Bishop discusses role of church

Religion professor Cornel West GS '80 and author and evangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes met to discuss the issues facing Christian churches in modern America in a packed University Chapel on Wednesday evening.

The public event, titled "Preachers, Profits and the Prophetic: The New Face of American Evangelicalism," was part of the "Conversation" lecture series organized by the Program in African-American Studies.

Jakes is currently pastor of The Potter House, a multiracial, nondenominational church in Dallas with more than 30,000 members. He also hosts a daily television program called "The Potter's Touch," and has been named one of America's "25 Most Influential Evangelicals" by Time magazine.

The speakers focused on the necessity for an open dialogue among the people of the world. Both West and Jakes agreed that in order for progress to be made in any form, people of all kinds have to avoid the temptation to argue.

Jakes and West used the responses to Hurricane Katrina as an example. In response to West's comment that "Katrina coincided with povertina," Jakes said he was able to raise $1 million in 45 minutes while the federal government was still "arguing."

The conversation, which lasted for an hour and a half, ranged from Jakes' childhood, to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to the rights of previously incarcerated people in America.

Jakes, who will have been preaching for 30 years next September, began the evening by answering West's questions about his difficult childhood and his journey to success. He spoke at length about the influence of his family on shaping his person.

"The tunnels that I dug in the word of God were to heal me and consequently became systems that began to heal a generation," Jakes said, referring to his religious influence on America.

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The two then discussed the role of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The speakers expressed their appreciation for King's role in raising the awareness of a generation and setting the groundwork for the generations to come.

Jakes articulated the need for an African-American voice in the modern world and spoke about the current government's use of the church as a pawn.

"We need to stop blaming the church because the government doesn't have the nerve to take a stand," Jakes said, using the issue of gay rights as an example.

In a question and answer session following the discussion, the moderator read a question sent by a man in prison, which prompted Jakes to talk about the rights that a freed former criminal should have in the justice system and the drastic longterm effects of having been imprisoned. "A politician can admit that he smoked a joint and run for office, but a young boy can be caught with a joint and can never vote," Jakes said.

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Throughout the evening, Jakes emphasized the lesson his mother taught him years ago. "The world is a university and everyone in it is a teacher, and when you get up in the morning, be sure you go to school."