Bishop C.H. McClelland, GBM - Biography

Bishop C. H. McClelland is the Pastor of Holy Cathedral Church of God In Christ. He was appointed 
Pastor in September 1982 by the late Bishop P.J. Henderson, his Spiritual Father. Within seven 
years, the initial congregation of 25 members (including children) outgrew the location on 10th & 
Atkinson, which seated approximately 150 people and moved to 2677 N. 40th St, July 1989, the 
present location. Bishop McClelland now pastors a growing membership of over 1,200 people.

He was born in Covington TN, the youngest of 10 children. His Mother Annie McClelland prayed that 
God would bless her with another son, and she would give him back to God. God answered her prayer 
and Charles Henry McClelland was born April 5, 1950. At the age of 19, he moved to Milwaukee; God 
saved him, and he surrendered his life to God. He has been saved for 51 years. It was also in 
Milwaukee that he met his wife for life, Prentiss Delores and they have been married since July of 
1974.

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Bishop McClelland worked for the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services for 19 
years as a Program Administrator in various social service programs. During his tenure, he was 
responsible for 54 employees and a budget of over 8 million dollars. Unknowingly, this position was 
preparing him for the development of Word of Hope Ministries Inc. which he founded in 1996 and 
serves as President.

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Word of Hope Ministries is a non-profit 501c3 organization which includes the Word of Hope Family 
Resource Center that houses Health Care and Social Service Programs, Mentorship for Youth, Prison 
Re-Entry Program, Job Placement and Training, ATODA (alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse), State 
of the Art Computer Technology Center, an Adult GED Lab and Broadcast/Telecast Center. For the past 
24 years Word of Hope Ministries, Inc. has served over 40,000 individuals and families in our 
community.

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Jurisdictional Prelate Accomplishments:
Appointed by the Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake as Liaison to the Board of Bishops Member of the 
Board of Bishops Church of God in Christ
Member of the Executive Advisory Board of the Board of Bishops Member of Pontotoc Housing Board 
Church of God In Christ
Established the Bishop P.J. Henderson Scholarship Program, 73 Recipients Awarded $45K, Established 
the Bishop Adolphus Allen School of Ministry, 220 graduates from 2009-2019 Established Family 
Initiative – Health & Wellness with Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital & Medical College of Wisconsin
Established Family Initiative – Prison Outreach Ministry “Breaking the Chains”

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In 2008, Bishop C.H. McClelland was consecrated and appointed Bishop of the Wisconsin Northwest 
Jurisdiction by the Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. The Jurisdiction has now grown to 48 
Churches, including 2 churches in areas that did not have a COGIC located in Appleton and 
Sheboygan, WI, under his leadership. “Becoming a Bishop is a tremendous honor, it’s not about 
position, it’s about the people and Kingdom Building”. “To God Be the Glory”.