Members of national denomination return to Jackson for Homegoing Services of Senior Bishop Emeritus Maurice D. Bingham

Bingham, third Senior Bishop in denomination’s 116-year history

The Mississippi Link Newswire

JACKSON, Miss— On Wednesday, Presiding Bishops, national missionaries, evangelists and members of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. will gather from around the country to remember and honor the legacy of Maurice D. Bingham, Senior Bishop Emeritus of the denomination, which has maintained headquarters in Jackson since 1896.

Services will be held 11 a.m. at Christ Temple Cathedral, 845 N. Lamar Street downtown Jackson. In 116 years, Bingham was the denomination’s third Senior Bishop, the highest elected official in COCHUSA. Bingham, 79, was elected to his role after the death of Senior Bishop M.R. Conic, who served COCHUSA 1946-1996. Both Bingham and Conic were preceded by Bishop Charles Price Jones, who led the church when he established the denomination in Jackson (1896), until his death in 1949.

“Every movement [organization] must have champions, and Bishop Bingham has been one of the champions for our denomination for 40 plus years,” says Bishop Emery Lindsay of Los Angeles, Calif. Lindsay is the current Senior Bishop of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.

“The legacy that he leaves to the denomination is a legacy of integrity, inspiration and a living illustration of commitment to both Christ and His Church,” Lindsay says.

Bingham was known for his wisdom and steady leadership in the field of Christian service during nearly forty years in ministry. His wealth of varied experience includes serving as pastor of Christ Temple Cathedral and eight years as president of the National Sunday School and Holiness Young Peoples' Congress. In 1976, Bingham was elected to the Presiding Bishop of the South Central Diocese of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. and provided leadership to congregations throughout the State of Mississippi until 1996, when he was elected to serve as Senior Bishop of the national body. As the highest elected position of honor in the denomination – Bingham was responsible for ensuring the church maintained its Biblical teachings centered around holiness while providing spiritual leadership to the growing membership -now numbered at more than 160 congregations and 15,000 members across the U.S., Dominican Republic, and West Africa.

A strong advocate for education, Bishop Bingham attended the public schools in Jackson, Miss. graduating from Lanier High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University with a major in language arts.

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.  He also served for nearly 20 years as Chairman of the Board of Education at Christ Missionary and Industrial College of Jackson (CM&I) —operated by the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. A consummate professional, Dr. Bingham was 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 was certified by the Mississippi State Board of Examiners as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

A resident of Pearl, Miss., Bingham is survived by wife, Anne K. Bingham, and six children.

Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Christ Temple Cathedral in Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, the Bingham family requests donations in memory of Bingham be made to Pioneer Ministries, P. O. Box 6182, Jackson, MS 39288; or online at www.pioneerministries.org

Cards and condolences may be sent to Sister Ann K. Bingham, P. O. Box 6182, Jackson, MS 39288.