The Place
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The Legal Corner was established in 2021 by Bishop Timothy J. Smith, Sr., pastor and founder of New Life Community Church of God in Christ – Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Jurisdiction of the COGIC, Inc. It is the place where the law and ministry intersect. The Legal Corner is a dedicated online platform established to provide the latest legal information affecting churches, ministries and the law.
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Bishop Timothy J. Smith, Sr.
Pastor & Founder
New Life Community Church of God In Christ
Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Jurisdiction of the COGIC, Inc.
Bio
Elder Timothy Smith’s formative years were guided under the watchful eye of his mentor and father in the gospel, Pastor Carl Terrell, Bostick Temple COGIC, St. Louis, Missouri. He was licensed a minister and ordained an elder under his pastorate. In 2009 he was installed as pastor and founder of New Life Community COGIC, by the late Bishop Robert James (RJ) Ward, then prelate of the Eastern Missouri First Jurisdiction, COGIC. Inc.
The church was located at 8400 North Broadway, St. Louis Missouri. After seeing the demands of a growing congregation, the need for increased ministries, and room for expansion, Pastor Smith began to look for a suitable place to relocate. The Lord blessed them with a nearly 20,000 square feet worship building. One of the first major highlights of his dynamic pastoral ministry took place on the second Sunday of August, 2014 when New Life Community COGIC moved to their new edifice at 1570 Chambers Road in Dellwood, MO.
He has been faithful as a pastor, administrative assistant, superintendent and as a servant leader in the Eastern Missouri Western Illinois Jurisdiction under the leadership of the Second Assistant Presiding Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, Sr., prelate. He has served as Chairman of the EMWI Pastors and Elders Council, EMWI Jurisdictional Assembly Parliamentarian, EMWI Jurisdictional Assembly Chairman, EMWI Budget Chair Analyst, EMWI Legal Counselor, EMWI Executive Board Committee Member, Superintendent and Program Committee Member for the EMWI Pastors and Elders Council.
Administrative Assistant Smith was recommended by Bishop Wooten to serve as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Church of God in Christ. On the second Sunday of November, 2014, he was consecrated and installed as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Church of God in Christ by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr.
Bishop Smith faithfully serves the church of God on Christ not only on the local level, but the regional and national levels as well. On the regional level he serves as Dean of Education for the Central Region Board of Bishops – Church of God in Christ. He also has served as a member of the COGIC General Assembly Constitution Committee—Judicial Branch Subcommittee, COGIC General Assembly Manual Review Committee, COGIC General Assembly Codification Committee, and COGIC Board of Bishops Resolution Committee.
Bishop Smith faithfully serves his community as well. He has served as a member of the Unity Pac Organization, mentor for the organization Mentor St. Louis, and is a member of the Mound City Bar Association of St. Louis. In addition, he is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, and has served as committee member of the Missouri Bar Office of the Chief Disciplinary Council, and also serves as member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Board of Governors Member for the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, and a member of the Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, served on the Board of Regions for Midwest College of Theology and the Board of Governors for Midwest College of Theology and Ecumenical Leadership Council of St. Louis. He has been the recipient of numerous awards including recognition from the Unity Pac Organization for his life’s work and contributions in the area of law and from the 100 Black Men of St. Louis Organization. In addition, he served as an elected member to the board of directors for West Community Credit Union, which manages and oversees in excess of $300 million in assets. He is also a member of the City of Creve Coeur, Finance Committee which manages assets of $20 million annually. He also was appointed to the Missouri Democratic Party Executive Committee. Through these roles, he has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge of leadership.
In addition to blessing his ministry, the Lord has also blessed Bishop Smith’s educational and career pursuits as well. He has received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He also received a joint master’s degree in labor in industrial relations with an emphasis in human resources management, and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Illinois. He has worked for a number of organizations and companies including lecturer for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Human Relations Analyst for Union Carbide in Charleston, West Virginia, and Labor Relations Representative for Ford Motor Company in Milan, Michigan.
Bishop Smith owns and operates a law firm in partnership with Attorney Derek Rudman, and Attorney Doug Rudman. He is co-owner and managing partner. The firm, Rudman & Smith, LLC practices in the areas of criminal defense, personal injury and worker’s compensation, domestic matters and wrongful death among others. In addition to serving as managing partner for Rudman and Smith, LLC, he has served as a Judge for the City of Wellston Municipal Court, Prosecuting Attorney for the Village of Uplands Park, and Guardian Ad Litem for the City of St. Louis Juvenile Courts. Further, he serves as prosecutor for the City of Dellwood Municipal Court. Bishop Smith has represented numerous pastors, bishops and jurisdictions on a wide variety of legal issues.
Bishop Smith is licensed to practice law in the states of Missouri and Illinois. He is also licensed to practice in the U.S District Court Eastern District of Missouri, the US District Court, and Southern District of Illinois. Furthermore, the Lord has blessed him to develop TJ Smith Properties, LLC—which owns and manages a number of rental properties throughout St. Louis City and St. Louis County. He is married to the lovely Evangelist, First Lady Evelyn Smith and they are the proud parents of four children: Timothy Jeremiah, Caleb Joshua, Joel David, and Kaetlyn Elizabeth.
THE LEGAL CORNER
COGIC LAWYER DIRECTORY
Finding a Church of God in Christ lawyer does not have to be difficult. In 2021, I founded the Church of God in Christ Lawyer Directory. The purpose is to provide a resource for not only pastors and jurisdictional prelates, but the large Christian population that desires legal assistance from COGIC lawyers within their own state. My effort is to make legal help accessible to all, pastors and jurisdictional prelates, and the Christian population within their own areas.
Further, member lawyers can pursue relationships with other local or distant member lawyers, developing their own networks for personal growth and client referrals.
To become a part of our Church of God in Christ Lawyer Directory, simply fill out the form provided in the link below
COGIC Lawyer Directory Listing
View the current registered firms of the COGIC Lawyer Directory