Major J. Jones

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 the year 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 is the oldest of three siblings. His two brothers include Samuel and Lincoln Jones, and his youngest sister is Mrs. Jerry (Susie) Drayton.
Education
In 1941 Jones attended Clark College where he received his B.A. in Divinity. After graduating from Clark he then attended the Gammon Theological Seminary where he received his M.A. in Divinity. In 1950 he received his masters of sacred theology degree 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. Also, he 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, which is 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 once 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 the various aspects of it. 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 which 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 novel Dr. Jones defines Black awareness as the emergence of black selfhood and he 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 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 blacks have the same right as whites to claim that God is black. Dr. Jones believes that religion should be an international part of a students life; but he feels that it should be kept in prospective. He said that religion “should be incorporated in everyday living,” and he recommends that students back up the emotional side of their religious content. 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 settled”, but he admired all of the young people that make it through.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu