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"African American
Pastor of 2000-Member D.C. Church Takes Initiative Appealing to the Congressional
Black Caucus on Behalf of 74% of African-American Community"
by Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr
http://www.thehopeconnection.org
 Dear
Elijah List Readers and PROPHETIC.TV Viewers,
I had a delightful, nearly-hour-long conversation with Bishop Harry Jackson the
day before yesterday. It was a God-conversation.
We already carry Bishop Jackson's book The Warriors Heart and have just added
his newest book, High Impact African-American Churches.
I found Bishop Jackson, on the phone, to be a very humble man, though he ministers
all over the world, pastors a 2000-member church in Washington, D.C., does a TV
program, and writes for Charisma and other Christian organizations. He counts Rick
Joyner, Francis Frangipane, Cindy Jacobs, and more among his friends.
I just call him Harry and He calls me Steve. We are, as I write this, planning on
publishing one or more articles by Harry, who has a special prophetic message to
both the White and the Black Churches of America -- as well as simply a general
message to the Church in America, regardless of color. We are also planning a
television show to be streamed all over the world via the web with Bishop Harry
Jackson.
A prophetic minister himself, Harry Jackson has a word also to the Church about
our stand that we must take TODAY for the Constitutional Marriage Amendment and
issues of Life.
We are including information about Bishop Harry's two books, but please read
what Harry wrote on behalf of the team of people who petitioned the Black Caucus
of the United States Congress.
This is a man (and his wife) who needs our intense prayers, for he has not walked,
but rather, he has RUN right up to the front line of the battle -- Therefore,
he's earned (in my view) the respect and right to be listened to very carefully
by the Body of Christ.
I shared with Harry how I often say that "as Christians, we are neither Republican
nor Democrat (and neither is God), but rather, we are MONARCHISTS -- that is, we
serve a reigning King!" . . . to which Harry replied, "You and I think a lot alike!"
Enjoy, and please take the opportunity to call your congressmen and senators or
use the attached letter.
On the national news yesterday, they spoke that many states are standing firm against
same-sex marriage, but the one closest to potentially not standing firm is OREGON,
the very state from which I am writing this to you.
Please stand with us on behalf of Oregon and the nation for a ban on same-sex marriage
and take a solid and unwavering stand FOR a constitutional amendment for a ban on
same-sex marriages. We'll never solve the abortion issue if this issue is not first
tackled.
Blessings,
Steve Shultz,
THE ELIJAH LIST www.elijahlist.com
PROPHETIC.TV www.prophetic.tv
African American Pastor of 2000-member D.C. Church Takes Initiative Appealing to
the Congressional Black Caucus on behalf of 74% of African American Community
 Harry
R. Jackson, Jr. is senior pastor of Hope Christian Church (http://www.thehopeconnection.org/)
located in College Park, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. This growing church
of over 2000 attendees has multiple locations throughout the metropolitan area and
represents over 22 nationalities and/or cultural groups. Hope's ministries include
a Bible College and an active missions ministry involved in sending worship and
teaching teams to various nations.
Bishop Jackson has preached in over 11 nations, in local churches, Bible schools,
pastors' conferences, and crusades. Bishop Jackson's ministry revolves around two
major focuses: personal communion with Christ and equipping believers for local
church service.
National Summit of African-American Pastors, drafting a Statement and Request
to the CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
Steve Shultz:
"The National Summit of African-American Pastors, are in my view, being the most
heroic of groups. It takes a lot of guts and the call of God for this group to petition
the Congressional Black Caucus. They need our prayer. Thank God for this kind of
leadership among our African-American Pastors. Again, in my opinion, this takes
heroic bravery...and all the more bravery for the Congressional Black Caucus to
respond positively to this request by these wonderful pastors! Wow!" - Steve Shultz,
THE ELIJAH LIST (www.elijahlist.com) and PROPHETIC.TV (www.Prophetic.tv)
Statement and Request to the
Congressional Black Caucus From the National Summit of African-American Pastors
--Washington, DC
September 8, 2004
We, the undersigned, acknowledge you as our elected voice in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Your role is critical to the well being of both your local constituents and the
black community nationally.
For this reason, we respectfully request that the Congressional
Black Caucus quickly take heed to the voice of 74% of the African-American community
who support protecting marriage as a union only between one man and one woman.
It is no secret that black families have been under assault in recent years. Divorce,
teenage pregnancy, fatherless homes, and a disproportionate number of HIV-AIDS cases
are all unattractive aspects of the black family landscape. In addition, new research
shows that there are already clear signs of long-term marital breakdown of the black
family.
Only one-third of all black babies are born into a two-parent, married family. In
other words, two out of every three newborn blacks enter the world with an unwed
mother and no consistent father figure. The sad but undeniable truth is that most
black children, whether they are born to an unmarried mother or are raised by a
single mom after enduring the agony of parental conflict and divorce, are raised
in less-than-ideal circumstances related to their moral, spiritual, social, emotional,
and financial environment.
These trends should not be overlooked. They must be addressed. Further destabilization
of traditional marriage must be prevented at all costs.
Also, the experience of other nations demonstrates that the imposition of
same-sex marriage and civil unions leads to a weakening of the institution of marriage.
As scholar Stanley Kurtz has shown, in Scandinavia, the system of marriage-like,
same-sex registered partnerships established in the late 1980s has contributed significantly
to the ongoing decline of marriage in that region.
In the Netherlands, same-sex marriage has increased the cultural separation of marriage
from parenthood, resulting in a soaring out-of-wedlock birthrate. Kurtz warns that
same-sex "marriage" could widen the separation between marriage and parenthood here
in the United States.
Further, renowned British anthropologist J.D. Unwin, whose studies chronicled 86
different cultures throughout history, discovered that every nation that rejected
monogamy in marriage disintegrated morally in less than one generation.
As bishops, pastors, ministers, evangelists and leaders, we want to join forces
with you to protect black families at this defining moment in American history.
We are calling on the Congressional Black Caucus to take a leadership role in the
development of a Constitutional Amendment.
We believe a Constitutional Amendment is vitally necessary because the Defense of
Marriage Act has been consistently challenged by Federal Judges. It is appalling
that to date none of the Congressional Black Caucus has voted to limit the federal
court jurisdiction of state marriage laws. (HR3313-Hostettler)
Historically, we as African-Americans understand the need to eliminate loopholes
in legislation. For example, when the Emancipation Proclamation was written, it
was still necessary that a constitutional amendment be passed so that slavery would
be outlawed in every state. The same process is needed to protect marriage today.
Because of the Full Faith and Credit Article of the Constitution, it is imperative
that one man/one woman marriage be uniformly protected in every state.
Our request that you support of a Constitutional Amendment to protect marriage should
not be interpreted as automatic support for any candidate or political party. In
addition, let it be known that we do not advocate violence against gays or lesbians,
or gay bashing. This amendment simply represents the public will, biblical teaching,
and the consensus of this group. We only desire to protect the moral foundations
of our society.
President George Washington articulated our position in his farewell address.
He stated, "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity,
Religion and morality are indispensable supports." As spiritual and community leaders
of this nation, we stand for the biblical and community institutions that have made
our nation great.
===================================
Bishop Harry Jackson. . . "Here is how to write to your Congressman"
====================================
Date
The Honorable ______
_________House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative __________:
Our nation is at the same defining moment in history similar
to when the Emancipation Proclamation was written. It was necessary that a Constitutional
amendment be passed so that slavery would be outlawed in every state. The same process
is needed today to stop homosexual marriage.
I believe a Constitutional amendment is vitally necessary
because the Defense of Marriage Act has been consistently challenged by federal
judges. It is imperative that one man/one woman marriage be uniformly protected
in every state.
I urge you to support a Constitutional amendment fully
protecting one man/one woman marriage. I do NOT support homosexual marriage in any
form including civil unions."
Sincerely,
Name
Address
City
====================================
More complete bio of Harry Jackson:
http://www.thehopeconnection.org/
Harry R. Jackson, Jr. is senior pastor of Hope Christian Church located in College
Park, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. This growing church of over 2000 attendees
has multiple locations throughout the metropolitan area and represents over 22 nationalities
and/or cultural groups. Hope's ministries include a Bible College and an active
missions ministry involved in sending worship and teaching teams to various nations.
Bishop Jackson has preached in over 11 nations, in local churches, Bible schools,
pastors' conferences and crusades. Bishop Jackson's ministry revolves around two
major focuses: personal communion with Christ and equipping believers for local
church service.
His teaching ministry has taken him to Bible schools, leadership conferences and
churches in the United States and abroad. Bishop Jackson's unique teaching ministry,
"The Hope Connection," can be seen in the United States weekly on a morning television
broadcast program as well as several daily radio broadcasts. The Hope Connection
is also seen in 24 countries in Europe. The ministry can also be accessed via the
World Wide Web at www.thehopeconnection.org,
all a part of Hope's media outreach ministry.
Bishop Jackson was a scholar athlete in high school and college. He earned a Bachelor
of Arts degree in English from Williams College in 1975. After a few years in sales
and marketing management, Bishop Jackson returned to school to earn a Masters of
Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1980. Finally, for
his work in Bible schools and churches domestically and abroad, Bishop Jackson was
awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Christian Life School of Theology
in Columbus, Georgia, in 1996.
In December 1999 Bishop Jackson was consecrated a bishop of the Fellowship of International
Churches (FOIC). The FOIC's vision is, in part, to promote restoration of kingdom
reality in the marketplace and to prepare the church for a revival of holiness.
Its mission is, in part, their construction of society through church planting and
making multicultural disciples from each generation.
Harry is married to his childhood friend, Michele. They have two adult daughters,
Joni Michele and Elizabeth.
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