MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Horhn

Senate Concurrent Resolution 605

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE CHURCH OF CHRIST (HOLINESS) U.S.A. UPON ITS CENTENNIAL AND TO CONGRATULATE BISHOP MAURICE D. BINGHAM. 

WHEREAS, Maurice Donnell Bingham, son of the late Willie and Matilda Bingham, is a native of Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Bingham is married to Annie Kelly Bingham, and they have six children: Paula, Kevin, Ronald, Melanie, Ethan and Nadra; and

WHEREAS, he attended the public schools in Jackson, Mississippi, is a graduate of Lanier High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University with a major in language arts; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Bingham received a Master of Science degree in counseling and guidance from the University of Southern California, the Specialist and Doctor of Education degrees in counseling and guidance from the University of Southern Mississippi, and graduated from the Pastors' Course at the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, his work experience in the field of education includes counseling and teaching at the secondary level in the public schools of Jackson and McComb, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, he has taught in and directed the Ministers' Seminar in the Department of Religious Education at Christ Missionary and Industrial College in Jackson, is an associate professor of preaching and counseling at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, and performs marriage and family counseling and directs conferences in the central Mississippi area; and

WHEREAS, he has served as counselor, director and administrator at Camp Pioneer in Jackson, Mississippi, since 1954; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Bingham has a wide and varied experience in the field of Christian service: he has pastored for nearly forty years in the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A., served for eight years as president of the National Sunday School and Holiness Young Peoples' Congress and for several terms as Chairman of the Board of Education at Christ Missionary and Industrial College, his denomination's school; and

WHEREAS, he has been the Presiding Bishop of the South Central Diocese of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. since 1976 and was elected Senior Bishop of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. in August of 1996; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bingham is a member of Christian Camping International, the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference, a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the National Academy of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NACCMHC), the American Association for Counseling and Development (AACD), the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC), and is certified by the Mississippi State Board of Examiners as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC); and

WHEREAS, the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. had its origin in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1896, and dates as a holiness convention from June of 1897; and

WHEREAS, a band of believers in Christ Jesus under the leadership of Elder Charles Price Jones met in 1898 in special service in an empty store and later rented the Benevolent Hall for services until land was purchased and the first church building was built; and

WHEREAS, at a service in Benevolent Hall on Farish Street, a six-member committee was appointed, and $1,200.00 was raised to pay for the lot at the corner of East Monument and North Lamar, which was Grayson Street at the time; and

WHEREAS, plans were made to begin building the edifice, which was to be 60 feet wide, 90 feet long and 30 feet high, but as the brethren were not able to visualize such massive plans which the Lord had revealed to Elder Jones, a smaller frame church was built in 1902 and known as Christ Tabernacle Church; and

WHEREAS, that first building was lost to fire and, by 1906, the burned frame tabernacle was replaced with the "First Temple," a brick structure erected according to the first plan revealed to Elder Jones, and this building stood for 50 years; and

WHEREAS, the building had a total seating capacity of more than 2,000, and was used for mid-week services, Sunday School and the Parochial School which developed into what became known as Christ Missionary and Industrial College; and

WHEREAS, the Sunday services had 800 to 1,000 in attendance, with people walking from two to five miles, as well as coming in by automobile, buggies, wagons and horseback from miles around, and many entered the doors laden with sin and broken hearts, but left sweetly saved and washed in the blood of the Lamb, and many were healed of their physical infirmities through faith in God; and

WHEREAS, this structure was demolished in 1957, and the education building of Christ Temple Church erected in 1959 was the third church construction on this corner since 1902; and

WHEREAS, in 1972, the fourth structure on this site was completed under the leadership of the National Convention Trustee Board with Bishop J.C. Smith, overseer, which is the current Christ Temple Church; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of this Legislature to commend the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. upon the occasion of its Centennial and to congratulate Bishop Maurice D. Bingham for his many accomplishments and contributions to his church:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. upon its Centennial and congratulate Bishop Maurice D. Bingham for his personal achievements and many contributions to his church.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be given to Bishop Bingham and to the Christ Temple Church.