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Christ’s Association of Mississippi of Baptized Believers
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.
Reference
Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S.
Hill, and Craig D. Atwood
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