Draft:Southern District Convocation Goldsboro

The Southern District Convocation Goldsboro (commonly known as SDC or SDCG), is the oldest and largest district in the United Holy Church of America. Its headquarters is located at 201 N. Oak Forest Road, in Goldsboro, North Carolina, off of NC Highway 70 East.

The district has churches across eastern North Carolina, as well as Southwestern and Western Virginia.

== History ==

Foundation
The Southern District Convocation of the United Holy Church of America was founded in the year 1894 in the city of Durham, North Carolina. It was organized by Elders C.C. Craig, L.M. Mason, George W. Roberts, H.C. Snipes, and H.C. Pettiford, along with Mother E.E. Craig, and Mrs. L.J. Roberts. Elder L.M. Mason was chosen as its first president.

=== Division and reunion === During the Quadrennial Session in 1966-1977, then Presiding Prelate, Bishop J.A. Forbes and the Southern District Convocation withdrew from fellowship with the parent body. Various members from different districts stood alongside the Southern District in 1978 in Raleigh at the Memorial Auditorium, where the Original United Holy Church International, Inc. was charted. Forbes was unanimously elected general president, and continued to lead the Southern District Convocation. However, several churches in and around Henderson, North Carolina, and one in Zebulon, North Carolina, remained loyal to the United Holy Church of America and remained as members. These churches later formed a district that became known as Southern District Henderson.

Due to illness, Bishop Forbes retired from both the general church and the Southern District Convocation, with his vice president, Bishop H.-W. Fields succeeding him in 1984. Bishops S.G. McCoy and Samuel David Clemons served as vice presidents successively. Fields served until 1996 when he was named president-emeritus.

In 1996, Bishop Ralph E. Love, Sr. of Greenville was elected president. He pastored in the Southern District and presided in the Virginia District Convocation of the Original United Holy Church International. He began a Mid-Year Conference early in his tenure. He also began the restructuring of the district and rebuilding its building fund. Plans were also made to build a new tabernacle.

Bishops Love, Ralph Houston of Los Angeles, California, general president of the Original United Holy Church International, Odell McCollum of Columbus, Ohio, general president of the United Holy Church of America began pointed negotiations concerning a merger. Years later, the leaders of the fractions and the parent body came to an agreement by late 1998. In May 2000 in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina, the Southern District Convocation was reunited with the connectional body.

Further history
Bishop Love served the Southern District for over two decades. Bishops S.D. Clemons, Harry L. Cohen (current Presiding Prelate and General Bishop of the General Church), and Quincy Gardner, and Devin C. Pickett have served as Vice Presidents during his administration. Bishop Leamon Dudley, as well as former Vice Presidents Bishops Quincy Gardner, Devin C. Pickett, have served as 2nd Vice Presidents during his administration. He has also produced the first female Bishop in the history of the district, Bishop Ernestine McGee.

Following the death of Vice President Bishop Quincy Gardner in 2019, Bishop Devin C. Pickett, Sr., assumed the role of Vice President of the Southern District Convocation Goldsboro.

In 2021, two years following the death of Vice President Bishop Quincy Gardner, Bishop Ralph. E. Love, Sr., passed away. Bishop Devin C. Pickett, Sr. then assumed the role of Presiding Prelate and President of the Southern District Convocation Goldsboro.

Former aide to the Presiding Prelate, Bishop Christopher C. Brown, II., whom had multiple roles on the district in local levels of the Church, assumed the role of Vice President of the Southern District Convocation Goldsboro, becoming a consecrated Bishop during the 46th Annual Convocation of the United Holy Church of America, Inc., in May 2022.

Beliefs
The beliefs of the Southern District Convocation Goldsboro, are that of the United Holy Church of America are written in its Affirmation of Faith. It is structured in a call and response format (the leader of the reading is bolded). It is often recited in various churches as part of the order of worship in gatherings. It was revised in May of 2022.


 * We believe in the Father, who is God Almighty–
 * The Creator of all things and the preserver of light and life.


 * We believe in the Son, who is Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son.
 * He was human and divine, truly lived, suffered and died, rose again from the dead, ascended on high, and is coming again.


 * We believe that Jesus was sent by God to reveal God to us.
 * That whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.


 * We believe in the Holy Ghost, who was sent from God the Father and the Son.
 * That the Holy Spirit convicts and converts sinners, dwells in the believer, keeps the believer from the power of sin and leads him to the Father through His son, Jesus Christ.


 * We believe the Bible is the Word of God, given by inspiration through Holy Men–
 * That in the Bible, God seeks to reveal His will to us as we seek to respond to God's revelation.


 * We believe that the union of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is revealed through His Church.
 * That all believers are united into one body, the Church.


 * We believe that Christ is coming back for His Holy Church without spot or wrinkle.
 * That without Holiness in spirit, soul and body, no one shall see the Lord.

District headquarters
During the leadership of Bishop Ralph E. Love, Sr., he and his administration built the multi-million dollar Love Temple Headquarters. This state-of-the-art headquarters sits on more than a dozen acres of land on the edge of Goldsboro, off of NC Highway 70 East. The headquarters has a 2000 plus-seat auditorium, which has been used by Wayne Community College for many of their commencement ceremonies.

== SDCG Administration and Leadership ==

Administration

 * Rt. Reverend Devin C. Pickett, Sr., President
 * Rt. Reverend Christopher C. Brown, II., Vice President
 * The Most Reverend Greg K. Hargrave, Presiding Prelate of UHCA/General President

Associate Bishops

 * Rt. Reverend Larry Dudley
 * Rt. Reverend Ernestine H. McGee
 * Rt. Reverend Russell Rogers
 * Rt. Reverend Pearlene M. James
 * Rt. Reverend Clifton E. Buckrham

Administrative Staff

 * Dr. Timothy Moore - Administrative Assistant
 * Minister Francine Corbett - Secretary
 * Mrs. Mary Herring - Assistant Secretary
 * Ms. Diane Kirby - Treasurer
 * Mr. Waris Roger - Auditor
 * Dr. Dorothy Green - Mother of The District
 * Dr. Harry L. Clark - Father of The District

District Departments

 * Board of Elders
 * Bishop Russell Rogers, Chairman
 * Elder Herman Lucas, Vice Chairman


 * Board of Presbytery
 * Dr. Ralph Love Jr., Chairman
 * Elder Ernest Humphrey, Vice Chairman
 * Elder Bobbie Williams, Secretary
 * Elder linda moore, Assistant Secretary


 * Home and Foreign Missionary Department
 * Bishop Ernestine H. McGee, President
 * Elect-Lady Elder Molly S. David, Vice President
 * Elect-Lady Elder Diana P. Brown, 2nd Vice President


 * Bible Church School (BCS)
 * Elder Tyrone Owens, Superintendent
 * Elder Danny Lewis, Assistant Superintendent
 * Elder Linda Moore, 2nd Assistant Superintendent


 * Young Peoples' Holiness Association (YPHA)
 * Elder Joseph Barnes, President
 * Elder Daemarkis Fasion-Love, Vice President
 * Elder Patrick Cooper, 2nd Vice President
 * Ushers Department
 * Deacon Micheal Stephens, President
 * Elder Annie Kent, Vice President
 * Sis. Barbara Owens, 2nd Vice President
 * Adjutancy Corp
 * Elder Latelia Fountain, Adjutant General
 * Dr. Dwight Morrisey, Chief Adjutant
 * Elder Tonya Ham, Deputy Adjutant
 * Education Department
 * Dr. Dennis Carrington, Chairperson
 * Dr. Veronica Wright, Vice Chairperson


 * Evangelism Department
 * Elder Kenneth Gray, Chairperson


 * Music Department/Mass Choir
 * Elder Danny Lewis, President
 * Dr. Ron Bigelow, Vice President

Annual gatherings
The district hosts multiple gatherings throughout the entire year, majority of them being hosted at the Love Temple Headquarters, located in Goldsboro, North Carolina, off of NC Highway 70 East.


 * Mid-Year Conference (February)
 * BYU Convention (June)
 * Home & Foreign Missionary Convention (August)
 * Holy Convocation (September)

Former District Presidents

 * 1) Elder L.M. Mason
 * 2) Elder W.H. Fulford
 * 3) Bishop G.J. Branch
 * 4) Bishop W. Clements
 * 5) Bishop J.W. Jackson
 * 6) Bishop J.A. Forbes
 * 7) Bishop H.W. Fields
 * 8) Bishop R.E. Love, Sr.

Sub-Districts
The Southern District Convocation Goldsboro, consists of eight sub-districts:


 * Cape Fear District
 * Carolina District
 * New Bern District
 * Clinton District
 * Eastern District
 * Wilson District
 * Southern Central District
 * Southern Western District