The Board of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church offers heartfelt honor and profound gratitude for the life, labor, and legacy of the Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.—a towering servant of God whose ministry reshaped the moral landscape of a nation and inspired generations across the world. We were saddened when we learned of his passing. His presence in the struggle helped to shape what it meant to be on the cutting edge of the fight for freedom!
Rev. Jackson understood that freedom is not free. He understood that it, as one of our inalienable rights, endowed by our Creator, in this nation and around the world, comes with a tremendous cost. To that end, he understood that all of us have our part to play until equality is achieved. Rev. Jackson has stood as a steadfast drum major for justice, a courageous advocate for the poor, and a relentless champion for human dignity. From the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement to the global stages of diplomacy, he has carried the Bible’s call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” with uncommon conviction. His voice has been a balm to the wounded, a trumpet against injustice, and a beacon of hope for those who dared to believe that a better world was possible with his central message, “Keep Hope Alive.”
We honor him as a servant leader whose ministry transcended pulpits and sanctuaries by reaching into the streets, schools, prisons, and nations around the world. His work with Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition expanded the table of opportunity in social justice and economic empowerment for African Americans and united the marginalized. His presidential campaigns broadened the imagination of America. His unwavering commitment to voting rights, economic equity, and global peace reflects the very heart of our Zion tradition—a tradition rooted in liberation, empowerment, and the sacred worth of every child of God.
Rev. Jackson’s courage was never performative; it was pastoral. His activism was never detached; it was deeply incarnational. He walked with the people, spoke for the voiceless, and stood in the breach when others stepped back. Through triumphs and trials, he remained faithful to the call God placed upon his life.
Today, we salute him not only as a civil rights icon, but as a brother in ministry—one whose prophetic witness strengthened the Black Church, fortified the struggle for freedom, and reminded the world that faith without works is dead.
May God continue to bless the family of Rev. Jackson with peace, strength, and the assurance that his labor has not been in vain. He dedicated his life to the good fight and has now finished his course. May his memory and legacy ever be a blessing. And may we, the inheritors of his example, continue the work of justice with the same courage, compassion, and conviction that defined his extraordinary journey of living through segregation, marching alongside civil rights activists like the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to see the election and inauguration of the first black president, Barack Hussein Obama, II.
Rev. Jessie Louis Jackson, Sr., did HIS job! It is now up to all of us to “Keep Hope Alive.”
Submitted with love, deep respect, and abiding gratitude,
