Leadership

Chief Apostle James H. Carter

James H.Carter was born in Caswell County in 1950 to Robert and Clara Carter. He was educated through the Alamance County School System and later earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from The Bible Institute in Orlando, Florida. He completed his formal education an received a Doctorate of Divinity Degree from Shiloh Theological Seminary, Stafford Virginia. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the United Cornerstone Scholl of Divinity, a school from which he founded.

Elder Carter was commissioned to preach the gospel in 1968 under the pastorate fo The Late Apostle Preston Graves Sr, of the Smyrna Church of Christ in Reidsville, NC. He served in many Capacities of the church including Youth Director, Superintendent of Sunday School, Financial Secretary and Assistant Pastor.

He founded the Cornerstone Church of Christ in April 1975, then went to organize the Faith Deliverance Mission of Lexington, NC in 1978 and the Full Gospel Church of Jesus Christ in Summerton, SC in 1980.

Apostle Carter was one of the first affiliated with the United Way of the Cross Churches of Christ International and Chief Apostle J.H. Adams for approximately 30 years. During his tenure with this organization he served as Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary for 18 years. His duties included keeping all financial and official records and minutes of the United Way of the Cross Churches International. He also served as office manager, supervising over 20 departments.

He was consecrated as Bishop in 1986 as well as Diocesan Bishop of the NC/SC Diocese. He was also appointed as Vice Presiding Bishop of the UWCCC during the same year. In 1998 Bishop Carter was appointed as Archbishop of the UWCCC and Chairman of the Board of Bishops.

In June 2003, as a result of the founders' untimley death, Apostle Carter became the Presiding Prelate, and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Apostles, Bishops and the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Cross Churches International, an organization which consists of approximately 50 churches in the North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and the West Indies.

In 2005,Apostle Carter rose to a different level by leaving the UWCCC and becoming the Chief Apostle of a newly formed organization United Cornerstone Churches International. In just one year UCCI has chartered over 47 churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, West Indies and Africa.

He has served his passion, the Cornerstone Church of Christ as pastor for the past 50 years. In that time Apostle Carter has served the community as well: Vice President of Thomasville NAACP, Treasurer of the Ministers United for Christ, Chaplain for the Thomasville Medical Center, Chairman of the Martin Luther Gospel Fest, Board Member for Habitat for Humanity and Salvation Army and others.

Apostle Carter has received several accommodations from the Mayor of Thomasville and several religious organizations. To his credit, he has received the coveted NAACP's President Award of 2005 and the 2006 MLK Man of Peace Award. He was one of the first recipients of the Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the United Cornerstone School of Divinity in July 2006. In addition to his many honors, Apostle Carter was awarded the "Pastor of the Year" during the "Back to Pentecost Conference" from Morningstar Baptist Church in Burlington, NC.

In 2014, a special service was held in his honor to recognize him for his civic duties and humanitarian efforts. During this celebration, Chief Apostle Carter was awarded the key to the city, an honor no minister in the City of Thomasville has ever been given.

He has been married to the lovely Cynthia Blackwell Carter for 55 years.

United Cornerstone Churches International

General Officers:

Chief Apostle James H. Carter