Major J. Jones

Major J. Jones
File:Major J. Jones.jpgMajor J. Jones.jpg Major J. Jones.jpg
Born	1918 Rome, Georgia, U.S.
19931993
💼 Occupation	Pastor, Teacher, District Superintendent
👩 Spouse(s)	Mattie Parker
👶 Children	Mrs. Chandra Jones Foster
👪 Relatives	Samuel Jones (brother) Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Jones (brother) Dr. and Mrs. Jerry (Susie) Drayton (sister)

Major Jones (1918–1993) was an African American United Methodist minister, author, district superintendent of the Tennessee Conference, and an adjunct professor at Clark Atlanta University. Jones was born in Rome, Georgia in 1918 and raised in DeKalb County, Georgia. He attended Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Later, he attended Clark College where he received his B.A. in divinity in 1941. Throughout his lifetime, Jones used his voice to speak on the topic of theology and, most specifically, African American involvement in theology. Jones believed that theological education was imperative to equip the Black ministry for leadership within a broad range of community life.

Early life

Major J. Jones was born in the small city of Rome, Georgia, but was raised in DeKalb County, Georgia, where he later attended Booker T. Washington High School. Jones was the oldest of three siblings. His two brothers were Samuel and Lincoln Jones, and his youngest sister was Mrs. Jerry (Susie) Drayton.

Education

In 1941, Jones attended Clark College where he received his B.A. in Divinity. After graduating from Clark, he attended Gammon Theological Seminary where he received his M.A. in Divinity. In 1950, he received his master's degree in sacred theology from Oberlin College. Lastly, Jones received his doctorate in theology from Boston University in 1957. While at Boston University, Jones met his friend and colleague Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and he later became one of the early activists along with Dr. King and Dr. Lowery in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He also received two honorary degrees: a Doctor of Ministry from Vanderbilt University in 1972, and a Doctor of Divinity from Clark College in 1985.

Career

A United Methodist Minister, Jones served as the pastor of Heck Chapel Church in Griffin, Georgia, Ariel Bowen in Atlanta, Georgia, and Stanley Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. During his tenure, he served as district superintendent of the Tennessee Conference, and as the President of the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools and the Society of Christian Ethics. Jones later became President of Gammon Theological Seminary, one of six seminaries comprising the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. He served as the President of the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools and President of the Society of Christian ethics, and was the National Treasurer of the SCLC and a member of the National Board of Directors at the time of his death. Jones was a member of the Board of Trustees at Clark Atlanta University, and after he retired, he served as an adjunct Professor at Clark Atlanta University, the Chaplain counselor of the Atlanta University Center and the Robert W. Woodruff Library. He was also the Founder of the AU Learned Society. Jones authored four books on African-American theology, and many of his writings analyzed the Black church and its various aspects. His books include Black Awareness: A Theology of Hope, A Christian Ethics for Black Theology: The Politics of Liberation, and Color of God.

Black Awareness: A Theology of Hope

Black Awareness: A Theology of Hope was written in 1971. It is a well-balanced dialogue that transcends rhetoric and ideology and leaves the audience to ponder the really difficult questions of violence, revolution, the ultimate directions, and hopes for Black liberation in relation to an inclusive human community. In this book, Dr. Jones expresses concern over how slow the progress is in the full acceptance of Black people. In this book, Dr. Jones defines Black awareness as the emergence of Black selfhood and states that this is the image of the Black man’s aspirations for the future. Dr. Jones seeks to correlate Christian theology with the realities of the Black experience, and the hope from a Black perspective is included with the affirmation of the Black man as well as the white man. Dr. Jones feels that the ultimate goal is to create a community in which all people are treated as equals. Dr. Jones feels that the journey toward selfhood and community always includes openness toward others. In his dialogue, he raises the question: How shall inclusiveness be achieved? He asks this question because he feels that history has set the two—Black and white—on a confrontation course, and the point of contact will be one of interchange and mutual agreement because he recognizes that struggle and confrontation will be unavoidable in progress toward a community in which every person, race, and ethnic group is fully accepted.

The Color of God

The Color of God was written in 1987, and in this book, Dr. Jones emphasizes that in order for God to understand each of our problems, he must transform into a likeness of each of us. These thoughts are almost the same as a man not being able to totally understand issues that are female-oriented. In this book, Dr. Jones makes the point that Black people have the same right as white people to claim that God is Black. Dr. Jones believes that religion should be an integral part of a student's life; but he feels that it should be kept in perspective. He said that religion “should be incorporated in everyday living,” and he recommends that students back up the emotional side of their religious convictions. He feels that students tend to use religion as a crutch or as a means of escape from responsibilities, so he suggests that students replace these thoughts with discipline, and always remember that God helps those who first help themselves. He declared that this society is a great deal more complex than in the 1960s because he says that racism of today has a new twist—“it is more subtle”—but he admired all of the young people that make it through.

References

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