Chapter 5 --Mother Lizzie Woods Roberson (Robinson) --Born 1860 to slaves; education valued in the home; supported herself after both parents died --Married at 20, worked as a laundress --Read American Baptist magazine promoting sanctification, credited it with that work in her life --Studied at Baptist Training Academy --Met Mason in 1911, was baptized in the Spirit, and kicked out of her position at the academy --Appointed by Mason to help organize churches --Married a COGIC elder, her first two husbands having died --Persevered in building COGIC presence in Nebraska despite lynching and other racism --Traveled across the nation speaking --Organized all the primary Women s Department ministries we have today --Origins of church mother and supervisor positions were from her --Died in 1945 at age 85 --Mother Lillian Brooks Coffey, Second General Supervisor, 1945-1964 --Born in 1896, she joined COGIC in 1903 when it was primarily a sanctification movement. She left home due to her parents hostility to her beliefs, eventually moving in with Bishop Mason s family. --She married in her 20s and worked as a hotel maid, but her marriage ended, again in a dispute over her beliefs. --Helped organize prayer bands in Chicago leading to the first COGIC there. Eventually developed a team of evangelists who traveled around the country promoting prayer bands that led to churches. --Appointed MI State Supervisor at age 29; finance head of COGIC before becoming Women s Department head --Gifted as an organizer, she put together the first International Women s Convention in 1951 --Aided in expanding COGIC influence in the Midwest --Organized important auxiliaries, including Missionary Circle and nearly 20 others
--A believer in education, she and her department created schools and missions in several parts of the world overseas. --She said, Methods change, but principles remain the same. --Mother Anne L. Bailey, Third General Supervisor, 1964-1975 --Married in 1934 at a young age to International Bishop John Seth Bailey, and they were active in civic and religious work in Detroit --Served long as MI state supervisor and pioneered works in New Jersey as well as several other Northeastern states --Was first financial secretary to Mother Robinson and assistant international supervisor under Mother Coffey until the latter s passing --Immediately appointed to the full supervisor s role at Mother Coffey s passing --Added several new units, including the Business and Professional Women s Rescue Squad --Successful fund-raiser and frequent minister to the sick --Mother Mattie Mae Clark McGlothen, Fourth General Supervisor, 1976-1994 --Originally from Texas, settled with family in OK at age 6; eventually graduated from college in the 1920s and taught school for several years. --Received Spirit baptism in 1924 upon returning home and was healed of tuberculosis --Called to ministry in 1924, worked with her husband in pastorates in OK, IA and CA. CA state supervisor appt. 1934, taking over northern region, then Washington State five years later. Eventually was supervisor of Northwest CA, serving there for 36 years. --Was president of hospitality for nearly 30 years before becoming general supervisor in 1976. --In her work as supervisor internationally, she organized nearly 10 new ministries, including International Hospitality. --Ministered through housing for missionaries, seniors and unwed mothers --Women s International Convention became second largest in COGIC under her leadership --Has been given several honorary doctorates and commendations from various state legislatures --Died 1994 --Mother Emma Frances Crouch, Fifth General Supervisor, 1994-1997
--Born in Texas in 1911, saved, sanctified and baptized in the Spirit in 1930; married Elder Crouch --Headed YPWW, served as district missionary, and supervisor for Texas Southwest Jurisdiction --As general supervisor, created Bishops Wives Circle, promoted preservation of COGIC history, and other affairs --Recognized for her work by several educational institutions --Mother Willie Mae Smalls Rivers, Sixth General Supervisor, 1997-Present --Born in South Carolina in 1926; was raised AME and earned distinction there --Married 1941-1997, had 12 children --Baptized in the Spirit in 1946 and almost immediately became church mother --Became district missionary, assistant supervisor, then SC state supervisor, the last in 1968. She served in many national and international ministries until being named general supervisor in 1997. --Ministers on the radio --Founder of Community Christian Women/Men Fellowship --Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, Music Ministry, 1925-1994 --From Alabama, started playing piano at age 6, and eventually musician for her mother s church services. Studied music at Selma University. --Moved to Detroit in 1947 and joined a local COGIC ministry. Baptized in the Spirit and became music minister. Was music minister for Southwest MI Jurisdiction and Bishop Bailey. --First to record Gospel choir, had three gold records, arranged hundreds of songs and recorded more than 50 albums. --Worked with Cadillac and NAACP on music --Founded Clark Conservatory of Music in 1979; contributor to COGIC hymnal Yes, Lord. --Appointed international head of music department in 1968; traveled extensively for workshops, organized National Music Convention, and defined the state music minister s role --Died 1994 --Dr. Arenia C. Mallory, Education, 1904-1977 --Originally from Illinois, saved at 17 in a tent revival; had to leave home over holiness and lived with the COGIC faithful.
--Appointed to head Saints Industrial School, only eight years in operation when she came in 1926. Hired racially mixed faculty. Forced to let go of whites, she still grew the school. Twenty-four-hour prayer vigil at school for 20 years. --Earned bachelor s, master s, and doctorate of law. --Served in several civic positions. --Has both a health center and school of religion named in her honor. --Died 1977 at 72. --Mother Elizabeth J. Dabney, Prayer Ministry --Asked by Bishop Mason to help establish a ministry in Philadelphia; later moved to north Philly to start their own ministry. --Made covenant with God that if He would bring peace to their neighborhood, she would meet Him every morning in prayer. The church filled to overflowing, and despite opposition from near and far, she persevered, receiving prayer requests from across the globe. over. --Traveled across America talking about prayer; distributed 7 million handkerchiefs she prayed --Wrote What It Means To Pray Through --Evangelist Elsie Isabelle Shaw, Prayer Ministry --Born 1915, accepted Christ and was baptized in the Spirit in the 1930s in New York; educated in music and language at Howard University; taught at Saints Academy and public schools. --Was a COGIC food-service worker, then, after training, a missionary evangelist for more than 40 years. As the latter, she focused on prayer, being international prayer leader for the Women s International Convention. --Died 1997 --Mother Emily Bram Bibby, National Evangelist --Born 1916 in Texas; later moved to Los Angeles; saved at 10; singing proved to be her calling early on. --Married Evangelist Bram, lived in New York City for many years, became assistant pastor. Moved back to Dallas. --Married Deacon Bibby in 1984 and moved to Louisiana.
--Served as national expediter, national advisory board member, presiding bishop s evangelist team member, among other offices Chapter 6 --Died 2007 in Missouri --Bishop Mason did not believe in ordaining women, as he did not find it in Scripture. However, he did allow them virtually all activities short of that. Pastors have great latitude in deciding which ministries women will be allowed to lead or participate in. --Seek the anointing, not the ordination. --Should women be pastors or eldresses? --What does modesty in dress mean? --How can one balance wifely or other home-based duties with those of the missionary evangelist? --What should COGIC s position be on abortion and other female-related issues?