In September 1925, the first congregation—Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ—was established in Kansas City, Missouri by Bishop William F. Taylor (not to be confused with Bishop William Taylor, missionary) and Elder Leviticus L. Boswell.[3] Previously, Taylor served within the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and Boswell served within the Metropolitan Community Church; Boswell was ordained as an elder within the Church of God in Christ.[4]: 142 Leaving their established religious communities to establish a Spiritualist movement, one member claimed the MSCC "provided in part an 'umbrella group for gays.'" In 1926, the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ began ordaining women ministers.[4]: 143
Following the death of Bishop Taylor, a succession crisis occurred, and in 1942 the MSCC merged with the Divine Spiritual Churches of the Southwest, based in New Orleans, Louisiana. This merger created the United Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, though the united and uniting church schismed into two separate denominations: the United Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, and the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ in Kansas City.[4]: 143
In 1974, the MSCC held its 49th congress under the leadership of Bishop Taylor's successor, Bishop Clarence H. Cobbs.[5] Under Bishop Taylor's administration, Cobbs founded the First Church of Deliverance in May 1929.[6] By 1979, Lucretia L. Smith became the first female presiding bishop of the denomination.[7]