Past National Leadership
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.” — Laurence Binyon
(MOTHER) BISHOP MARY L. TATE
In 1903, Mother Tate established the Church as she traveled and preached the Gospel throughout the state of Tennessee. She came to Alabama in 1905 where she established many people in the cleanness of the word. In 1907 over nine hundred people were converted and turned to Christ through her preaching. The following year, the Church was first incorporated under the name of the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth.
From June 25 through July 5, 1908, the first General Assembly was held in Greenville, Alabama. Ministers were ordained and pastors were appointed in that meeting. Additionally, Mother Tate was approved and accepted as the Apostle Elder, President, and first Chief Overseer. She also was accepted to the Bishopric by the Board of Trustees and Bishops. In 1911, Mother Tate entered the state of Georgia, and the first Georgia State Assembly was held at Waycross, Georgia, and the appointment of the first presiding Seeldrveinrsg Sainzedsfinancial support for pastors were accomplished. In 1914, the first four state bishops were appointed at Quitman, Georgia, and the first Decree Book was conceived and printed.
The rapid growth of the church through powerful revivals and the State and General Assemblies, soon gave the church tremendous strength. By 1916, the church had spread throughout twenty states, including the District of Columbia and into some foreign countries. In 1924, the House of God Church Headquarters was established in Nashville, Tennessee. The theme for the first administration was “Come in God’s House.” On December 28, 1930, Mother Tate fell asleep in the Lord.
BISHOP MARY F. L. KEITH
In 1931, Bishop Mary F.L. Keith was selected and ordained Chief Overseer for The House of God, Inc., Keith Dominion. The Keith Bible Institute and The House of God Home for Children were an integral part of her works. Acting on a vow to help others in need, Bishop Keith helped many members to obtain education and training in the ministry developing future leaders of the Church.
In 1948, Bishop Keith erected a sanctuary at Headquarters. Dormitories were later built. Under her leadership, the Church was established/re-established in the states of Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. It was also during this period that the Church was established on the Island of Jamaica.
The work of Bishop Keith with her faith, her courage, and her untiring efforts contributed immensely to the influence of the church. The Church grew spiritually and physically under her divine leadership. The theme for the second administration was “Stay in the Faith and Doctrine.” Again the church suffered a great loss on July 14, 1962, with the death of Bishop Keith.
BISHOP JAMES W. JENKINS
In 1962, Bishop James W. Jenkins was selected and ordained Chief Overseer and Senior Bishop. The theme for the third administration was “Let Us Make Progress.” Bishop Jenkins was a strong advocate of economic independence and church expansion. During his tenure, the Courtesy Welfare Program was launched to assist members in emergencies. He also placed the church on a budget system.
During the third administration, Church Building Program was implemented on the local level; church received Tax Exemption Status from the federal government; churches were chartered in the states of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Texas and California; and the National Society was also initiated. During the period of 1966 to 1969, the Church’s Song Book was revised, and the Church’s Newspaper and Sunday School Books were continued.
By 1969, the deep sense of responsibility, broad vision, and persistent faith moved Bishop Jenkins to begin the financial drive for a new Headquarters Complex Building program on a cash basis. Property for the new Headquarters Complex was also purchased that same year. In 1976, the J.W. Jenkins Dormitory was built and dedicated. The second dormitory, the W.L. Nelson Dormitory, was dedicated in 1977. By the end of 1979, the Ervin Memorial Community Building was completed. Land, houses, and apartments were donated in support to the Church’s new Headquarters Complex Building Program. A temple was also erected in Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. By 1981, the vision over the years had flourished into the erection and dedication of the Headquarters Sanctuary in Nashville, Tennessee.
Bishop James W. Jenkins was held in esteem by the community and most of all, in the abiding affection and admiration of his beloved followers. The doors of life were quietly closed for Dr. Jenkins on July 15, 1990.
BISHOP JAMES C. ELLIOTT
God graciously tendered His mercies upon us, and on August 9, 1990, he anointed and appointed the fourth Chief Overseer of the Church, Bishop James C. Elliott. He began his administration with the theme, “Continuous Progress Through Evangelism.” Bishop Elliott founded The House of God Academy and Bible College to educate and train members of all ranks. In 2001, Bishop Elliott authorized the creation of an official website for the Church. During the fourth administration, the Church expanded into the states of Arizona, Kentucky, and Mississippi as well as into the foreign countries of Canada, Haiti, and Nassau, Bahamas. Staff of Bishops During the fourth Administration.
The Fourth Administration also witnessed the restoration of the Old Headquarters Sanctuary built by Bishop Keith in 1948. The Old Sanctuary was restored in order to house the local church congregation. The F. Dovie Shuford Memorial Library and the House of God Academy and Bible College, were founded and is presently housed in the restored Old Headquarters Building. Additionally, Bishop Elliott erected a “Flags of Faith and Wall of Fame” and commissioned a bronze bust bearing the likeness of the founder, Mother Tate, which is encased in glass and installed in front of the Headquarters Sanctuary. Bishop Elliott, served as the State presiding Bishop for over 20 years and under his administration as Florida East Coast Diocese State Prelate, the vision for the State Complex, began.
Again the church suffered a great loss on May 26, 2004, with the death of Bishop Elliott.
BISHOP REBECCA W. FLETCHER
In September 2004, Bishop Rebecca W. Fletcher was selected and ordained Chief Overseer and Senior Bishop. During this time, Bishop Fletcher was installed as the State Presiding Prelate of the Florida East Coast Diocese, governing over 19 churches. Bishop Fletcher’s administration theme and on-going mission is “Girdling the Globe with God’s Grace and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Bishop Rebecca W. Fletcher received the Holy Ghost at the age of 15 in the House of God Church, Baltimore, Maryland. She answered the call of God immediately and began preaching the unadulterated gospel of God in 1941.
After she married Deacon James W. Fletcher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, God led her to open Bible study in her home. Neighbors and children from the community gathered faithfully for this evangelistic explosion. From this outreach, Chief Overseer, Bishop M. F. L. Keith appointed her to pastor and build an edifice in Wilmington, Delaware and a building was dedicated in September 1973. She pastored there from 1959-1976. She was pastor in Wilmington and Philadelphia. Striving to retrieve a decent Church building in Philadelphia, they moved from smaller buildings to the present building of worship on Oxford and Hancock Streets. That building was renovated and dedicated in September 1978. Currently, extensive renovation of that edifice is nearing completion with a rededication in clear view.
At Headquarters, all of the dorms have seen renovation and the Youth Center has been revitalized for community needs as well as for the needs of our precious youths. The lot where the home of our Founder was located will soon have a new building, the Rebecca W. Fletcher Heritage House. During her administration, on an every third year rotating basis with the IMOS/IDU Summit and Youth Congress, we began our Leadership Conference to further mold our people in the dye cast that has been set.
Bishop Fletcher has served as presiding state bishop for the dioceses of Connecticut, Florida East Coast, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania/Delaware, Georgia #2 and New York.
On the National level of the church she served on the Supreme Executive Council, Secretary of the General Trustee Board, Secretary of the Ad Hoc Committee, Complex Committee Chairperson, Publication Committee Chairperson, Advisor to the International Missionary Outreach Society, and as a Sunday School Committee writer. She is a Certified Religious Studies Instructor, she holds a Doctor of Divinity Degree, and most importantly, she is an Elect Lady of the Lord.
Bishop Rebecca W. Fletcher was anointed as the Fifth Chief Overseer on Septembers 22, 2004. A devout searcher of the Scriptures as well as a teacher who imparts knowledge of God’s Word, our current Moderator and Chief Executive Head of The House of God Church sincerely cares for the souls of God.
Bishop Fletcher is prolific speaker, teacher, writer and searcher of the scriptures. Read her monthly message to you in, "The State Bishop Speaks."
On February 08, 2021, Bishop Rebecca Williams Fletcher, 94, was called from labor to reward.
“Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to
give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45