Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
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The Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. is a Holiness body of Christians headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi.
The Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. shares a common early history with the Church of God in Christ. Charles P. Jones (18??-1949), a Missionary Baptist preacher in Alabama and later Mississippi, accepted the doctrine of Holiness around 1896. About that time he also became associated with W. S. Pleasant, J. A. Jeter, C. H. Mason and other like-minded brethren. Jones invited a Holiness convention to meet with his church, Mt. Helm Baptist Church of Jackson, in 1897. This gathering was held June 6-15. In 1898 Mt. Helm changed its name to Church of Christ. The group put out of the Jackson Baptist Association adopted the name Christ Association of Mississippi of Baptized Believers in Christ in 1900, and the national movement accepted the name by C. H. Mason - Church of God in Christ - in 1906. In that same year, the annual convocation chose to send J. A. Jeter, C. H. Mason, and D. J. Young to investigate William J. Seymour and the Azusa Street Revival. Mason and Young were convinced of Seymour's doctrine that speaking in tongues was the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. After an extended discussion of the matter at the 1907 convention, the body withdrew from all those who were promoting speaking in tongues. C. H. Mason became the leader of this group.
Both sides of the division continued to use the name Church of God in Christ until 1915, when Bishop Mason incorporated his followers under that name. Churches of the Holiness division began to use the name Church of Christ Holiness, and in October of 1920 was chartered in the state of Mississippi as the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A..
The Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. is an orthodox Trinitarian denomination with a Holiness emphasis. Water baptism of believers by immersion and the Lord's supper as a memorial are held to be ordinances of the church. Foot washing is also practiced, but it is not regarded as an ordinance. The church does not deny tongues as a spiritual gift. But the New Testament practice is regarded as speaking in a language that can be understood by someone, and the idea that tongues is "the" evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost is totally rejected.
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 1998 the Church of Christ (Holiness) had 10,393 members in 167 congregations in the U. S.
External links
- Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. (http://www.cochusa.com) - official Web Site
- Adherents.com (http://www.adherents.com/Na/Na_175.html#999)
Reference
- Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and Craig D. Atwood