What was Absalom Jones famous for?

Answer 1

Absalom Jones was the first African-American to be ordained in the Episcopal Church of the United States. He was nicknamed "the Black Bishop of the Episcopal Church."

He was born a slave in Delaware in 1746 and taught himself to read. Later he was sold to a store-owner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the years he was able to earn money and purchase his wife's and then his own freedom. He joined St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church (Methodism wasn't it's own denomination yet at that time). He and another free Black man named Richard Allen - who would become the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first African-American denomination - worked very hard to spread the Good News among their fellow African-Americans and the Black membership of St. George's grew enormously.

Unfortunately, the white members of St. George's gave into their racism and tried to segregate the Black members into the upper gallery of the Church without even having discussed this very un-Christian decision with Jones, Allen or the other Black members of the Church. Instead of going meekly upstairs, the Black members walked out in a body in protest.

In the next few years Jones became a leader of the Free African Society, which built a church for itself. In 1794 that Church applied for membership in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. Again, the African-Americans were bold and demanded that they be given control of their own affairs within the church on an equal footing and that Absalom Jones be made their minister and, if qualified, ordained.

Jones was ordained a Deacon in 1795 and a priest in 1802. He was apparently "an earnest preacher" who actively denounced the institution of slavery. "To him, God was the Father, who always acted 'on behalf of the oppressed and distressed.'"

Before almost any white Christian was able to see the fact that God stands on the side of the oppressed, Jones - like many Black Christians - found the Gospel to be not just an idea about eternal salvation but an inspiration to struggle for their liberation from the forces of evil.

Today, we can see this belief coming to life in the movement called Liberation Theology. Absalom Jones is commemorated by the Episcopal Church on February 13.

A prayer for Jones' commemoration: Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sources: "Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints," Church Publishing, Inc. 2010. (And Absalom Jones is one of my patron saints b/c my birthday is Feb. 13th!)