Bishop Uleses C. Henderson, Jr. (Courtesy photo)

Historic Emmanuel Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles holds services to mark episcopal appointment and pastoral installation of the Right Rev. Henderson.

Excitement is in the air as Emmanuel Church of God in Christ prepares to celebrate the episcopal elevation and pastoral installation of Bishop Uleses C. Henderson, Jr.

This momentous occasion begins with the Episcopal Elevation Celebration, which will take place on Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m., at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, located at 4269 South Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. The guest preacher will be the Most Reverend J. Drew Sheard, presiding bishop and chief apostle of the worldwide Church of God in Christ denomination.

The celebration will culminate with Bishop Henderson’s Pastoral Installation Service on Saturday, April 30, at 1 p.m., at Emmanuel Church of God in Christ, 1399 East 33rd Street in Los Angeles. Bishop Joe L. Ealy, presiding prelate of the Southern California First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, will be the guest speaker.

Bishop Henderson, who is known for his love of God and His people, is committed to transforming lives through the practical teaching of God’s word.  He is married to First Lady Natoya Henderson and they are the parents of a handsome young man, Uleses III.

A former rocket scientist at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, Bishop Henderson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University; his Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology; and his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola of Los Angeles Law School.

Bishop Uleses and Lady Natoya Henderson (Courtesy photo)

In addition to the pastoral call, he is an accomplished intellectual property attorney and partner at One LLP. Bishop Henderson served for nine years as General Counsel of the Church of God in Christ and, presently serves as chairman of the Church of God in Christ Publishing Board, team chaplain for the Los Angeles Lakers, and chief deputy general counsel and senior advisor on faith-based initiatives for the National Bar Association. Also, he is a member of the board of directors of the Union Rescue Mission.

While Bishop Henderson could be found preaching in diapers in the living room of his late uncle, Bishop W.B. Henderson, he preached his first official message in 2003 at his home church, West Angeles Church of God in Christ.  Mentored by Presiding Bishop Emeritus Charles E. Blake Sr., he was ordained as an elder in 2010 by Bishop Ealy.

In January 2021, Bishop Henderson was appointed by Presiding Bishop Emeritus Blake to the office of auxiliary bishop in the Church of God in Christ.  Bishop Henderson was consecrated to the office in June 2021.

Presiding Bishop Emeritus Blake and First Lady Mae L. Blake have been instrumental in Bishop Henderson’s life and continue to be so to this day.

In September 2021, Bishop Henderson was recommended by the membership of Emmanuel COGIC to serve as their pastor and, on September 18, 2021, Bishop Ealy appointed him to the position.

Emmanuel’s motto is “Changing Hearts to Transform Lives” and under Bishop Henderson’s leadership, Emmanuel is poised to grow both spiritually and numerically.

For more information about the celebration or installation service, visit www.emmanuelcogic33rd.org and click on the Celebration tab, call the church office at (323) 325-7273 or email Adrienne Sutton at [email protected].