Three days ago, delegates of the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) General Assembly voted during a special session to return their Holy Convocation to St. Louis.
Thursday afternoon, Explore St. Louis made the official announcement at America’s Center – which spent ten years as host of the Holy Convocation, COGIC’s annual convention that draws saints from across the globe.
“We’re happy to welcome the Holy Convocation back to St. Louis,” said Bob Wallace, Interim President of Explore St. Louis. “The economic impact of this conference on the St. Louis region is significant, with an estimated annual contribution of more than $83 million each year. That’s $250 million in economic impact from this single booking.”
As one of the world’s largest – and oldest – Black faith conventions, COGIC will bring approximately 60,000 delegates to St. Louis annually in November of 2026, 2027 and 2028.
For more than a century, it was held in Memphis, Tenn., which is home to COGIC’s international headquarters. In 2010, St. Louis became the first city other than Memphis to host the Holy Convocation. It returned to Memphis in 2020 after pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the St. Louis region.
“We are excited to return the Holy Convocation to St. Louis, a city that warmly
embraced our church for a decade,” said Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard, leader of the Church Of God In Christ, the nation’s largest Pentecostal denomination. “St. Louis provided us with the infrastructure, hospitality, and resources necessary to host this significant gathering. While Memphis will always be the spiritual home of the Church Of God In Christ, we are grateful for the opportunity to broaden our reach and continue making an impact in St. Louis.”
After a virtual Holy Convocation in 2021, the convention returned to Memphis. In 2025, the convention will take place in Memphis once more before transitioning to St. Louis for the 2026–2028 period.
“The Explore St. Louis team has been diligent in its efforts to support bringing our Holy Convocation to the newly expanded America’s Center,” said Bishop Keith A. Kershaw, chief operating officer of Church of God in Christ. “As the official annual meeting of COGIC, the Holy Convocation is the only convention the Church holds where delegates are provided the unique opportunity to interact with delegates from every corner of the globe. We look forward to hosting our thousands of members, bishops and officers in St. Louis, a city that has warmly welcomed us and is a favorite destination among our constituents.”
The Holy Convocation must be experienced for its magnitude to be fully understood. Praise and worship services stretch into the late hours of the night and begin again as soon as the sun rises. Banquets and special events honor saints who have spent a lifetime devoted to their faith. Other programs offer platforms for emerging leaders. Preachers and speakers deliver sermons with enough fervor to shake The Dome. Official church business is handled. The musical experiences during concerts and services will compel a shout from the most stoic of worshippers. Those who attend recharge and refuel for their faith walk. As they are reenergized, they pay it forward.
“COGIC remains steadfast in its mission to spread the gospel, serve communities, and create transformative experiences for its members and attendees,” the church said in a statement about their 2026 return to St. Louis. “The Holy Convocation plays a vital role in that mission as it gathers believers from all walks of life to worship, learn, and grow together.”
Over the span of two weeks, the Holy Convocation welcomes leaders within the faith community from across cultures and denominations to join them in fellowship. Bishop T.D. Jakes, Pastor Joel Osteen and Bishop Paul S. Morton are just a few of the giants who graced the stage of The Dome at America’s Center to deliver a message. The convention also brings some of the biggest names in Black culture.
Among the most famous to appear in St. Louis was two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington. Last month Washington made news after being baptized and presented with a minister’s license in his home state of New York just ahead of his 70th birthday. But years before that, Washington delivered a word in St. Louis when he was honored at the 14th Annual COGIC Cares Banquet during the 108th Holy Convocation at America’s Center in 2015.
“My father, my earthly father, Denzel Washington Sr. was a pastor for the Church of God in Christ for 60 years,” Washington said. “I can remember the most important time in our house – and he would be so excited – was when he was preparing to attend the Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee.”
The elder Washington would drive through the night from upstate New York to attend each year.
“I didn’t know what he was doing when he got here – in fact I couldn’t even say the word, but I knew it was important to him,” Washington said.
“I know he’s smiling in heaven, seeing his son doing the best I can do today, by the grace of God.”
The Washington family are longtime members of West Angeles COGIC Church, where Presiding Bishop Emeritus Charles E. Blake served as their pastor.
Mayor Tishaura O. Jones was eager to share her enthusiasm about welcoming COGIC delegates back to St. Louis – and the significant economic impact the event brings.
“Events like COGIC’s Holy Convocation are vital to our community, filling our hotels, energizing our streets and supporting local businesses,” Jones said. “And this exciting news is only the beginning of what’s to come in and around the newly expanded America’s Center Convention Complex.”
For more information about the Church Of God In Christ and the Holy Convocation, please visit www.cogic.org.
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