Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.

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Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
Classification
Protestant
OrientationHoliness
PolityEpiscopal
RegionUnited States
FounderCharles Price Jones
Origin1896
Jackson, Mississippi
SeparationsChurch of God in Christ (separated 1907), Associated Church of Christ Holiness (separated 1947) Church of God, Holiness (based in Atlanta, GA - 1922)

The Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. is a Holiness body of Christians headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2010, there were 14,000 members in 154 churches.[1]

History

The Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. shares a common early history with the

Holiness Pentecostal group. C. P. Jones retained the doctrine of the holiness movement, while C. H. Mason embraced Holiness Pentecostalism. Congregations led by Charles W. Gray also retained the original teaching of the holiness movement and though identical in doctrine to those led by C.P. Jones, they left and formed the Original Church of God
.

The name Church of God in Christ was widely held by both groups until 1907, when Bishop C. H. Mason had the name COGIC, incorporated. Churches of the Holiness division began to use the name Church of Christ Holiness, and in October 1920 was chartered in the state of Mississippi as the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A..

Theology

The Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. is trinitarian with a Holiness emphasis. Water

Foot washing
is also practiced, but it is not regarded as an ordinance. The church does not reject speaking in tongues (glossolalia). The church emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is an indispensable gift to every believer, but places no emphasis on an initial evidence as speaking in tongues to be the results of such gift.

Leadership

The church is episcopal in structure with a Senior Bishop as the highest official and spiritual leader. The church in the United States is divided into eight dioceses - Eastern, North Central, Northern, Pacific North West, South Central, South Eastern, South Western, and Western. In 2008 the Church of Christ (Holiness) had 15,000 members in 167 congregations in the United States, the Dominican Republic and Africa.[citation needed]

Board of Bishops

• Bishop Vernon Kennebrew – Senior Bishop and Presiding Bishop of the Southwestern Diocese. • Bishop Lindsay E. Jones – National President and Presiding Bishop of the North Central Diocese • Bishop Emery Lindsay – Presiding Bishop of the Western Diocese & Pacific Northwest Diocese • Bishop Dale Cudjoe - First Vice President and Presiding Bishop of the Northern Diocese • Bishop H.Vonzell Castilla- Second Vice President,(newly elected and consecrated) Bishop of the Southeastern Diocese (July 2016) • Bishop Maurice Nicholson – Presiding Bishop of the Eastern Diocese • Bishop Robert Winn – Retired and Chairman of the COCHUSA World Mission Board • Bishop Victor Smith - Retired • Bishop Carl Austin - Retired

Its annual "National Convention" is held during the month of July. The church celebrated its 124th National Convention in July 2020, in Dallas, Texas.

References

  1. ^ "2008 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches". The National Council of Churches. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  • Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood

External links

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