<P> 1962--1968 has been described as a "Dark Period" in the history of the Church of God in Christ, because there was polarization and conflict in leadership following the death of the founder . After Mason's death, in accordance with the 1952 church constitution, the control of the church reverted to an executive board of bishops . The General Assembly vested authority in an Executive Board composed of seven bishops . The COGIC constitution at the time did not identify a clear successor or the authority of the Executive Board after Mason's death . A.B. McEwen was elected chairman of the Executive Board, and O.T. Jones Sr. was elected Senior Bishop by the General Assembly . </P> <P> Bishop Ozro Thurston Jones Sr. was pastor of the Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia and the Jurisdictional Bishop of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Jurisdiction . Bishop Jones was the only living Bishop of the five original bishops consecrated by Bishop Mason . He assumed leadership as the Senior Bishop of the Church of God in Christ . In 1964, disagreement between the authority of the Senior Bishop and the Executive Board, led by Bishop A.B. Mcewen, was addressed at the Fifty - Seventh Holy Convocation . Factions developed within the organization as both the Senior Bishop and Bishop A . B. McEwen made conflicting administrative and executive decisions . </P> <P> The parties filed lawsuits in the Chancery Court of Shelby County, Tennessee, in order to resolve the legitimate authority of the denomination . The court ordered the church to convene a constitutional convention in February 1968 . The constitutional convention drafted and approved a new constitution: it dissolved both the offices of the Senior Bishop and the Executive Board . </P> <P> It established an Office of the Presiding Bishop and a General Board of twelve bishops, and defined their responsibilities . Both the Presiding Bishop and all twelve of the General Board are to be elected every four years, to preside over the church . The General Assembly is the supreme authority over the church, to decide matters of faith and practice . On November 14, 1968, the General Assembly of the COGIC elected the first General Board and Presiding Bishop of the church . </P>

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