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6Bishop Patterson

On March 20th, 2007, the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God In Christ, The Most Reverend Gilbert Earl Patterson, passed away at 4:03 PM at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, as a result of heart failure. Patterson was surrounded by his wife, Mrs. Louise Patterson, and his family. Two years ago, Patterson disclosed he had prostate cancer. In January, he was hospitalized with undisclosed illness.

Gilbert Earl Patterson (September 22, 1939—March 20, 2007) was an American minister who served as presiding bishop and chief apostle of the international Church of God in Christ.

Patterson was born to Bishop W. A. and Mary Patterson in Humboldt, Tennessee. He was reared in Memphis, Tennessee and Detroit, Michigan.

Bishop J. S. Bailey ordained him in 1958 as an elder in the Church of God in Christ. In 1962, Patterson became co-pastor with his father at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Memphis. Patterson continued his pastorate in 1975 as the founder and pastor of Temple of Deliverance, the Cathedral of the Bountiful Blessings in Memphis. Today, Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ is one of the nation's fastest growing congregations with over 12,000 on its membership roll. The church is located at 369 G. E. Patterson Avenue.

Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ also serves as the home church base for the rapidly growing Bountiful Blessings Ministries (BBM) which is viewed internationally on BET and TBN cable networks weekly, as well as on local TV stations throughout the nation. BBM has a mailing list of over 100,000 active donors from outside the Memphis viewing audience. Patterson was founder and president of BBM.

Patterson studied at the Detroit Bible Institute, and LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis. He held an honorary Doctorate from Oral Roberts University and was the president of the Charles H. Mason Bible College of Tennessee Fourth Jurisdiction in Memphis. Patterson was the publisher of Bountiful Blessings Magazine and a contributing writer in the Spirit Filled life Bible (King James Version) published by Thomas Nelson Publishers and edited by Dr. Jack W. Hayford. In July 2002, Whitaker House Publishers released Patterson's first book, entitled Here Comes The Judge.

The Church of God in Christ has about 6 million members. The predominantly black Protestant denomination, with headquarters in Memphis, claims 6 million members worldwide and traces its origins to the late 1800s.

In 2005, Patterson said believers should overcome differences of race to spread their faith. "I don't know why we ever got stuck on that thing that we're only supposed to witness to black folks," Patterson said. "Once you've received the word, spread it."

Patterson was hospitalized in January for an undisclosed illness and told his followers in 2005 that he had prostate cancer. At the church's annual Holy Convocation in November, he said he had considered stepping down but changed his mind after an outpouring of support.

"If my body being afflicted can get us back to where God wants us to be, then I'm willing to suffer," Patterson said.

Patterson was married to Louise D. Patterson for 35 years. Patterson died on March 20, 2007.

Memorial services for G. E. Patterson, the presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ, are scheduled for next week in Memphis.

All three services will be held at the church's Temple of Deliverance at 9-3-8 Mason Street in Memphis, all times Central:

Local church memorial service, March 29, 7:00 p.m.
Jurisdictional memorial service, March 30, 7:00 p.m.
National church funeral service, March 31, 10:00 a.m.