BETHEL

The Reverend Dr. Robert Augustus Jackson, Jr. was born in Salem, NJ to Mrs. Charlotte Collins and the late Reverend Dr. Robert A. Jackson, Sr. Reverend Dr. Jackson received his formal education in the Indian River School District and graduated from the Sussex Technical High School, Georgetown, DE. He is married to the former Ms. Moninya Denise Hovington of Rehoboth, DE. They are the proud parents of four sons, Robert Augustus III, Malachi De’Andre, Ramir Andre, and Micah De’Angelo Jackson. Reverend Dr. Jackson attended Hagerstown Community College. He is a graduate of Andersonville Bible College where he received a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Payne Theological Seminary. The Reverend Dr. Jackson has also successfully completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education from the Dayton VA Medical Center in Dayton, OH. Reverend Dr. Jackson earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary with a focus on Transformational Leadership and Faith Rooted Organizing. His dissertation was entitled “Churches Making a Difference: through Community Involvement.” Rev. Dr. Jackson is currently enrolled at Eastern University where he is scheduled to graduate in December 2024 with a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Management.

On June 13, 2009, at the First District Planning Session under the divine leadership of Bishop Richard F. Norris, Sr. Reverend Dr. Jackson was assigned pastor of the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bridgeton, NJ the oldest black church in Bridgeton. During Reverend Dr. Jackson’s successful administration at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, the membership increased, the church became financially solvent, the renovation of the church’s parsonage was completed, and the ministries flourished. Reverend Dr. Jackson was actively involved throughout the community. He was a member of the Nehemiah Coalition which is an organization that strives to offer alternatives to the thousands of young men and women to help them on the road of education, fellowship, and employment. Reverend Dr. Jackson was also a member of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP of Greater Vineland) a civil rights organization for ethnic minorities in the United States.

During the First Episcopal District Annual Founder’s Day celebration on February 12, 2011, Bishop Richard F. Norris, Sr. appointed Reverend Dr. Jackson as the pastor of Israel Memorial A.M.E. Church Newark, NJ. Israel Memorial was known for their innovative worship and community engagement. Under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Jackson, Israel Memorial was a worshiping community which served God through loving, strengthening, and serving humanity. While at Israel Memorial the membership increased, the parsonage was renovated, and new ministries were initiated. Israel Memorial was known as “God’s Lighthouse on the Hill”! Reverend Dr. Jackson also served as the President of the Newark District Ministers Fellowship of the A.M.E. Church which was comprised of 21 local churches. He was also a lead clergy in representing 32BJ SEIU for increase of minimum wage and benefits for airport workers at the Newark Airport. 

Additionally, Reverend Dr. Jackson partnered with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice to develop strategies and legislation to “Ban the Box” in New Jersey which allowed formerly incarcerated persons to obtain employment. Reverend Dr. Jackson was also selected to participate in the Newark FBI Citizens Academy training. Reverend Dr. Jackson continued to impact the community by serving as a board member to “The New Jersey AIDS Partnership” which is the collaborative effort of private and corporate foundation leaders, public health officials, service providers, and people living with HIV/AIDS and other community leaders who believe that HIV/AIDS is fought most effectively at the community level. While there are many charitable giving foundations and organizations, the New Jersey AIDS Partnership is unique. The Partnership is the only charitable giving fund in New Jersey that is solely committed to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Reverend Dr. Jackson served as the Lifelines to Healing Organizer for Faith in NJ. Faith in New Jersey is an interfaith and multi-racial network of faith-communities working to advance a racial and economic justice agenda in the GardenState. In this capacity Reverend Dr. Jackson organized clergy and congregations to stop neighborhood violence and promotes public policies that opened education and employment opportunities while ending the mass incarceration.

At the First Episcopal District Fall Convocation, November 14, 2015, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram transferred Reverend Dr. Jackson to the New England Annual Conference and appointed him to serve as the Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Stamford, CT. Reverend Dr. Jackson continues to serve God and make a difference in the community. Since arriving at Bethel Church, ministries have been reorganized and special emphasis has been placed on spiritual renewal, outreach initiatives, and financial accountability. He led the church in over $500,000 worth of renovations and improvements of the parsonage, church sanctuary, installing a new HVAC system, electrical system, replaced the entire roof, fellowship hall, lower-level restrooms, and offices. 

Reverend Dr. Jackson currently serves as a board member of Pacific House an organization that seeks to eradicate homelessness in Fairfield County and the Mill River Park Collaborative. He also is a member of the Interfaith Council of Clergy in Stamford, West Side Coalition, Stamford Leadership Response Coalition, Stamford Juvenile Review Board, Alliance for Black Achievement, and the Re-entry Roundtable Council. Reverend Dr. Jackson served as the 2020 Census Co-Chair for the Faith-Based Subcommittee in Stamford and former Co-Chair of the Board for Project Overcome. Reverend Dr. Jackson works in partnership with several non-profit organizations throughout Fairfield County to improve the lives of residents.

Additionally, Rev. Dr. Jackson serves as the founder and executive director of the Lighthouse Community Development Corporation. The Lighthouse Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a nonprofit 501c3, founded in 2019. The mission is to improve the quality of life of residents in Stamford and neighboring communities through family life services, cultural arts, education, re-entry programs, mentorship and economic development. LCDC is committed to helping constituents in building a pathway to success. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors for his activism and leadership in the communities he has been privileged to serve. He received 2014 “Community Leadership Award” from the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Delta Pi Chapter, the 2018 “Outstanding Father Figure Award” and the 2019 “Citizen of the Year Award” from the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Nu Chapter, Stamford – Norwalk, Connecticut. During the pandemic, he led many outreach initiatives to meet the needs of the church and community. As a result of his leadership and commitment to the city of Stamford, Mayor Caroline Simmons recently named November 12th as “Pastor Robert A. Jackson, Jr.” day.