reflects the denomination's interest in expanding its footprint and engaging new communities across the country.

The convocation is one of the largest annual gatherings in Black Pentecostal Christianity, drawing tens of thousands of members from across the United States and internationally. It features worship services, leadership sessions, business meetings, and youth programming.

The timing of the 2026 convocation is notable. November 3, the opening day of the event, is also the date of the midterm elections. COGIC responded by issuing a communique on October 15, 2026, titled "2026 COGIC Counts: Getting Souls to the Polls," urging registered voters within the church to cast their ballots before or during the convocation.

The initiative reflects the denomination's long history of civic engagement. COGIC leaders have consistently framed voting as a moral and spiritual responsibility, particularly in communities where access to the ballot has been contested.

The denomination also released its 2026 Loyalty Reports on October 22, 2026, and held a live event on October 19 focused on its Church Multiplication Ecosystem, a program aimed at planting new congregations.

COGIC is one of the largest predominantly Black Christian denominations in the United States, with more than six million members worldwide.