Bishop TD Jakes Retires

Bishop TD Jakes Retires

Bishop TD Jakes, the founder and senior pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, is passing the torch to a new generation of leaders.

 

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In a service held on Sunday, Jakes announced his decision to appoint his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Touré Roberts, as the senior pastors of the church he founded. They are expected to assume their roles later this year, after relocating to Dallas in 2022 and serving as assistant pastors of The Potter’s House since 2023.

Jakes expressed his gratitude for nearly 50 years of serving the local and global community as a pastor, global faith leader, and unwavering truth teller. As he enters his 50th year in the public eye, he recognized the pressing need to address contemporary challenges, particularly the looming threat of a diminishing middle class, social unrest, and widening opportunity gaps.

While stepping down from his senior pastor position, Jakes will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board and “spiritual overseer” of The Potter’s House. He will also remain as Chairman of the T.D. Jakes Group, which comprises T.D. Jakes Real Estate Ventures, T.D. Jakes Enterprises, and the T.D. Jakes Foundation. Additionally, he is set to launch a series of podcast shows as part of a new partnership with iHeartMedia, as announced in a press release.

“Elevating Pastor Touré and Pastor Sarah as the new senior pastors of The Potter’s House, we will honor our rich history while embracing a future that demands innovative ministry for the coming age,” Jakes said. “This elevation is not a departure but a rebirth. I will never stop preaching and will continue to minister. This moment isn’t an ending, it’s an expansion. We are not only passing a mantle we are multiplying impact. Leadership is not static, it is dynamic. It demands the courage to evolve.”

Touré and Sarah say they intend to carry the church’s ministry into the future.

Jakes’ announcement comes after he suffered a heart attack while delivering a sermon last year. In his sermon Sunday announcing the change, Jakes grew visibly emotional reflecting on his decades-long career as a pastor and preacher.