In 1965, Jesse Jackson left the Chicago
Theological Seminary (CTS) to devote his energy to the civil rights movement
under Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At the time, he was only a few credits
shy of completing his master's degree.
This year, a faculty committee at CTS reviewed
the work and achievements of Reverend Jackson over the past 35 years. They
decided that he had satisfied the degree requirements of the Master of
Divinity Program, and recommended to CTS President, Dr. Susan B. Thistlethwaite,
that he be granted the Master of Divinity degree. The Commencement
ceremony took place June 3, 2000, at Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 South
Woodlawn, Chicago, at 12:00 noon. (Admission was by invitation.)
"With his remarkable accomplishments in
the areas in which the degree program focuses -- for example, preaching
or global sensitivity -- no one could doubt that Rev. Jackson has completed
these credits," said Dr. Thistlethwaite. As a student at the Chicago
Theological Seminary, Reverend Jackson was exposed to the ideas of church
transformation, and motivated to examine the role of the church in shaping
public policy and transforming society. Among other activities, he organized
KOCO, the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization.
Dr. Martin Luther King wanted Jackson to
serve as the regional director of his Operation Breadbasket, an organization
dedicated to improving the economic state of the Black community.
Operation Breadbasket had made headway in other cities, but grew rapidly
in Chicago under Rev. Jackson's leadership, and continued to grow even
after Dr. King's assassination. Operation Breadbasket was re-christened
Operation PUSH in 1971.
"I am deeply touched by the recognition
that Chicago Theological Seminary has given by including me in the class
of 2000," said Rev. Jackson. "This institution connected me to the great
theologians, such as Neibuhr and Tillich, and solidified my belief that
if we try we can each make a difference. I am looking forward to receiving
my degree in June."
Reverend Jackson's social, economic, and
political work grew steadily in the following decades, culminating in his
1984 and 1988 presidential bids, and the establishment of the National
Rainbow Coalition. In 1995, he merged the Rainbow Coalition and Operation
PUSH, and the flagship Rainbow/ PUSH Coalition was born.