Second Assistant Presiding Bishop
Bishop Lawrence Marcellus Wooten, Ph.D., DD is a native of St. Louis and an alumnus of Saint Louis University. He served as an educator and administrator in the public school system for 30 years. Bishop Wooten was installed as Pastor of Williams Temple Church of God In Christ in 1979, following the death of Bishop Columbus Williams. At the age of 15 Bishop Wooten was saved and has been a faithful and committed servant in the Church of God In Christ for over 60 years. Standing by his side and in the gap for him is his beloved wife International Evangelist Shirley A. Wooten. They are the parents of six (6) children, nine (9) grandchildren and eight (8) great grandchildren.
The local ministry of Williams Temple COGIC has thrived under Bishop Wooten’s leadership; currently the complex is valued at over $5 million dollars. Williams Temple supports over 50 ministries i.e., Drug Rehabilitation, Health and Nutrition Program, a previous award-winning GED program, Housing, Financial Management classes, Feed the Hungry program, an Adult Daycare, Family Life Center recreation complex, Family and Marital Counseling and more.
Community Leader
Bishop Wooten serves as the President of Ecumenical Leadership Council of Missouri and a member of the St. Louis Black Caucus. Additionally he served as Chaplain of the St. Louis Police Department, 7th District. He is involved in many community improvement projects within St. Louis, as demonstrated by his efforts to rehabilitate the properties surrounding the intersection of Union Blvd. and Dr. M. L. King Dr. Bishop Wooten also established two (2) charter schools. He served on the Board of Directors of the nationally acclaimed, Father’s Support Group. In 2014, he won a unanimous appointment to the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners.
National Ministry
In 2000, he was appointed Bishop of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Eastern Missouri Western Illinois.The Jurisdiction continues to thrive under his prayerful leadership. In 2012, he was elected to the
General Board of the 6.5 million member Church of God In Christ. In 2016 and 2021, he was reelected to the Board
and currently holds the position of Second Assistant Presiding Bishop.
International Ministry
Bishop Wooten has ministered internationally in Uganda East Africa and Trinidad/Tobago. For many years he has sponsored orphans in Uganda and yet continues to fully support orphans in Uganda. Several years ago, he and Lady Wooten adopted two beautiful orphans as their youngest daughters, Grace and Sarah. Bishop Wooten is a visionary of great consequence; his greatest vision is for souls. Bishop Wooten is often heard saying “it’s all about souls.”