Bishop J. Bernard Hackworth is the prelate of the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Southern California. He is also the pastor of the Testimonial Cathedral Church of God in Christ. Bishop and the late Sister Alta Hackworth are the proud parents of four children, six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. He attended Greer College in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Life Bible College, in Glendale, California. In May 1973, he received his Doctor of Divinity Degree from Trinity Hall College and Seminary of Denver, Colorado. Under the late Bishop Benjamin J. Crouch, Elder Hackworth was appointed First Administrative Assistant and Superintendent of the Testimonial District. In 1993 he was elevated to the office of Bishop by the late Bishop Louis Henry Ford.

As founder and pastor of Testimonial Cathedral in South Central Los Angeles, for over 30 years, his ministry has earned the reputation as a place where, "Everybody is somebody." During that time he established the Testimonial Christian School, the Testimonial Community Love Center, Adult Training Center, Testimonial Community Day Care Center, and numerous other ministries which serve to enhance the quality of life for individuals in our community.

On August 21, 2005 Sister Alta Hackworth went home to be with the Lord. After 48 years of marriage, Bishop Hackworth, again, found himself alone. Knowing that it is not good for man to be alone, Bishop Hackworth waited prayerfully that God would fill the emptiness in his life. In December 2006 the wait was over. At last, love has come again in the person of Evangelist Bonita Diane Stewart. On December 2, 2006, Bishop and Evangelist Stewart were united in Holy Matrimony at Testimonial Cathedral Church of God in Christ, in Los Angeles, California. It is a "New Beginning" for Bishop Hackworth, the Testimonial Cathedral Family, and the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.