The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) Holy Convocation made its debut in St. Louis in 2010 with the 103rd Holy Convocation, breaking a longstanding tradition of being hosted in Memphis, Tennessee. The event took place in November 2010 and continued annually in St. Louis through 2019. After that, the convocation returned to Memphis, the headquarters of COGIC.

As an independent media promoter then, I attended this remarkable event in 2010, capturing memorable moments through photography, sharing content, and meeting inspiring individuals. I enjoyed shopping at the venue, dining, and participating in church services at the old convention center in St. Louis. This became a routine for me over the subsequent years.

However, by 2018-2019, the convocation moved back to Memphis, as the city struggled with space and accommodation due to the increasing size of the event. This paved the way for St. Louis to once again host the convocation from 2026 to 2029, this time at the newly renovated America’s Center downtown.

I submitted a request for press credentials, but due to changes with a collaborative partner last year, I wasn’t able to follow through. Nonetheless, I still with a friend in Texas, shared pictures, enjoyed live-streamed concerts and services, and kept up with the latest news and discussions.

Some expressed opposition to returning to St. Louis, labeling it “Memphis 2.0” and voicing disappointment that the event would not take place at the Dome. I spoke with a Memphis resident who did not attend, and he mentioned that not enough people had signed up.

However, according to reports, over 40,000 people participated in the convocation, suggesting that the available halls were more conducive to the gathering than the Dome would have been. From what I observed online, the space for services and concerts, especially after the renovation, offered a significant advantage compared to the Dome setup.

As these Saints head home to their respective homes. I wish nothing but the Highest Saviors hands in blessings as they safely departs St. Louis. and I can’t wait to see what is in store year 2027. I do not own the rights to the images or video, but please enjoy them and let’s thanks them for their visit.

Bishop Shead:

Bishop J. Drew Sheard-Image by COGIC

Bishop J. Drew Sheard Sr. is the Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. (COGIC), the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Elected in March 2021, he serves as the 8th leader in the church’s history.

II truly appreciated watching him gather his shepherds and congregation during the live stream. His powerful leadership was exactly what I, and I’m sure many others, needed for our week-long journey in St. Louis.

Drama:

Bishop Shead experienced some negative press as well, from online hecklers. Denouncing his choice to align with Abdul El-Sayed. an elected politician, and a Michigan Muslim. To learn more about that situation click here.

Convocationn left Memphis again for St Louis:

While conducting my research to gather information for my story, I observed that many COGIC members opted to stay home, voicing their criticisms about returning to St. Louis. However, it’s important to explore the reasons that left them with little choice but to return to the Gateway City.

Why COGIC Chose Not to Use Memphis

Though Memphis is the birthplace and current global headquarters of the COGIC denomination, church leadership voted to move the flagship convention to St. Louis primarily due to severe lodging constraints and infrastructure limitations:

• Inadequate Hotel Capacity: Memphis suffers from a lack of large, downtown hospitality space. The city has only six hotels with more than 300 rooms, making it incredibly difficult to house tens of thousands of global delegates close to the venue. Upcoming renovations, ownership changes, and hotel closures (like the downtown DoubleTree) further choked the city’s available inventory.
• Skyrocketing Lodging Costs: Church leadership explicitly cited peak-season hotel price gouging and aggressive parking fees in Memphis as deciding factors. Delegates frequently faced inflated room rates during the convention week.
• The “Under One Roof” Advantage: St. Louis boasts over 7,000 downtown hotel rooms and the America’s Center Convention Complex, which features enough integrated space to let the massive crowd assemble seamlessly under a single roof.

Enjoy this live stream video and I do not own the rights to the photos, they were taken by random tourist of the convocation.

Welcome to the 118th Holy Convocation 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕷𝖔𝖗𝖉’𝖘 𝕯𝖆𝖞 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖘𝖍𝖎𝖕 𝕮𝖊𝖑𝖊𝖇𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓: The Official Message from His Grace, The Most Reverend J. Drew Sheard, Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Church Of God In Christ. #LetsHaveChurch #COGIC #TeamCOGIC #118thHC Download a free copy of the Digital Program here: https://qrco.de/bh47Sa