BISHOP JERRY W. MACKLIN
Pastor and Lady Vanessa Macklin, in the spring of 1978, founded Glad Tidings Church of God in Christ in Hayward, California. Through their partnership with civic and community leaders, GT established its flagship Community Development Corporation. This leadership dynamic would be at the forefront of South Hayward’s marginalized community transformation and urban revitalization. During the past 45 years, while committed to his local church, Bishop remained active in his denomination serving as International Sunday School Superintendent and founding Chairman of the AIM COGIC Summer Conventions (1996-2004). In 1998, following his consecration to the sacred office of Bishop in 2001, he received his episcopal appointment as prelate of the Nor Cal Metropolitan Jurisdiction. In 2004, he ascended to the presidium of the Church of God in Christ; two years later, he was elected Chairman of the Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches of North America, representing more than 20 denominations. Bishop Macklin’s highest honor was afforded him in 2007 when he ascended to the office of Second Assistant Presiding Bishop, where he served for 14 years with Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. Today, he is honored to serve as First Assistant Presiding Bishop under the leadership of Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard.
No stranger to the global village, Bishop Macklin has been dispatched regionally and nationally to lead the COGIC response to humanitarian crises and events, including hurricanes Katrina (Louisiana), Harvey (Houston), and Dorian (The Bahamas). Following the catastrophic earthquake in the Republic of Haiti in 2010, with the support of COGIC Charities, he was sent to lead the reconstruction of a new COGIC School, Orphanage, Guest House, and Medical Clinic. For five years, Glad Tidings would continue to support the Haiti outreach, sending 12-16 skilled workers annually to maintain the newly constructed buildings. This Servant Leader has received numerous awards and honors which include the City of Hayward’s most prestigious recognition, “The Mayor’s Award”, along with the John N. Pappas Humanitarian Award, NAACP Annual Leadership Award, and the Bay Area’s Most Influential African American Clergyman Recognition. Bishop has been honored to represent his beloved denomination on multiple occasions including at our Nation’s Capital, where he delivered the Invocation in the 113th United States Congress. His most recent book, “The Canvas of Tomorrow: the Nehemiah Story of One Church in a Challenged Neighborhood,” was released by Avail (2021). Bishop and Lady Macklin, married for 50 years, are blessed with two sons, three daughters, and twelve unique grandchildren.
Bishop J. W. Macklin
In 1978, Pastor and Lady Vanessa Macklin founded Glad Tidings Church of God in Christ in Hayward, California. Partnering with civic and community leaders, GT would establish their flagship Community Development Corporation. This leadership dynamic would be at the forefront of community transformation and urban revitalization of this marginalized South Hayward community, During the past 45 years, while committed to his local church, Bishop remained active in his denomination serving as International Sunday School Superintendent and founding Chairman of the AIM, Convention (1996-2004). In 1998. Following his consecration to the sacred office of Bishop in 2001, he received his episcopal appointment as prelate of the NorCal Metropolitan Jurisdiction. In 2004, he ascended to the presidium of the Church of God in Christ; two years later, he was elected Chairman of the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America, representing more than 20 denominations. Bishop Macklin's highest honor was afforded him in 2007 when he ascended to the office of second Assistant Presiding Bishop, serving for 14 years with then Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. Today Bishop Macklin is honored to serve as First Assistant Presiding Bishop under the leadership of Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard.
No stranger to the global village, Bishop Macklin has been dispatched regionally and nationally to lead the COGIC response to humanitarian crises and events, including hurricanes Katrina (Louisiana), Harvey (Houston), and Dorian (The Bahamas). Following the catastrophic earthquake in the Republic of Haiti in 2010 with the support of COGIC Charities, he was sent to lead the reconstruction of a new COGIC School, Orphanage, Guest House, and Medical Clinic.
Over the following five years, Glad Tidings would continue to support the Haiti outreach, sending 12-16 skilled workers annually to maintain newly constructed buildings. This Servant Leader has received numerous awards and honors, including the City of Hayward
Mayor’s Award, John N. Pappas Humanitarian Award, NAACP Annual Leadership Award, and the Bay Area’s Most Influential African American Clergyman Award. In our nation’s Capital, Bishop Macklin has been honored to represent his beloved denomination on multiple occasions, including delivering the invocation for the 113th United States Congress. His most recent book, Canvas of Tomorrow, The Nehemiah Story: One Church in a Challenged Neighborhood, was released by Avail Publishing (2021). Bishop and Lady Macklin, married for 48 years, are blessed with two sons, three daughters, and ten unique grandchildren.