<P> In June 1898, C.P. Jones held a Holiness convention at Mt . Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, attended by C.H. Mason and others from several states . Protestant doctrinal debates about Calvinism and Wesleyan Perfectionism affected how even local African - American Baptist pastors responded to new Christian movements at the time . Some of these African - American Baptist pastors in local Southern areas such as Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas considered C.P. Jones and C.H. Mason to be controversial . The leadership of the Mississippi State Convention of the National Baptist Convention intervened and expelled C.P. Jones, C.H. Mason, and others who embraced the Wesleyan teaching of Entire Sanctification . </P> <P> In 1897, after being expelled from preaching in local Baptist churches under the Mississippi State Convention, Elder Mason founded the St. Paul Church in Lexington, Mississippi, as the first church of the new movement . At its first convocation held in 1897, the group identified simply as the "Church of God ." Many Holiness Christian groups and fellowships forming at the time wanted biblical names for their local churches and fellowships, such as "Church of God, Church of Christ, or Church of the Living God". They rejected denominational names such as Baptist, Methodist, or Episcopal . </P> <P> Since so many new holiness groups and fellowships were forming that used the name "Church of God," C.H. Mason sought a name to distinguish his Holiness group from others . Later in 1897, while in Little Rock, Arkansas, C.H. Mason believed that God had given him such a name for the group, the "Church of God in Christ". He believed that the name, taken from 1 Thessalonians 2: 14, was divinely revealed and biblically inspired . This Holiness group / fellowship adopted the name Church of God in Christ, and COGIC began to develop congregations throughout the South . C.P. Jones was elected the General Overseer, C.H. Mason was selected as Overseer of Tennessee, and J.A. Jeter was selected as Overseer of Arkansas., </P> <P> After testifying to being sanctified, members of the church referred to themselves as "Saints," believing that they were set apart to live a daily life of Christian Holiness in words and deeds . </P>

Where did the church of god in christ get its name
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