Harry Jackson, T.D. Jakes, James Robison and Other Prominent Pastors Unite to Address Racial Issues in Light of Charleston, Ferguson, and Baltimore

 

You’ve seen some of them on the covers of bestsellers and on television talk shows.

Now, a coalition of the nation’s pastors is coming together to fight escalating racial violence in the United States. As they have watched events unfold in places from Charleston, S.C., to Ferguson, Mo., and from Staten Island, N.Y., to Los Angeles, what struck them was that there are practices and methods used by churches that they felt could help. They are trying to figure out ways to fix what they call disunity in the country.

“I don’t think it’s just race but a racial divide that’s amplified by way of access,” says Bishop Harry Jackson, co-founder of The Reconciled Church and senior pastor at Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Md.

The Reconciled Church is an organization headed by Jackson, Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter’s House megachurch in Dallas and James Robison, founder and president of Life Outreach International in Fort Worth, Texas. The group wants to figure out the best ways to heal America’s racial divide, publish a book sharing those best practices next year and raise money to replicate them.

Whether it was serendipity or just coincidence, significant dates or meetings connected with the group have come at the same time as major developments in racially tinged cases that have gained prominence since the February 2012 shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

Jackson says the idea first came last year when he attended a religious conference in St. Louis that happened to fall around the same time a grand jury decided not to indict a white police officer in the fatal shooting of black teen Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson. The case and the decision set off waves of protests in metro St. Louis and nationwide.

Jackson, who is black, says there were a number of white pastors at the conference and race was on their minds as they watched the protests.

“Out of it came this idea that there are best practices going on in the church right now that could help heal the great divide,” Jackson says.

He reached out to religious leaders in his Rolodex, but the most invested were Jakes and Robison, Jackson said. The men were no strangers to racial violence. In 1967, National Guard troops pointed guns at Jackson as he stepped out on his porch in Cincinnati during riots protesting the conviction of a black man in seven strangling deaths. Jakes’ grandfather, the original T.D. Jakes, died in Mississippi after white racists placed barbed wire in the lake where he liked to swim, Jakes said.

“We said to ourselves, ‘If we don’t spark something to bring healing,’ we all had a premonition that the kind of violence that happened this week in Charleston would happen in America sometimes soon,” Jackson says. “We felt that if we didn’t do our part, there would be race riots in the United States and there would be black and white antagonism and there would be bloodshed.”

The group met in January in Dallas, attracting between 150 and 175 religious leaders and 6,000 to 7,000 worshippers, Jackson says. Months later, when the group met in Orlando in April, Baltimore exploded in protests after Freddie Gray, a black man, died in police custody, further solidifying the group’s resolve.

The group agreed on seven areas to focus on, or the “Seven Bridges to Peace.” They are: prayer and reconciliation events, education reform, civic engagement, community outreach and service, marriage and family, criminal justice reform, and economic development.

Now, the group is grounded and established, with up to 1,000 members of active clergy. The roster includes not only the original three organizers, but also prominent clergy members like Vashti Murphy McKenzie, first female elected bishop with theAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church, and Miles McPherson, former San Diego Charger and now pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego.

Jakes, who usually uses his words to try to help people motivate and empower themselves, sounds more like an activist when discussing the spate of killings of black Americans in the past two years.

“You hear me speak as a preacher, but I’m also a father and I have three sons,” he says. “I have had the talk with my sons about how to respond with police officers.”

Jakes believes the real issue is the criminal justice system and differences in how people of color are treated.

“By and large, police officers do an excellent job of protecting us, there are some pockets of poor decision making, poor training and, frankly, just a poor respect for the lives of all people that have led us down a path of trouble,” he says. “I also think what’s happening in the courtroom is just as much an injustice. When we are tried for the crimes, we are seven times more likely to be incarcerated than people who are not of color, so justice is not blind.”

And while the criminal justice system was not a key theme in the initial shooting in Charleston, race was, Jakes says. “It’s clear that there was a racial agenda and it’s quite clear that this young boy picked up this attitude from somewhere,” the bishop said, making reference to “pockets of infectious racism.”

The group is studying organizations and efforts that seem to work in terms of reversing racial disparities and the pastors will use their experience at fundraising to raise dollars to replicate these programs, they said. They also want to focus on providing jobs for teens. Additionally, they hope to continue to provide forums so that the ministers can continue to talk to one another, they said, and publish a book sharing best practices in 2016.

The conversations between the ministers are important, Jakes says. “Why should you ask Fox News who I am, or MSNBC or CNN who I am when I live across town? Am I lazy and living off the government or am I trapped?”

The group’s next formal gathering is a retreat at the end of August, says Jackson.

He says he hopes Democrats and Republicans begin to talk more about what is going on before the next presidential election. There’s an urgency about this, he says.

“It was a burden I couldn’t push away,” he says.

SOURCE: Melanie Eversley
USA TODAY

The Reconciled Church: 7 Bridges to Peace

SHAWN A. AKERS

Until criminal justice reform is introduced in America, situations like those in Ferguson, Missouri; Staten Island, New York; North Charleston, South Carolina; and now Baltimore, Maryland, will continue to arise and severely dampen if not destroy the racial unification efforts of the church and society, prominent voices at The Reconciled Church Summit said Wednesday in Orlando, Florida.

And it is the church—God's people—as the numerous speakers agreed, that must spearhead the movement and lead the way in racial reconciliation societal reform and changes in the current criminal justice system.

Given the recent deaths of African-Americans like Michael Brown in Ferguson, Eric Garner in Staten Island and Freddie Gray in Baltimore, the atmosphere has reached a critical, if not potential powder keg stage in America.

"I compare it to a plane that is about ready to go down in flames," said Bishop T.D. Jakes, senior pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas and one of the founding members of The Reconciled Church. "If we don't pull up now, and fast, we're going to crash and burn."

Violent protests in Ferguson and most recently in Baltimore have become symbolic of the racial divide in America and clear, unabashed examples of the need for criminal justice reform.

It is only through a unified church and adherence to Jesus' prayer in John 17, TRC co-founder James Robison said, that will heal the racial divide in this country and prompt justice system officials to bring about much-needed change in the way they handle certain volatile situations.

"The question of the hour is whether the church will meet Jesus' prayer to the Father," said Robison, an evangelist and teacher and founder of Life Outreach International. "Father God is looking at us, his family, right now. He's saying, 'look at my kids.' He wants to see a family that loves its father so much that they will love each other.

"The greatest source of influence over this nation should be the church, not some political party. We've tried to make another pharaoh our source. We've been kept in bondage by a system we have erroneously put our trust in. We need to get an answer to Jesus' prayer, and immediately."

In praying for future believers, Jesus relayed this in John 17:20-23, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one; I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have Sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

Given the ongoing state of obvious racial mistrust in America, the unification of the church—a must to help bring about criminal justice reform—certainly won't be easy, TRC co-founder Bishop Harry Jackson said. But Jackson says unification has to be about more than simple change.

"Lasting change requires transformation," Jackson said. "It's not just about 'getting along,' it's about getting it right. Only great diversity, in unison, can bring America to its better self."

And to bring about that society-changing transformation, The Reconciled Church is imploring local churches to employ its "Seven Bridges to Peace" initiatives immediately.

TRC's Seven Bridges to Peace are, as described on thereconciledchurch.org:

1. Prayer and reconciliation events: Prayer will be perpetually offered to God requesting wisdom and divine aid for the multi-generational fulfillment of the Great Commandment (John 17:1-26; love and unity) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20). We will have periodic gatherings of Christian interdenominational and multi-ethnic believers to lift up specific prayer points. This will be accompanied by periodic voluntary engagement in transparent, honest, frank, civil and Godly dialogue; the implementation of plans of action to confront, overcome and resolve destructive views, values, convictions, preferences and practices (like racism, sexism, age-ism, etc.) that divide the Lord's church, misrepresent Jesus Christ, defame God's creation and hinder the fulfillment of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

2. Education reform: Increase access to early educational programs prior to kindergarten for children. Churches can play a major role in offering academic and character building enrichment programs to students in middle and high school. Focus will be on developing core skills in language, reading, and mathematics as well college preparedness.

3. Civic engagement: The meetings would emphasize and educate on the following elements: Christian Citizenship Training Best practices for dealing with citizen and law enforcement rights and issues that threaten to denigrate, deteriorate, debilitate or devastate the highest quality of life for urban residents.

4. Community outreach and service: Compassionate Outreaches with Christian faith-based interdenominational and multi-ethnic Christian based social services . These are strategic efforts to serve the under-resourced, poverty stricken residents living in economically devastated and financially depressed zones of our urban community. In Greater St. Louis and other parts of the urban world; models include counsel and representation for legal issues, financial assistance, housing education, healthcare programs, employment training, etc.

5. Marriage and family: Programs and services that will help to introduce, rebuild, restore and/or enhance the divine sanctity of life, the discovery of personal and relational identity, purpose and destiny. Navigation into the discovery and the fulfillment of these through seminars, personal and group counseling, youth athletic programs, pro-life services and biblical marriage and family training and development. Mentoring and fatherhood initiatives will be a key component of family development.

6. Criminal justice reform: Minority engagement with the criminal justice system is at the core of our current tensions. We need strategic involvement with the criminal justice system. This would include training for prison and jail evangelism workers, and regional partnerships for prison aftercare and job creation.

7. Economic development: In addition to personal financial training, credit repair, and benevolence; many other dimensions of economic equipping can be launched from churches. Investment training, schools of business, and specific entrepreneurial training plans can be developed. There are several different models from St. Louis and beyond that will help position the church to encourage "ethical capitalism."

But can the church actually affect economic development and criminal justice? Undoubtedly, Jackson says.

"As it models unity—as God's people address the racial divide in our own house—yes, new things can happen," Jackson said. "For one, we all see more clearly that we have not just a race problem, but a class problem, a poverty problem. The TRC becomes a clearinghouse of ideas and power through unity. Church, government, business ... together we stand—together we revitalize education, economic development and justice—or divided we fall."

Shawn A. Akers is the online managing editor for Charisma Media.

Practical Steps Toward Racial Reconciliation Across America

Bishop Harry Jackson, one of the nation’s most prominent African-American pastors, along with Bishop T.D. Jakes, senior pastor and New York Times bestselling author, leader and speaker, will come together to host a gathering that is comprised of racially and culturally diverse Christian faith leaders to take practical steps toward racial reconciliation across America.

 

“It was Dr. King who said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” said Bishop Jakes. “We cannot continue as if we live in a post-racial society, when there is mounting evidence to the contrary. Recent history is loudly telegraphing the need for a meaningful dialogue on race.”

“We must begin the conversation in the church where every significant movement impacting the lives of African-Americans has begun,” Jakes continued. “But this is not our fight alone. This is America’s burden as well as her opportunity to rightfully tilt the scales toward justice for all. This is also a tremendous opportunity for the church to be the light in what have been very dark days for our country!”

In addition to Bishops Jackson and Jakes, other conveners include:

• Dr. Alveda King, pastoral associate and director of African-American outreach for Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.;
• Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference/CONELA; and
• Dr. Tony Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and founder and president of The Urban Alternative;
• James Robison, founder and president of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today TV;
• Dr. R.A. Vernon, founder and senior pastor of The Word Church; and
• Dr. Jim Garlow, senior pastor at Skyline Church, among others.

The Reconciled Church: Healing the Racial Divide
January 15, 2015 at The Potter’s House, Dallas, TX

Event Details – Schedule of Events Open to the Public

January 15, 2015
3:00pm Interactive Media Session
7:00pm Prayer and Commissioning Service

The Potter’s House
6777 West Kiest Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75236

National Leaders to Convene in Dallas Jan. 15 to Take Practical Steps toward Racial Reconciliation
Bishop Harry Jackson convenes forum with Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, James Robison, Dr. Jim Garlow, Dr. Tony Evans, Dr. Alveda King, others.

WHAT

“The Reconciled Church: Healing the Racial Divide” is a forum comprised of racially and culturally diverse Christian faith leaders to take practical steps toward racial reconciliation across America.

WHO

Bishop Harry Jackson, one of the nation’s most prominent African-American pastors, is chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition and senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in metro Washington, D.C.

Bishop T.D. Jakes, senior pastor and New York Times bestselling author, leader and speaker, will join Bishop Jackson in hosting a gathering that is expected to draw participants from across the country.

In addition to Bishops Jakes and Jackson, other conveners include:

• Andrew Young, ordained minister, civil rights leader and former mayor of Atlanta and United Nations Ambassador;
• Dr. Alveda King, pastoral associate and director of African-American outreach for Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.;
• Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference/CONELA;
• Dr. Tony Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and founder and president of The Urban Alternative;
• James Robison, founder and president of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today TV;
• Dr. R.A. Vernon, founder and senior pastor of The Word Church; and
• Dr. Jim Garlow, senior pastor at Skyline Church, among others.

WHEN

January 15, 2015, four days prior to Martin Luther King Jr. Day

WHERE

The Potter’s House of Dallas
6777 West Kiest Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75236

DETAILS

“The Reconciled Church” will begin with a private prayer session followed by two prescriptive panel discussions of best practices around the country and potential solutions to heal racial division. The dialogue will center around the seven “Bridges of Peace” including prayer summits; reconciliation forums; community engagement forums; community service and compassion outreaches; personal, marriage and family development; engagement with the criminal justice system; and economic development strategies.

Mid-afternoon, leaders will gather for an interactive session with media to summarize their conversation and consensus for moving forward. A public worship service, commissioning individuals to go out and work for reconciliation, will be held that evening, during which leaders will sign a covenant of reconciliation.

Click here to read the Seven Bridges. Click here to sign the covenant.

SOURCE: The Reconciled Church