Dallas pastor to succeed Rev. Jesse Jackson as leader of Rainbow PUSH Coalition
DALLAS - A Dallas pastor will succeed the Reverend Jesse Jackson as leader of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
The Reverend Frederick Douglass Haynes III was formally introduced Sunday at the coalition’s national convention in Chicago.
Vice President Kamala Harris was there to congratulate the Dallas reverend as its newly appointed president.
Rev. Haynes said he's been a student and follower of Jackson for a long time.
"What Rev. Jackson did was say faith without works is dead. It’s not enough to shout it out in church on Sunday you’ve got to hit the streets during the week. You’ve got to speak truth to power in the corporate suite," he said.
Rev. Jackson is retiring from the civil rights group he started in 1971 to advocate for peace and justice around the world and level the economic and educational playing fields.
The 81-year-old has been battling Parkinson’s disease and plans to pivot to teaching young ministers how to fight for social justice.
Rev. Jesse Jackson steps down as leader of civil rights group founded in 1971
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who is 81, is stepping down as president from the civil rights group he founded more than 50 years ago, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Rev. Haynes has served as head pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church for 40 years.
"There are not many in the faith community, African-American or just generally who kind of have evidenced the heart for justice, the passion for the least of these as Dr. Haynes had in his generation. So I think that more than anything is why Rev. Jackson would choose someone like Dr. Haynes," said David Malcolm, an executive pastor at Friendship West Baptist Church.
The church said not much will change for them and they will pray for the reverend's decision-making in his new role.