And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, [12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. - (Ephesians 4:11-13)
our founder
Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood
The Hampton Roads Ecumenical Council of Bishops was founded by the Late Bishop Barnett Karl Thoroughgood in 2011. Bishop Thoroughgood's very heartbeat was protocol. He was the visionary, and possessed the presence, personality, and anointing, to cause men and women of the episcopacy (upper and lower classmen) to gather together from across our region, for the purposes of learning, spiritual enrichment and fellowship.
He founded the New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in 1970, and the locate ministry grew from two or three, to over 2000 congregants. Bishop Thoroughgood served faithfully as pastor of New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ for over 42 years, before taking his eternal rest. He forged an indelible impression in the hearts of those who knew him as he worked tirelessly in his community, and serving on the local, state, and international levels within the Church of God in Christ. Bishop Thoroughgood was very instrumental in the birthing of the adjutancy of the Church of God in Christ, and was consecrated as the first Adjutant Bishop in the Church of God in Christ in 1990. Bishop believed to his very core, that he who is greatest among you, should be found serving… And serve he did very well!