About Rev. Dr. James D. Jackson
Rev. Dr. James D. Jackson is currently the Senior Pastor of the Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church (GMBC) of Harrisburg, PA. Before becoming the Pastor of GMBC he was an Associate Minister at St. Paul Baptist Church in Bethlehem, PA, under the late Marshall E. Griffin, Sr. Rev. Dr. Jackson received his ministerial license in September 2004. He was ordained into the gospel ministry in October 2007.
In recent years, Rev. Jackson was an active member of the Central Baptist Association of Pennsylvania (CBA) having served in numerous positions. Most recently Rev. Jackson, served as the Reading Area Vice Moderator of the Central Baptist Association. He is the former Vice Moderator, the former President of the Clergy Ministry, the former Secretary of the Clergy Ministry and lastly the former General Secretary of the CBA .
Rev. Dr. Jackson, was an active member of the Pennsylvania State Baptist Convention(PBSC), having served as Treasurer, and he also served as the Treasurer and Vice-President of the Central Region of the PBSC Clergy Ministry.
Rev. Jackson has been an Instructor for the Pennsylvania State Baptist Convention Congress of Christian Education, the Central Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education, Mt. Zion Institutional Revival of Steelton, Pa and the Christian Leadership Institute of Harrisburg Pa. He teaches courses in Developing a Christian Counseling Ministry, Black Male and Female in the Development of the Family, Technology and the Church, Developing a Christian Education Ministry, Introduction to Theology and Adolescence and Faith.
Rev. Dr. Jackson was a member of the Commission on Peace and Reconciliation for the Baptist World Alliance form 2015 -2018. Rev. Dr. Jackson also served on the Commission on Peace for the Baptist World Alliance from 2010-2014. Dr. Jackson had the privilege of being a presenter at the 2010 Baptist World Alliance Christian Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. In July of 2018 he was a delegate for the BWA Peace & Justice Commission to the BWA World Annual Conference in Bangkok, Thailand
Rev. Dr. Jackson is a member of the African American Ministers Alliance of Steelton Pa, since 2013 and is a former member of the United Black Churches Ministry Association of Pennsylvania in Allentown, PA (2004-2009). Rev. Dr. Jackson is currently serving as a City Chaplin for the Harrisburg City Police Department since 2013.
Dr. Jackson received his undergraduate degree (BA) in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. He did his graduate work at the University of Kansas where he received his Master’s and Ph.D., in Cognitive Experimental Psychology with a concentration in Gerontology. In 1992, at the age of 24, Dr. Jackson was one of only two African Americans in the nation to hold that degree. Dr. Jackson recently graduated with a Master of Arts Theological Studies at Moravian Theological Seminary, in Bethlehem PA.
Dr. Jackson is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, at Kutztown University, Kutztown. He is also the Co-Director of the Achievement Initiative for Male Success at Kutztown University. Additionally, Dr. Jackson is on the faculty of the Wesco Evening College at Muhlenberg College, Allentown Pa, where he serves as a Professor of Psychology.
Dr. Jackson teaches courses in General Psychology, Child Psychology, Adolescent Psychology, Adulthood & Aging, Life Span Development, Experimental Psychology, History & Systems and Cognitive Psychology. He is the Faculty & Spiritual Advisor of the Campus Praise Ministries at Kutztown University.
He is a Co-Author of two psychology text books entitled: “Understanding Psychology” and “Charting the Human Development: A Life Span Perspective”.
He is a member of Alpha Mu Nu Chapter, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is a member of the Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania Wyoming Lodge #135 and the Order of Eastern Stars Virginia E Holland #86.
Rev. Dr. Jackson is married to Lisa A. Jackson, they have one son Ezra D. Jackson
Dr. Jackson also has one daughter Julaya L. Bridgette.