Bishop Jakes rejects politics, embraces public service
As a black pastor of iconic prominence in our postmodern times, Bishop T.D. Jakes is known as a virtuoso, a preaching phenomenon and a force of change. Nationally renowned for his rousing sermons espousing spiritual healing and prosperity, Jakes has been christened as a black Billy Graham with the potential cultural impact of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Like Graham in his evangelistic heyday, Jakes draws thousands to his conferences in major cities across the country, and like King, Jakes' ministry at The Potter's House in Dallas includes economic and educational initiatives. Assistant ministers under Jakes' tutelage oversee outreach programs for GED, literacy, the homeless and the incarcerated. These programs are designed to uplift not only those in the black community in the Dallas/Forth Worth area, but all who desire to overcome hardship.
In spite of all the significant work Jakes is doing in Dallas, he, like all leading pastors, constantly endures harsh criticism. A recent charge against Jakes was put forth by Princeton University professor Cornel West, who claimed the distinguished minister lacks political courage.
Due to our tense political climate and the importance of the upcoming midterm congressional elections, West's assertion is not surprising, since other outstanding black conservative pastors, such as Atlanta's Bishop Eddie Long, are well known for their support of Bush and his faith-based agenda.
West would like to see Jakes use his enormous influence to challenge the policies of the right, but Jakes has declared he will remain politically neutral.
Although many regard Jakes as a Bush ally because of his counsel to the president, The Potter's House - unlike Long's ministry - has not taken any government funding for its service programs. Jakes strongly advocates that churches receiving federal funds designate separate entities to carry out public ministries, and he has warned black clergy to guard against being used as political pawns.
Black intellectual activists like West will continue to criticize Jakes for what they see as political diffidence.
Yet if they closely examine The Potter's House service programs, they will see that Jakes' ministerial objectives line up with the progressive politics of the civil rights era that were designed to establish educational and class parity.
The Potter's House currently is constructing the first phase of a $10 million facility called Capella Park, which will include a Christian preparatory academy, a senior citizen complex and retail space. Capella Park is part of the Metroplex Economic Development Corp. founded by Jakes that aims to develop strategic partnerships with civic and corporate organizations. MEDC is in line with the vision Jakes illustrated in a recent editorial posted on CNN.com, stating that "overcoming many of the existing challenges African-Americans face can be achieved with a plan that encourages a more cohesive community relationship and the spawning of entrepreneurial endeavors and business initiatives."
Jakes' approach to eradicating the social ills that have plagued blacks is both practical and biblical, and it continues the tradition of the social gospel upheld by the black church during King's leadership. Today, however, black churches are no longer the sole institutions used to express political platforms, and many of those other institutions have sufficient resources to carry out their agendas for community empowerment.
According to The Roundtable on Religion & Social Welfare Policy, the average congregation contributes $184,000 annually to communities.
For The Potter's House - the nation's largest black megachurch, with more than 28,000 members - the contributions are in the millions. As evident from MEDC and the multiple Potter's House ministries, the thousands of lives that have been and will be touched by Jakes' outreach will greatly enhance the Dallas/Forth Worth region.
Jakes already has a public service record that would put many politicians to shame. Thus from his devotion to his ministry, one can see that political courage goes far beyond chastisement of elected officials. It also is gauged by one's daring to change adverse circumstances that hinder others. Jakes has humbly chosen the latter.
• Jessica Johnson, a 1987 graduate of Clarke Central High School, is a special correspondent for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch and an adjunct professor at Columbus State Community College. She holds a Ph.D. in cultural studies from The Ohio State University.
Written by Jessica Johnson
Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 072306
Like Graham in his evangelistic heyday, Jakes draws thousands to his conferences in major cities across the country, and like King, Jakes' ministry at The Potter's House in Dallas includes economic and educational initiatives. Assistant ministers under Jakes' tutelage oversee outreach programs for GED, literacy, the homeless and the incarcerated. These programs are designed to uplift not only those in the black community in the Dallas/Forth Worth area, but all who desire to overcome hardship.
In spite of all the significant work Jakes is doing in Dallas, he, like all leading pastors, constantly endures harsh criticism. A recent charge against Jakes was put forth by Princeton University professor Cornel West, who claimed the distinguished minister lacks political courage.
Due to our tense political climate and the importance of the upcoming midterm congressional elections, West's assertion is not surprising, since other outstanding black conservative pastors, such as Atlanta's Bishop Eddie Long, are well known for their support of Bush and his faith-based agenda.
West would like to see Jakes use his enormous influence to challenge the policies of the right, but Jakes has declared he will remain politically neutral.
Although many regard Jakes as a Bush ally because of his counsel to the president, The Potter's House - unlike Long's ministry - has not taken any government funding for its service programs. Jakes strongly advocates that churches receiving federal funds designate separate entities to carry out public ministries, and he has warned black clergy to guard against being used as political pawns.
Black intellectual activists like West will continue to criticize Jakes for what they see as political diffidence.
Yet if they closely examine The Potter's House service programs, they will see that Jakes' ministerial objectives line up with the progressive politics of the civil rights era that were designed to establish educational and class parity.
The Potter's House currently is constructing the first phase of a $10 million facility called Capella Park, which will include a Christian preparatory academy, a senior citizen complex and retail space. Capella Park is part of the Metroplex Economic Development Corp. founded by Jakes that aims to develop strategic partnerships with civic and corporate organizations. MEDC is in line with the vision Jakes illustrated in a recent editorial posted on CNN.com, stating that "overcoming many of the existing challenges African-Americans face can be achieved with a plan that encourages a more cohesive community relationship and the spawning of entrepreneurial endeavors and business initiatives."
Jakes' approach to eradicating the social ills that have plagued blacks is both practical and biblical, and it continues the tradition of the social gospel upheld by the black church during King's leadership. Today, however, black churches are no longer the sole institutions used to express political platforms, and many of those other institutions have sufficient resources to carry out their agendas for community empowerment.
According to The Roundtable on Religion & Social Welfare Policy, the average congregation contributes $184,000 annually to communities.
For The Potter's House - the nation's largest black megachurch, with more than 28,000 members - the contributions are in the millions. As evident from MEDC and the multiple Potter's House ministries, the thousands of lives that have been and will be touched by Jakes' outreach will greatly enhance the Dallas/Forth Worth region.
Jakes already has a public service record that would put many politicians to shame. Thus from his devotion to his ministry, one can see that political courage goes far beyond chastisement of elected officials. It also is gauged by one's daring to change adverse circumstances that hinder others. Jakes has humbly chosen the latter.
• Jessica Johnson, a 1987 graduate of Clarke Central High School, is a special correspondent for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch and an adjunct professor at Columbus State Community College. She holds a Ph.D. in cultural studies from The Ohio State University.
Written by Jessica Johnson
Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 072306
posted by ThePowerMovement at 8:35 PM
2 Comments:
I think people are inclined to criticize what they do not understand. Before I had an oportunity to visit The Potter's House, and hear and participate in their ministry, I too questioned Bishop Jakes' seemingly apolitical stance. However, I was blessed to attend the first service after the New Year in 2005. At this service, Bishop Jakes unvieled the long-term strategic plan and vision for growing the Potter's House. He explained the impetus behind starting a school and building an affordable housing community. He extolled the virtue of economic self-determination and creating an cultural atmosphere where whole communities are built and successfully sustained on God's bedrock. Afterwards I realized that focusing trying to determine Bishop Jakes' political affiliation is a smoke screen that diverts attention from the Kingdom Building work that he is doing. I agree with Ms. Johnshon, that the work of the Potter's House ministry speaks for itself.
I think people are inclined to criticize what they do not understand. Before I had an oportunity to visit The Potter's House, and hear and participate in their ministry, I too questioned Bishop Jakes' seemingly apolitical stance. However, I was blessed to attend the first service after the New Year in 2005. At this service, Bishop Jakes unvieled the long-term strategic plan and vision for growing the Potter's House. He explained the impetus behind starting a school and building an affordable housing community. He extolled the virtue of economic self-determination and creating an cultural atmosphere where whole communities are built and successfully sustained on God's bedrock. Afterwards I realized that focusing trying to determine Bishop Jakes' political affiliation is a smoke screen that diverts attention from the Kingdom Building work that he is doing. I agree with Ms. Johnshon, that the work of the Potter's House ministry speaks for itself.
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