By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer
He fought the good fight to the end.
Members of the Progressive Church of God in Christ (COGIC) are leaning on the Scripture, 2 Timothy 4:7-8 as they deal with the passing of their venerable pastor, Superintendent Bennie L. Toliver. Superintendent Toliver passed away Aug. 3 at the age of 90. He led the Meadowview-area church for 25 years and served in the COGIC ministry for 75.
Superintendent Toliver accepted the call to preach during his early teens in Jefferson, Texas. He received his minister’s license in 1950 and later graduated from North Carolina College of Theology, receiving a master’s and doctorate. Superintendent Toliver was well-known for his powerful preaching of the gospel and pastoral teaching.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Army in 1956, he moved to San Francisco. In 1966, he was ordained as a COGIC elder and served as pastor of two churches in the city by the bay before moving to Sacramento in 1972. The Toliver family joined Progressive COGIC in 1973 under the leadership of Pastor J. E. Copeland. In 1974, he was appointed to the role of assistant pastor and member of the trustee board.
On April 2, 2005, the California Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdictional Prelate, Bishop W. W. Hamilton, officially appointed Toliver to pastor Progressive COGIC. The following year, he was appointed district superintendent of the Sacramento District. Superintendent Toliver has been a longtime member of California Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction since its inception in 1956 under Bishop E. E. Hamilton. He has honorably served in the jurisdiction in various positions: chaplain for the first jurisdiction Sunday school, secretary and treasurer of the Evangelism Department, and ordination board member.
Superintendent Toliver continued to serve in the jurisdiction well into his senior years. In 2017, he was appointed by Bishop N. A. Bullock, prelate of California Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, to serve on his cabinet as an administrative assistant. He is a member of the executive board and the Second Saturday Leadership Academy president.
Progressive COGIC recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Though he could not attend physically, the elder pastor penned a special message for his parishioners that was included in the event program booklet.
“This milestone is a testament to God’s faithfulness and the unwavering dedication of our congregation,” he wrote. “As we look to the future, let us embrace a vision of continued growth and impact. We will strive to expand our outreach, deepen our spiritual walk and cultivate an even stronger sense of community within and beyond our church walls.”
“He was a mighty man of God,” said Elder Ron Gilmore. “He always acknowledged that it wasn’t just him putting all of this together. God’s hand was always in it.”
Superintendent Toliver was married to First Lady Jean Toliver 67 years. Together, they had five children and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Two memorials are planned: a local and district service will be held Thursday, Aug. 22, with a viewing set to run 4:30-6 p.m., followed by a service from 6-8 p.m. A jurisdictional service will be held Friday, Aug. 23, with a viewing set to run 9:15-9:55 a.m., followed by a service from 10-11:30 a.m. Both services will be held at Progressive COGIC, 2251 Meadowview Road.