Meet the esteemed leaders and faculty of the academy—men and women dedicated to sharing their wisdom, insight, and experiences to prepare you for effective and impactful ministry.
BISHOP
CHARLES H. McCLELLAND
GENERAL BOARD MEMBER
Bishop C. H. McClelland is the Pastor of Holy Cathedral Church of God In Christ 2677 N. 40th Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was appointed Pastor in September 1982 by the late Bishop P. J. Henderson, his Spiritual Father. Within seven years, the initial congregation of 25 members (including children) outgrew the location on 11th & Atkinson, which seated approximately 150 people and moved to 2677 N. 40th St, July 1989, the present location. Bishop McClelland now pastors a growing membership of over 1, 200 people. He was born in Covington TN, the youngest of 10 children. His Mother Annie McClelland prayed that God would bless her with another son, and she would give him back to God. God answered her prayer and Charles Henry McClelland was born April 5, 1950. At the age of 19, he moved to Milwaukee; God saved him, and he surrendered his life to God. He has been saved since November 1969. It was also in Milwaukee that he met his wife for life, Prentiss Delores and they have been married since July of 1974.
Bishop McClelland worked for the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services for 19 years as a Program Administrator in various social service programs. During his tenure, he was responsible for 54 employees and a budget of over 8 million dollars. Unknowingly, this position was preparing him for the development of Word of Hope Ministries Inc., which he founded in 1996 and serves as President. Word of Hope Ministries is a non-profit 501c3 organization which includes the Word of Hope Family Resource Center that houses Health Care and Social Service Programs, Mentorship for Youth, Prisoner Re-Entry Program, Employment Services, Financial Literacy Program, ATODA (alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse), State of the Art Computer Technology Center, an Adult GED Lab and Broadcast/Telecast Center and newest program, Diverse Business Development Program, funded by the State Of Wisconsin Dept. Of Administration. For the past 28 years Word of Hope Ministries, Inc. has served over 50,000 individuals and families in our community.
At the Holy Convocation in November 2008, Bishop C.H. McClelland was consecrated and appointed Bishop of the Wisconsin Northwest Jurisdiction by the Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. The Jurisdiction has now grown to 45 Churches, including 2 churches in areas that did not have a COGIC located in Appleton and Sheboygan, WI, under his leadership. “Becoming a Bishop is a tremendous honor, it’s not about position, it’s about the people and Kingdom Building.” “To God Be the Glory.”
On March 20, 2021, Bishop C.H. McClelland was elected to the Church of God In Christ General Board. The General Board of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. (COGIC) is responsible for establishing and executing policies for the membership, as well as sustaining and perpetuating spiritual order within the Church.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
JEFFREY M. LEWIS
Administrative Assistant Jeffrey M. Lewis was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He is the youngest son of the Founding Pastor of the New Antioch Church of God in Christ, the late Bishop James A. Lewis and Dr Barbara McCoo Lewis. He is a fourth-generation member of the Church of God in Christ and has been married to the lovely Mrs. Floetta Bryant Lewis since 1988. Together, they have two adult children, Shannon and Jeffrey Jr.
With theological training in hand from West Angeles Bible College and Southern California School of Ministry, he was ordained an Elder in the Church of God in Christ in 1997 by Jurisdictional Bishop Emeritus Charles E. Blake, Sr. of Southern California First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. In the span of four years, he was appointed Youth Pastor, Assistant Pastor and Co-Pastor of New Antioch. In 2006, upon the Pastoral retirement of his father, he was appointed Senior Pastor of New Antioch Church of God in Christ, one of the fastest growing churches in Los Angeles with two Sunday worship services and more than 40 functioning departments and auxiliaries.
Notably, for several years, he successfully navigated and balanced ministerial responsibilities with high-level leadership in the restaurant industry along with an unwavering commitment to community development. As such, he is highly respected for his collegial demeanor, intellectual prowess, and capacity-building across both religious and secular landscapes. His achievements include numerous commendations and awards for his effective operational leadership and his ability to strategically utilize human capital to propel institutions forward. Some of his most noteworthy accomplishments include his ascent to Vice President of Operations for Boston Market Restaurants where he promoted through the ranks—rapidly advancing from a restaurant manager to district manager in two years and eventually to West Coast Regional Vice President before serving as Vice President of Operations. As Vice President of Operations, he managed field operations across 6 states, requiring him to oversee the professional development of over 800 employees. While his career achievements are quite stellar, his impactful work and influence transcend his professional footprint. He has always embodied a kingdom-centered focus that reflects a sincere heart for serving God’s people.
In addition to serving as a Senior Pastor, he served as District Superintendent of the New Antioch District from 2014 to 2019, currently he serves as an Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, Regional Superintendent of Greater Emmanuel Region of Southern California First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, which consists of 41 churches and is Chairman of the Ordination Board—these appointments were bestowed upon him by Jurisdictional Prelate Bishop Joe L. Ealy. Nationally he is a member of the General Assembly’s Manual Review Committee and in 2024 was appointed as a Vice-Chairman of the National Leadership Conference by Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle J. Drew Sheard.
New Antioch Church provides community outreach with its 501C3 Community Assistance Action Project (CAAP) along with monthly feeding and a skid-row ministry. Educational Initiatives include annual scholarships, bi-monthly math and English tutoring for ages 7 to 14, parent university and more. With Pastor Lewis at the helm—forecasting vision and partnering with community organizations, like the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, that share his desire to restore, empower and uplift people from diverse experiences is his focus.
Most importantly, Administrative Assistant Jeffrey M. Lewis feels honored to have been chosen as a vessel of God to compel as many people as possible to make it to Heaven while letting them know they can also achieve God’s best here on Earth.
BISHOP
HERBERT DAVIS
Bishop Herbert Reynolds Davis, PhD maintains an active academic, ecclesiastical and advocacy profile engaging: Church Planting, Community Organizing and Advocacy, Christian Theology, Leadership Development and Organizational Consulting. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion, the Master of Divinity degree, the Doctor of Ministry and the Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership. He has earned professional certification in Leadership Education.
Herbert Reynolds Davis served in academia as the Executive Vice President of a Title IV theological institution for more than a decade. He regularly speaks to civic and faith-based groups effecting positive spiritual and social change. He is often requested to offer trainings for church leaders, nonprofit leadership teams and community organizations. Bishop Davis is the President of HRD Strategic Development LLC which offers training and development for religious organizations, higher education institutions, non-profits, and small businesses. He is the author of three books: The Visitation: Your Defining Moment in the Presence of God; The Christian Leadership Blueprint: Seven Principles for Building Something Great, Transformative, and Lasting; and Graced for This.
Bishop Davis is ordained in the Church of God in Christ. He was consecrated as the Jurisdictional Prelate of the El Salvador Jurisdiction in 2022. Locally he serves as the Senior Pastor of the multicultural Nehemiah Church COGIC (Durham, NC) as well as the Chairman of Ordination for the NC 2nd Jurisdiction. Within the larger denomination he serves as the Associate Commissioner/International Director of the C. H. Mason Jurisdictional Institutes, a Vice Chairman for the Leadership Conference, and the Assistant AIM Conference Chairman for the Missions Department. He finds greater meaning and inspiration of life from his wife Psiyina, his four adult daughters and one son in law.
STAFF
Dr. Pierre Codio
Senior Pastor, House of Refuge COGIC
Dr. Rosalyn Lee
Administrative. Assistant
Department Of Women – Southern California First Jurisdiction
Administrative Assistant Michael Henderson
Senior Pastor, Gospel Light COGIC
Superintendent Maurice Johnson
Senior Pastor, Kingdom Life Fellowship COGIC