General Assembly Headed to Nashville in 2016
For the first time, the Church of God International General Assembly will be held in Nashville, the capital of the state in which the church was founded in 1886.
The 76th Assembly (GA2016) will be conducted on July 19-22, 2016, at the brand new Music City Center (MCC) in the heart of downtown Nashville. The gleaming new convention venue has 1.2 million square feet of floor space on three levels, with two major ballrooms and more than 60 breakout areas that can be converted to accommodate all sizes of events—all under one roof.
The choice of Nashville as the venue for GA2016 was decided before the MCC was even completed in May of 2013. Kevin Brooks is coordinator of public relations and conference management for the Church of God, but is also a Tennessee state representative for the 24th district, which includes Cleveland. Brooks tells the story of observing the MCC “rise out of the ground” while attending House meetings.
“From above, the Music City Center is in the shape of a guitar, and it was exciting to see it come to life over the two years I watched it outside my hotel window,” Brooks said. “It is now one of the most sought-after venues in the country. If we had waited until it opened last year to negotiate for GA2016, we would not be going there. Contracts are being signed
by organizations for events all the way into 2020.”
In addition to the new convention center, a brand-new state-of-the-art hotel, the Omni, opened about the same time. Located across the street, the 500-room Omni will be the site of events, as well as the primary hotel for GA2016. There are many other hotels, also within easy walking distance of the MCC. Attractions include the Country Music Hall of Fame, the historic Ryman Auditorium, and a multitude of one-of-a-kind dining establishments.
In a special video greeting on Friday night of the General Assembly, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam gave an invitation to all prospective delegates to, “come back to Tennessee,” for the first International General Assembly to be held in the Volunteer State since Memphis fifty years ago in 1966.
To learn more about the GA2016 convention venue, visit www.nashvillemusiccitycenter.com.
