The Church of God In Christ, Inc. announced Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis as General Supervisor of the International Department of Women.
Lewis was appointed and installed during the April Call Annual Business Meeting in Memphis, Tennessee by Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle, Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., in conjunction with the approval of the 12 General Board Members. In this role, she will oversee the Department of Women of the 6.5 million-member church. She succeeds Mother Willie Mae Rivers of Goose Creek, South Carolina.
Since 2013, Mother Lewis has served as the Assistant General Supervisor of the International Department of Women. In addition, she has served for over 29 years as the Jurisdictional Supervisor of the Department of Women of Southern California First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God of Christ under Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop Joe L. Ealy. In this capacity, she has built the largest women’s department in the history of the Church Of God in Christ.
“Internationally known as a godly woman that follows His leading, her character, integrity, determination and incredible leadership have captivated and inspired many across generational lines. Her exceptional reputation for being one of the most powerful and hardworking women in her line of ministry has made her name great,” said a spokesperson. “She will be an invaluable resources to the women in over 250 jurisdictions across the country as well as 80 countries around the world.”
Prior to her, Lewis served as a member of the Presiding Bishop’s Senior Executive Planning Commission, Assistant General Supervisor, Chairperson of Executive Business Affairs, Advisory Board Member, Executive Board Member, International Marshal, Chairperson of the Program Committee, Chairperson of the Special Convention Assistance Committee and member of the Trustees of the C.H. Mason Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA.
Since 1988, she has developed, implemented and launched fifty-one programs centered on the needs of women in the Southern California First Jurisdiction. She is also the visionary of the Hale Morris Lewis Manor; a 4.7 million dollar forty-one unit Senior Citizens Complex in Los Angeles.
As a cutting edge leader, she has received the Mayor’s Certification of Appreciation for Outreach Work in Drug Rehabilitation Centers in Los Angeles; Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper “Woman of the Year;” Distinguished Educator Award from West Angeles Bible College; and the First Ladies Community Impact Award from the LA Focus Newspaper. Also, both the Business and Professional Women’s Federation and the Education Department of the Church of God in Christ honored her as outstanding Supervisor of the Year.
Lewis is a third generation member of the Church of God in Christ. In 1970, she and her husband, Bishop James A. Lewis, Sr., co-founded New Antioch Church. After thirty-six years (January 2006), their youngest son, Administrative Assistant Jeffrey Martin Lewis, was named the senior pastor. Their oldest son, James A. Lewis, Jr., is also an elder in the Church of God in Christ.
