Special to The Truth
On Saturday, July 15, 2023, Rev. Jesse Jackson
named Frederick Douglass Haynes, III, DMin, as the new President and CEO of
Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Rev. Jackson officially announced his
retirement on Friday, June 15. The official announcement of the leadership
shift will take place on Sunday, July 16, 2023at the Rainbow PUSH
Coalition’s national convention at the Apostolic Church of God in
Woodlawn. Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to speak.
In addition to this new role at the helm of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition,
Frederick D. Haynes, III, is the senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist
Church, a megachurch in Dallas, Texas, with more than 13,000 members.
While Dr. Haynes recently announced Pastor David McGruder as the executive
pastor of Friendship-West, Haynes will remain the senior pastor.
“Rev. Jesse Jackson has made the world a better place, breaking down
barriers, opening previously locked doors of opportunity, fighting for
justice and refusing to take “no” for an answer on behalf of those who
have no voice,” said Haynes. “Rainbow PUSH has been the
organizational vehicle that he has driven in the movement for justice. I am
honored and humbled that he has ‘tapped’ me to serve as his successor
as the President and CEO of this great organization. Rev. Jackson has been
a mentor and I have been greatly influenced and inspired by this
game-changing social justice general, international ambassador for human
rights, and prophetic genius. Sadly, justice and human rights are under
attack in the nation and around the world. The work of Rainbow PUSH is as
necessary as ever and I am committed to standing on the shoulders of Rev.
Jackson and continuing the fight for freedom, peace, equity, justice and
human rights.”
Haynes is best known as a social justice pastor and advocate for
marginalized communities. Known nationally as “the drum major for
justice,” he has modeled his ministry like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
focused on the intersections of faith and justice. Dr. Haynes works
diligently to stand up for justice and to create positive change
nationally. From leading protests and demonstrations, to registering
thousands of voters, to providing food and other needed resources, to
decreasing crime, to serving as a voting super center, Dr. Haynes and
Friendship-West Baptist Church have always been in the forefront of
creating positive and lasting social change.
As a civil rights leader and activist, Haynes has had a longstanding
relationship with Rev. Jackson.
Haynes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and English, a
Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as
well as a Doctorate in Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation
where he was afforded the opportunity to study at Christ Church, Oxford
University in England. Currently, Haynes is a Doctor of Philosophy
(PhD) candidate at the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis,
Indiana where he is studying African American preaching and sacred
rhetoric.
Haynes is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He
also serves on the Board of Trustees for Paul Quinn College as well as
various other boards dedicated to the advancement of Dallas for all
residents, particularly those in underserved and minority communities. He
also serves in the academic arena, teaching college courses and workshops
at Paul Quinn College, Texas Christian University, McCormick Theological
Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and other institutions of
higher learning.
Haynes has received numerous awards and honors for his ministry and
activism. In 2011, Haynes had the prestigious honor of being the
featured speaker at The Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Prayer
Breakfast. In 2012, Ebony Magazine named him to its Power 100 list of most
influential African Americans. He was also inducted into the National Black
College Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, Dr. Haynes was honored to give
remarks at the memorial service of one of the most respected world leaders
of the 20th and 21st centuries, President Nelson Mandela.
In 2016, Haynes was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. In
2020, Haynes was a featured speaker during the Democratic National
Convention’s faith event, “Our Values, Our Voices, Our Votes.” The
prestigious April 4th Foundation awarded Haynes the I am a Man Award in
2020 and he joined the ranks of past honorees that include Congresswoman
Maxine Waters, Diane Nash, Congressman John Lewis, and Harry Belafonté. In
2022, Haynes was awarded by President Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Joseph
R. Biden Jr. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award in
Community Service.
A life-long learner, Haynes is committed to education and has led
Friendship-West to donate over $1 million dollars to historically Black
colleges and universities. In addition, Friendship-West has donated over $2
million in scholarship aid to students who are members of the church and
the greater Dallas community. Haynes is the namesake of the Dr.
Frederick D. Haynes, III Global Preparatory School, located on the campus
of Paul Quinn College, which serves students grades 6-12 who seek to enter
the International Baccalaureate program.
As a reflection of his commitment to community transformation and social
consciousness, Haynes serves in various leadership capacities in
organizations that champion social change and education. In 2003, he
founded the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference along with Rev. Jeremiah
A. Wright, Jr. and Iva E. Carruthers and currently serves as
co-chairman of the board. Haynes is on the board of the Conference of
National Black Churches, the National Action Network, and the IC3 Church
Growth and Development Conference. He also serves as a member of the Board
of Trustees of Paul Quinn College, an HBCU in Dallas, Texas where he has
also served as an adjunct professor.