Dallas Pastor TD Jakes says he’s looking for a strong leader in the next president of the U.S., not necessarily faith.
One of the most influential black leaders today, Jakes has the ear of President George W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton. He says the black clergy faces big challenges as the 2008 presidential election draws near, as they weigh competing strategies on how to work effectively for the betterment of their community.
But the challenges extend beyond the black community, Jakes says.
“I think really religion in general is struggling with politics, not just African Americans. Many, many times we’ve allowed ourselves to be taken up under the control of this party or that party, and I think that’s dangerous when you do that,” he tells Michele Norris.
“I don’t think that God should be assigned to a party. When the party goes bad, then the clergy are embarrassed, and I think that faith should transcend politics,” he says.
“If you’re going to be an effective leader… you can’t just be the president of the Christians, you have to be the president of the United States which incorporates atheists, agnostics and all brands of faith. And many Christians don’t understand that. They see this as a Christian nation but I don’t see this as a theocracy, I see it as a democracy.”
