MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Church of God In Christ will move its annual Holy Convocation out of Memphis in 2026, Bishop Brandon Porter confirmed Tuesday. The event, which brings thousands of church members to the city, had moved to St. Louis in 2010, but moved back to the Bluff City through 2025. Now, it's going back to St. Louis. Porter said Tuesday that church delegates recently voted to move the convocation in 2026-28. COGIC convention stays in Memphis for now but could move Porter did not detail a reason for the move, but last year said that the cost of hotels was an issue. City Councilman Ford Canale, responding to a question about COGIC's departure Wednesday, said the city hopes to add more hotel rooms to attract COGIC back in the future. "We know that we have work to do, that they need more, and better quality, hotel rooms focused in the downtown area," Canale said. "We've got to do everything that we can to get more hotels built in the downtown area, and we hope to get them back some day." For over a century, Memphis has been home to the annual Holy Convocation for COGIC members. The historic Mason Temple, which resides on the street bearing its name, is the church’s world headquarters. Suspects accused of taking packages from delivery driver at gunpoint "We all appreciate the deep history and significance of the Church of God in Christ to our city. While we are saddened by their decision to move the conference to St. Louis, we respect their choice and will continue to honor the legacy they have built here," said Memphis Mayor Paul Young.