His action allowed six districts to be
formed from this division creating the “Southwest Arkansas” Jurisdiction of the Church
of God in Christ, which is today known as the Arkansas Second Ecclesiastical
Jurisdiction. Washington, was appointed as the first Bishop of the divided
state, serving only for one day. Bishop W. Kendricks was then appointed to serve
from, 1951 to 1957. The next jurisdiction
al leader was Bishop John L. Lewis, who
served from 1958 to 1968. Under his leadership, the State Temple was purchased and it
was to his sacred memory that the temple was named Lewis Temple. In 1968, Bishop R. Hatley was appointed as Bishop Lewis’
successor. It was during his dynamic leadership that the State Temple was freed of
debt. After having done such a wonderful job as the leader, his service to the
jurisdiction ended in 1974. Bishop Donne L. Lindsey, who was appointed in 1974 and
was consecrated to the Office of Bishop by Presiding Bishop J. O. Patterson, Sr., and
members of the General Board came to Camden, Arkansas to hold the ceremony at the
jurisdictional headquarters, Lewis Temple. Under Bishop Lindsey’s leadership, the
Jurisdiction initially grew from eight districts to fifteen districts. In 1993, upon the
leading of the Lord, Bishop Lindsey, with permission of the Presiding Bishop L. Ford
and the General Board, was able to divide the Jurisdiction to promote growth. It
resulted in the formation of the Arkansas Third Jurisdiction, with Bishop R. E. Matheney being appointed as the jurisdictional prelate. In the year 2000, the
Jurisdiction was divided again to form the Arkansas Fourth Jurisdiction with Bishop
Wallace Johnson being appointed as the jurisdictional prelate. He completed his tenure
as Jurisdictional leader in 2009 and asked to be formally retired as the jurisdictional
prelate. Upon this request, Bishop Lindsey became the Prelate Emeritus of the
Jurisdiction. On August 8, 2009, Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, came to ascertain of the pastors
who they wanted as the next jurisdictional prelate. A recommendation session was
held and upon the recommendation of the majority of the pastors, the name of Frank J. Anderson, Jr., was given to the Presiding Bishop and recommended to the General
Board. At the Bishop’s Conference in September, 2009, Bishop Blake formally put
Elder Anderson’s name in nomination and in November, 2009, Bishop Frank J. Anderson, Jr., was consecrated to the Office of Bishop during the International Holy
Convocation held in Memphis, Tennessee. The General Assembly ratified the
appointment and Bishop Anderson became the sixth prelate of the Arkansas Second
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. In the short tenure of Bishop Anderson, churches have come
to join the jurisdiction. After being divided two times, the jurisdiction has twenty-one
districts and over 90 churches and missions.
