The video of a prominent Detroit pastor's ordination ceremony has been criticized as "sexual" and "offensive." The internet buzz has become so loud that Bishop Wayne T. Jackson of Impact Ministries International Church claims that he is being "bullied" and has attempted to have the video removed from YouTube, reports The Detroit News.
Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...
The clip shows Jackson praying and laying on top of the new bishops. The men are shrouded in red and white cloths during the ceremony. Jackson claims the ordination is similar to the ordination of Catholic priests. The video of the August 2012 ceremony has gone viral in the past week and now has 62,000+ views.
"I have done nothing wrong," said Jackson, a grandfather and married father of nine, said Tuesday. "This was done in front of a thousand people. It was not done in secret."
Jackson said detractors "took over" his Facebook page and posted insulting remarks about the ceremony. "This was really Internet bullying," said Jackson.
He said his attorney is seeking a cease-and-desist order to pull the video from YouTube. "They are using my likeness to spew hate," said Jackson, senior pastor of the church and founder of The Impact Network, a Christian broadcasting network solely owned by African-Americans. "This has been a main attack on homosexuals. If [the ministers] call themselves Christians, they should be leading people with love."
The Rev. Anthony Evans, president of the Washington, D.C.-based National Black Church Initiative, said Jackson "has a right to develop any ceremony he chooses" — but the practice is unusual, offensive and seems to promote homosexuality, a taboo in the black church.
Jackson's analogy to "bullying" is a disservice to the many, many people—especially LGBT—who have been bullied and harassed in the Black church. And it doesn't appear that Jackson or his ministry are inclusive or LGBT-affirming, so that comparison is just a smoke screen.
Carry on, bishop. Watch the grinding—oops, ordination "ceremony"— AFTER THE JUMP ...
What a joke!!! Lo!!!
Posted by: Warry | 24 January 2013 at 16:33
In the words of Project Runway's Nina Garcia; "I don't get it". That was creepy & uncomfortable to watch.
Posted by: bart | 24 January 2013 at 16:55
I don't understand the controversy. It looked like much of the typical bat-sh*t stuff you see in many non-denominational Black churches and even some white non-denominational churches.
Posted by: Louis | 24 January 2013 at 19:51
Ahh yes, Religion... The Evil Hypocritical Fairy Tale that keeps on giving..SMH
Posted by: Black Pegasus | 24 January 2013 at 23:53
It is odd that this is only now being attacked, when it has been happening since 1998. Also, I don't know why you suggest that only LGBT people can be bullied via the internet. Other people have been and can be bulied via the internet; bullying does not start and stop with LGBT people.
Posted by: Masai | 25 January 2013 at 03:09
Masai:
SIGH. Rod didn't suggest that "ONLY LGBT people can be bullied via the internet." He said using the word "bullying" is a disservice to the many LGBT people in the Black church who have been bullied. People leaving negative comments about a prominent televangelist/business owner/church leader's (freaky) ordination does NOT equal "bullying." The "bishop" is not a 12 year old with no resources and being harassed because he is different.
FWIW, I don't recall Jackson's church or almost ANY major church ever taking a pro-active stand against bullying. Please provide a link. If anything, the churches and religious leaders have been opposing bullying legislation and policies in schools and school districts across the nation.
Not sure are you a brainwashed church queen or a straight bible thumper but you are seriously off the mark. Seriously.
Posted by: Former COGIC | 25 January 2013 at 11:39
"...Not sure are you a brainwashed church queen or a straight bible thumper ..."
They sound the same, right?
Masai, I didn't realize Bishop Jackson and his church were such strong opponents of bullying. That must be very comforting to the many black gay men and lesbians who have been attacked from the pulpit, mocked, thrown out of their homes and beaten up and assaulted for being gay.
Posted by: Greg G | 25 January 2013 at 13:43
This was very uncomfortable to watch. Wow.
Posted by: Tony | 25 January 2013 at 15:41
Had to let out a laugh.Never in all my life have I seen anyone prepared for burial...on their stomach!Turn the new bishops onto their backs and this ceremony takes on a whole new view and even the bishop himself would have to stop and rethink it. Also does this church ordain female bishops and do they go through the same ritual? What does the ceremony represent? The white sheet, then the red sheet then the bishop hops on the new guys?! This ceremony to me has nothing to do with dying to the world and letting Christ live in you. The KJV Bible 2 Kings 4 32-37 is one incident where this is performed in scripture,[that's another issue in itself] however this bishop has strayed from the scriptural process.Anyway I remember now why I stopped attending church, all the stories in the bible are only good for one use, by that I mean has anyone else ever walked on water again,survived being thrown in a oven,parted the red sea? I'll pass on attending this church too.
Posted by: gb | 26 January 2013 at 15:32