Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. was appointed Presiding Bishop by the General Assembly of the Church Of God In Christ and was later elected to the position in 2007. At the 101st Holy Convocation, during the quadrennial elections, Blake was re-elected as presiding bishop for another four-year term. As presiding bishop, Blake has become the new face of and an international spokesperson for Pentecostalism as it is known today.
Blake received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California Western University, now known as United States International University in 1962. He received a Master of Divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in 1965, and did further graduate study at Claremont Graduate School and Fuller Theological Seminary in California.
Blake also received the following honorary degrees: Doctor of Divinity degree from the California Graduate School of Theology in 1982 and Doctor of Laws degree from Oral Roberts University in 1988.
Blake is a spiritual motivator who is astute in world business systems. He leads by example and has transformed church culture throughout the denomination. He is a consummate visionary and knows how to inspire others who share his vision.
Blake is the pastor of West Angeles Church Of God In Christ in Los Angeles, Calif. West Angeles has more than 24,000 members and offers more than 80 ministries for psychological, social and economic enhancement of the Los Angeles community.
Blake is a humble humanitarian. He is the chief executive officer of Save Africa’s Children, a program of the Pan African Children’s Fund. The group has assisted over 300 grassroots and faith-based projects in sub-Saharan Africa, reaching over 90,000 AIDS-affected children. Save Africa’s Children supports more than 100 thousand children in 340 orphan care programs throughout more than 23 nations on the continent of Africa.
Blake was the founding Chairman of the Board of Directors for the C.H. Mason Theological Seminary and has served as an Executive Committee member on the Board of Directors of the Interdenominational Theological Seminary. He also formerly served as an Advisory Committee Member of the Pentecostal World Conference.
Blake has received numerous awards, commendations and accolades, including the Distinguished Leadership Award presented by the African Presidential Archives and Research Center at Boston University (2007), the Trumpet Award (2006), the Salvation Army’s William Booth Award, the Greenlining Institute’s Big Heart Award, and was the designated recipient of the L.A. Urban League’s Whitney M. Young Award (2000).
