Bishop Cook

Bishop Edward T. Cook is the eldest of six (6) children and is married to Sheila Lynn Terry Cook, his wife of 46 years. They have two children; Terrilynn Michelle and Keith Lamont. They are also the proud grandparents of grandson, Branden Mykal and granddaughter Manhattan Michelle.

Bishop Cook previously was the pastor of the New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ and the Zion Church of God in Christ, both in Toledo, Ohio. In 1994, New Life Church of God in Christ came into existence through the merger of Zion and New Jerusalem. He led the merger of these two established churches and congregations and was recognized locally and nationally for his efforts. Today, New Life is a vibrant and growing church committed to "making genuine disciples."

For many years he was a dual career person; working for twenty-five years in various business and corporate positions in sales, marketing, and management. In 1994 he left the employ of IBM Corporation, where he had worked for twenty years to assume his pastoral duties full-time at the newly formed New Life Church of God in Christ.

He is a lifelong, third-generation member of the Church of God in Christ and has served in various leadership capacities within the denomination at a local, district, jurisdictional and national level. He served as the Director of Operations and an Administrative Assistant in Ohio North Jurisdiction No. 1, under Bishop Walter E. Jordan from 2000-2008. In July, 2008 Bishop-designate Cook was recommended by the pastors of Ohio North First Jurisdiction to succeed Bishop Walter E. Jordan as Jurisdictional Prelate, the seventh in succession. On July 25, 2008, Elder Edward T. Cook was recommended to the General Board of the Church of God in Christ to become the seventh in succession, Jurisdictional Prelate of Ohio North First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ.

He is Past-President and Board Chairman of Covenant Youth Development Corporation, an after-school intervention program operated in conjunction with the Lucas County Juvenile Court, serving at-risk boys ages 10-14 and their families. He was a founding member of Covenant Pastors of Toledo, and the Covenant Community Development Corporation, a local Christian Community Development Corporation. The Covenant Pastors, have previously been instrumental in several initiatives that have revitalized the inner city of Toledo. Included among them was the formation of the Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union, where in the past he served on its Advisory Board and currently serves on its Board of Directors. He is Past-President and Board Chairman of New Beginnings Development Corp., an extension of New Life COGIC established to facilitate its outreach ministries. New Beginnings provided employment support & services to various individuals who have challenges to securing employment, including those who have had a past experience with the penal system and those in need of vocational and/or rehabilitative help. New Beginnings future ministry efforts are projected in the following areas: Leadership Training & Development, a Family Life Center and World Missions.

Bishop Cook has received several individual awards which reflect his dedication and life-long commitment to serving others. He was a joint recipient of the NAACP President's Award in 1998 for his work as an officer and member of Covenant Community Development Corporation (CCDC) and their pioneering work in community development. He has received awards for the work done through Covenant Youth Development (CYD) and their work with at-risk youth in Lucas County, Ohio. He was a recipient of the NAACP Humanitarian Award in 2005 for his leadership and work in the planned launch of Brent's Place and the Ex-Offenders Ministry. In April 2007, he was inducted into the Edward Drummond Libbey High School Hall of Fame. In May of 2009, received his Honorary Doctorate Degree in Theology.

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