Rev. Clarence H. Cobbs was the founder and pastor of the First Church of Deliverance,
Chicago, IL. It was founded May 8, 1929.
This young man planted the seed of spiritual doctrine and has since tended and
nurtured it to the point where it is now a symbol of beauty.
The church, in August 1929 became affiliated with the Metropolitan Spiritual Church
of Christ in Kansas City, Missouri, pastored by Rev. William F. Taylor. In 1942,
Bishop William F. Taylor appointed Rev. Clarence H. Cobbs ("Preacher")
as the national president of the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ,
Incorporated for life term.
With only a small number of member churches. "Preacher" with his
determination and zeal, worked untiring to make the MSCC, Inc., an
outstanding spiritual organization. Preacher has said many times "you
can make it," "God can take a little and make a lot."
He taught "The cattle on a thousand hills belong to God" Preacher,
made his transitory change on June 28, 1979, in Chicago, Illinois.
METROPOLITAN SPIRITUAL CHURCHES OF CHRIST, INC.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL CONGRESS
THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL MESSAGE
Officers, delegates, members and friends of the Forty-fifth Annual Congress of
the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc., I deem it an honor to be
your host at this 45th Annual Congress and to bring you greetings from the Great
City of Chicago. Each time we visit a city we come to glorify God and assemble
for strength and zeal; to go back to our various churches and give the messages
that will encourage the laity to become followers of Jesus Christ.
If you will note, this year I invited no public officials and I have
attempted to use the majority of our people in this Congress. I feel, at this
time, that we should exert our efforts and display the ability of those who
are affiliated with this organization.
Allow me to thank God for the new faces. I am sincerely hoping that
they will alleviate all of the little errors and find our way as a united body.
I am hoping that each of you will carry back this message of "togetherness",
for we are all one body in Christ. Let us stop being concerned about denominational
names and blend our efforts toward the development of the church and all phases
of its gifts.
ORGANIZATION
The various organizations organized for the benefit of
the convention should not be run in the spirit of authority. But, each
organization should have democratic procedures of administration. The "Little"
member, the "Little" preacher or the "Little" friend is as big as the "Biggest"
member, the "Biggest" preacher or the "Biggest" friend. We drive people from
our movement by not including all and giving all people participation in the
development of our endeavors. The time of "little" suppers, "little" circles
and "little" meetings should cease and our views should seek higher development,
I do not mean to do away with the fundamentals of the church or the council or
other organizations; but, I mean, if God is your partner, you should make larger
plans. It is unfortunate that we are so afraid of not making money that we
participate and associate with all people. We do all sort of practices to make
money. We will our pulpits with things we don't believe ourselves just to make
money.
I implore you today to stand on the promises of God and He will
supply your needs. Our Sainted Sister Mattye declared "there is a new army
standing at the door". None of us acquired the good that we now possess without
love and respect nor were we born with a silver spoon in our mouths.
METROPOLITAN
It has come to our attention that some of the members
of Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc., are denying the principles
of our organization, and practicing a n t i - C h r is t.
We should take a circumspect view of the words "Medium" and Prophet", When we
take out these words, we deny the principles of our church.
Spirit is Real.
Divine Communication is Real, and are different operations. 1 Corinthians,
12th Chapter alleviates all doubts on Spiritual gifts. We must not associate
the word "Medium" with the practices by many and the various pretenders of today.
We must understand that the word "Medium" as implied in our church, is a
connecting link between two forces which may be used for
good or
evil.
We must learn what it means to try the Spirit by the Spirit to see whether it
is of God. People are perishing for the lack of this truth. You hear this truth
on TV. Radio and all periodic mediums, but, if you try to put other things with
it, you do not have the answer.
Let me dwell one moment on uniforms and proper attire
for church. Black and white robes are our standard robes; purple robes are only
worn during Holy Week. Our Altar should be cleared, of all things that cannot
be substantiated by the Bible.
Some of us insist on having titles that were never intended
for our church. We recognize that the Bible names various offices of the church,
we cannot condone and will not be a party to Catholicism in name.
I have for years stated that bi-laws of your church should
be carefully scrutinized and reviewed by some lawyer who is interested in the
welfare of the Spiritual Church. Many lawyers who are not affiliated with our
organization can destroy the image that was originally planned for the church.
We have a lawyer that gives service, many times without compensation. I deem it
advisable for all pastors in making bi-laws to protect your church, you and those
who are with you and consult the Counsel of this organization.
I am hoping that we shall not dwell so much upon death
and the death of our leaders and think of LIFE. If we would spend the time
preparing some one to follow us, we of wouldn't be so confused as to who is
going to lead us after death. Let's start a Spiritual campaign for new members
and especially for the building of the church of tomorrow.
MEMORIA IN AETERNA
We cannot close this message without remembering our
Sister Zola Robinson, President of Women's Department and Alfred Bolton,
National Organist. We bless their spirits today and for the part they played in
this organization. It is my prayer and sincere desire that their mantles will
fall on other co-workers to carry on in an accreditable manner.
GOVERNMENT
The government has 100% financing available for the
building of private institutions and foundations. We should make ourselves
available for such constructive programs. I feel, as a monument to Bishop Taylor,
the property that Metropolitan has on the corner of 13th and Brooklyn, a building
should be erected to the memory of Bishop William Frank Taylor and L. L. Boswell.
We hope you will recommend to the Trustee Board of Metropolitan Spiritual Church,
Kansas City, that the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc., will
make a follow-up and give assistance and any information that is necessary.
PROJECT PROGRESS
The Convalescent Home across the street is not just for First Church of Deliverance
but for each member of Metropolitan. Metropolitan should lift their heads in
pride; for the good that comes to First Deliverance also represent Metropolitan.
We cannot rise as a local church without taking you with us.
YOUTH OF TODAY. .... .AND TOMORROW
OPERATION "REACH OUT".............
I am very happy with the progress that is being made with
our Young People. Much emphasis must be placed on the development of youth, for,
if the Spirit of love, understanding and tolerance; and fellowship is taught in
our churches, there would be no gangs or murders.
The streets are filled with so-called Christians who take
no interest in their youth and even the youth of our church. We loose
too much
time in singing and not enough in teaching the fundamentals of a fruitful life.
It was my experience to meet some young people in the church who felt that they
had the experience to run a church without the respect of leadership. A child
can be consecrated and dedicated to church work but there must be and there should
be a leader whom they can respect and yet that person must be one who does not
withdraw himself from the youth. No church should be given over entirely to young
people. I beseech you to organize, in each of your churches, a club or organization
known as "REACH OUT" that will bring some young boy or girls into the church who
might be going astray or over shadowed by the wrong crowd and let them know that
all is not lost; that God in each of us makes him first somebody, because he is
a part of God and somebody.
If he is raggedy, let's reach out and dress him up. If
he is filled with vulgarity, let's reach out, a hand of love. If he is backwards,
let's reach out and bring him forward. If he is lonely, let's reach out and be
a friend. If he is motherless, fatherless, sisterless or brotherless, let's reach
out Metropolitan and be his relative. Metropolitan I charged you today to
"Reach out and touch somebody's hand and make this world a better place, if you can".
NEW BUSINESS
Last but not least. I have been most thrilled in the last
week relative to an invitation we received to establish a church in Africa.
This came back through the medium of a boy who was in our Junior Choir. This
African boy carried our message of truth back home. Now the people in his country
are interested in having a church in Africa. There is a dire need in this country
and I hope that during this convention we will find some way to make a tangible
contribution to this young man.
GRATITUDE
We wish to thank Bishop Anderson, Reverend Paxton and
Reverend Wells for the use of their churches. Their kindness and hospitality
will be long remembered. To the committees and all of those who have worked
unselfishly to make this the greatest Congress ever held anywhere, I say many
thanks to you. May God continue to bless each of you as you shall go out from
here to carry His light in message and song to every corner of the world.
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that
have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and
the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint. " Isaiah 40: 29-31
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations are submitted for your approval:
I recommend that .....
a) Based on guidelines and standards established by other
organization for their conventions, and looking back to the days of our infancy
when it was expedient that we rush back to our various churches; it is the
feeling that the members of this Congress, because of our growth, are now in a
position to remain a full week. Therefore, I recommend that the National Congress
commence its meetings on Monday and adjourn on the following Sunday night.
a. 1) All Ordinations, after the convening of this Congress should
be held on the closing night (Sunday).
b) At the suggestion of Reverend Carolyn Maddox, and Mrs. Martha Lee,
the Women's Department be departmentalized into districts, having four to six
supervisors overseeing the technical aspects of these districts, and all
operations of the Women's Department be aired during their morning meeting at
10:00, devoting full attention to district workshops in order to impart
spiritual insight as to the workings of this convention in total. Convening
of this meeting will be held in the main sanctuary of the host church, and on
the evening of that day, the Women's Department will receive an Annual Message
from the President of said Department. And, to keep you informed of the various
meetings, projects, etc., the President or Secretary (or whomever you designate)
will send out correspondence relative to same; and that all monies collected or
contributed to this unit of the convention be turned over to the National Body.
c) All Sunday School teachers and Spiritual Union teachers take an
active part in their respective workshops programmed at their respective
churches; and that all pastors appoint persons who are willing to study
extensively so that they may intelligently convey informative data to the
delegates of this convention. This will qualify those under their guidance to
return to their respective churches and communicate intelligently to their
students. This phase of the Sunday School and Spiritual Union Should be
mandatory. A teachers meeting should be held in order to program unified
instructions to our churches.
d) There "has been a great deal of discussion concerning the'"
wearing
of uniforms". I would like to clarify my feelings in the wearing of the "white".
We do not feel that it belittles you or does it take anything from your beauty
in wearing a white uniform; it is a degree of togetherness and it was expressly
designed for this purpose.
There are those who feel they cannot afford to participate in the activities of
the church because of their inability to maintain the standards established by
the "so-called" society. Many persons would go to church but their excuse is
that they have nothing to wear.
This act of "togetherness" is done in love to depict the true picture of
"oneness". There is no "top echelon" or bottom echelon" in the Christian
society; we are one through the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, I recommend
that the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, Inc., be known throughout
the world by the "wearing of the white uniforms".
Prayerfully submitted,
Reverend Clarence H. Cobbs
National President
February 29, 1908 - June 28, 1979 
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