holy convocation?!?!?

[phbrown]

can someone explain to me what this is?

Which denomination does it?

and any other info you feel that is pertinent to this topic.

[stix_clgi]

Well back in the day what my church now calls General Assembly was known as the Holy Convocation. I believe COGIC does this too, and both of our organizations are Pentecostal.

Ours was/is basically a gathering of every member of the organization to one location for 7-10 days of church services, prayer, seminars and business meetings. At the business meetings we (Ministers, Elders, Pastors, Evangelists, and Bishops) vote on different by-laws and policies, as well as learn more information about any developments that the organization has made or is a part of. Seminars cover a wide range of topics from Bible Enrichment for young men and women, to ministry of music, ushering, vacation bible school (in which I'm a teacher), exogesis of scripture, etc...

Church services are the best part lol! We are pretty traditional, so we have Praise & Worship, Testimony Service (it is loooonnng, but they try to limit it to blessings, healings, miracles that happened during the week...), a lot of solos, choirs, etc. I generally play during our Youth and Brotherhood services...

That's all I can think of that is pertinent. I don't know the origins of the term though, a little research is in order.

[MicrophoneCheck]

Sure although my first experience was with the COGIC (Church of God in Christ), many denominations, fellowships, and reformations have these gatherings as a time of renewal, a reunion for all the churches that are in the body, and even for electing new officials/consecrating new clergy to the body. 

Usually its held in convention center or large sanctuary so that everyone can attend. 


I'm being brief but I hope that at least starts an answer to your question. 

[nessalynn77]

It's in the OT (literally it talks about a "Holy Convocation").  A lot of African-American Pentecostal churches have them.  It's a week-long gathering of the saints.  In my organization it used to be much longer, and after the saints, who were mainly sharecroppers, had finished the harvest in late November, they would all journey to Memphis, TN for the convocation.  The saints would save up all year just to make it there, and when they arrived, God would not disappoint as all of those hungry christians gathered to be in the presence of the Lord and fellowship with saints from around the world. 

While I still enjoy the convocation (now in ST. Louis), it is not the same as in yesteryear.  I try to go looking for the positives, and I usually have a great time.  I like meeting saints from all over the world.  Generally, every year I witness at least one miracle still (although, like I said, the powerful move of God is not what it once was).  There is also a lot of training and classes, so whatever area of ministry you work in, you can see it on a larger scale at the convocation, and take home some materials to help work with your local or jurisdictional ministries.

There is absolutely nothing like a convocation praise break, with wall to wall people packed in a stadium going IN!  That's a feeling like no other.  When the music stops and way up in the balcony (the sound is kind of delayed), people are still stomping and clapping and going crazy... so everyone else picks it back up, LOL!

[MicrophoneCheck]

It's in the OT (literally it talks about a "Holy Convocation").  A lot of African-American Pentecostal churches have them.  It's a week-long gathering of the saints.  In my organization it used to be much longer, and after the saints, who were mainly sharecroppers, had finished the harvest in late November, they would all journey to Memphis, TN for the convocation.  The saints would save up all year just to make it there, and when they arrived, God would not disappoint as all of those hungry christians gathered to be in the presence of the Lord and fellowship with saints from around the world. 

While I still enjoy the convocation (now in ST. Louis), it is not the same as in yesteryear.  I try to go looking for the positives, and I usually have a great time.  I like meeting saints from all over the world.  Generally, every year I witness at least one miracle still (although, like I said, the powerful move of God is not what it once was).  There is also a lot of training and classes, so whatever area of ministry you work in, you can see it on a larger scale at the convocation, and take home some materials to help work with your local or jurisdictional ministries.

There is absolutely nothing like a convocation praise break, with wall to wall people packed in a stadium going IN!  That's a feeling like no other.  When the music stops and way up in the balcony (the sound is kind of delayed), people are still stomping and clapping and going crazy... so everyone else picks it back up, LOL!

LOVE IT!

[nessalynn77]

The prayer services are also very powerful.

[stix_clgi]

It's in the OT (literally it talks about a "Holy Convocation").  A lot of African-American Pentecostal churches have them.  It's a week-long gathering of the saints.  In my organization it used to be much longer, and after the saints, who were mainly sharecroppers, had finished the harvest in late November, they would all journey to Memphis, TN for the convocation.  The saints would save up all year just to make it there, and when they arrived, God would not disappoint as all of those hungry christians gathered to be in the presence of the Lord and fellowship with saints from around the world. 

While I still enjoy the convocation (now in ST. Louis), it is not the same as in yesteryear.  I try to go looking for the positives, and I usually have a great time.  I like meeting saints from all over the world.  Generally, every year I witness at least one miracle still (although, like I said, the powerful move of God is not what it once was).  There is also a lot of training and classes, so whatever area of ministry you work in, you can see it on a larger scale at the convocation, and take home some materials to help work with your local or jurisdictional ministries.

There is absolutely nothing like a convocation praise break, with wall to wall people packed in a stadium going IN!  That's a feeling like no other.  When the music stops and way up in the balcony (the sound is kind of delayed), people are still stomping and clapping and going crazy... so everyone else picks it back up, LOL!

Man, what!!?? I had to play drums once during one of those SHONDO praise breaks.....we danced for like over an hour......straight......at that super fast COGIC pace.....no breaks.......and then when we did break, the congregation kept clapping.....so guess what........5, 6, 7, 8 GLLLLOOORRRAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!! 20 minutes later I had to go change clothes from sweating so much lol!!

I generally witness at least one miracle every year as well, I can't wait to see what happens this year.....

[LaylaMonroe]

For me, the prayer services are the best. Like Nessa, I miss the old convocations. These two-bit ones we have today are... Well, nevermind.

Btw, by "we" I just mean "me."

[blyempowered]

The baptist version of a holy convocation is called the baptist association convention.....LOL! #thatisall

[phbrown]

ahh okay thank you everyone. I just heard on the radio that one is happening here in my hometown

[nessalynn77]

ahh okay thank you everyone. I just heard on the radio that one is happening here in my hometown

I forgot to mention that on a smaller scale, there are regional Holy Convocations that include all the churches in a particular jurisdiction.