L.A. pastor appointed leader of denomination
Bishop Charles E. Blake, the influential pastor of one of Southern California’s largest churches, has been named presiding bishop of his denomination, the Church of God in Christ, based in Memphis, Tenn.
Blake, pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ in the Crenshaw district, was formally appointed this week to lead the Pentecostal, largely African American denomination, which claims about 6 million members in the United States and abroad.
Blake had served as first assistant presiding bishop of the church under the previous leader, Presiding Bishop G.E. Patterson, who died in March.
Blake and the Los Angeles church have a history of involvement in the local community and in global outreach programs, and he said Friday he planned to continue that tradition.
“In addition to pursuing the basic principles of service to God and our ministry to the community in spiritual areas, my focus has always been on community development and global involvement,” Blake said. “I certainly intend both to preserve those things and to do them on a higher level now, if we can.”
Blake, who had assumed the responsibilities of presiding bishop upon Patterson’s death, was formally appointed to the post Tuesday by the church’s general assembly in Memphis.
The West Angeles Church, which Blake has led since 1969, has a membership of about 24,000 and has long been a key stop for local and state Democratic politicians.
Blake also is founder and chief executive of Save Africa’s Children, an organization that supports programs for orphans in countries throughout Africa. Actor Denzel Washington and singer Kanye West have been among its more prominent supporters.
Blake said the denomination marks its centennial this year.
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