James Meeks

{{short description|American politician (born 1956)}} {{About||the American politician|James A. Meeks|the dean and professor of law|James E. Meeks}} {{Distinguish|James Meek of York}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = James Meeks | image = James Meeks delivers "Surviving Basic Training" sermon to Salem Baptist Church Congregation at House of Hope in 2022 IMG 41 (1).png | alt = | caption = Meeks in 2022 | birth_date = {{nowrap|{{Birth date and age|1956|08|04}}}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | birth_name = | office = Chairman of the<br>Illinois State Board of Education | term_start = January 21, 2015 | term_end = 2019 | appointer = Bruce Rauner | predecessor = Gery Chico | successor = Darren Reisberg<ref>{{cite web |title=NEW STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION SWORN IN TODAY |url=https://www.isbe.net/Lists/News/NewsDisplay.aspx?ID=1253 |website=www.isbe.net |publisher=Illinois State Board of Education |accessdate=29 May 2020 |date=26 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="Pritzkernames1">{{cite web |last1=Hinz |first1=Greg |title=Pritzker names U of C exec to head state school board |url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/pritzker-names-u-c-exec-head-state-school-board |website=Crain's Chicago Business |accessdate=29 May 2020 |language=en |date=25 February 2019}}</ref> | state_senate2 = Illinois | district2 = 15th | term_start2 = January 8, 2003 | term_end2 = January 9, 2013 | predecessor2 = Bill Shaw | successor2 = Napoleon Harris

| party = Democratic | other_party =  | spouse = Jamell Meeks | partner =  | relations = | children = | alma_mater = Bishop College {{small|(B.A.)}} | occupation = | profession = Minister {{small|(Baptist)}} | committees = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = | footnotes = }}

'''James T. Meeks''' (born August 4, 1956) is a Baptist minister and past member of the Illinois Senate, who represented the 15th district from 2003 to 2013. While a Senator, he chaired the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. He briefly campaigned for mayor of Chicago in the 2003 and 2011 election, before dropping out of the race both times. He subsequently become a leading figure in the campaign to oppose same-sex marriage in Illinois.<ref name="Erbentraut">{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/30/illinois-gay-marriage-bla_n_3187341.html | work=Huffington Post | title=Black Clergy, NOM Team For Anti-Gay Marriage Robo-Calls In Illinois | date=2013-04-30 | first=Joseph | last=Erbentraut}}</ref>

Meeks was appointed chair of the Illinois State Board of Education by Governor Bruce Rauner and took office January 21, 2017. He succeeded Gery Chico who had resigned the previous week.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/former-state-sen-james-meeks-takes-over-state-school-board/article_b990f47b-d25d-5bf4-b2ad-ed7b9875dfad.html|title = Former state Sen. James Meeks takes over state school board| date=21 January 2015 }}</ref>

==Early life== James T. Meeks was born August 4, 1956, to parents who came to Chicago as part of the Great Migration.<ref name="Kensington House Building"/><ref name="Randall Herbert Balmer 2004, p. 444">Randall Herbert Balmer, ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition'', Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 444</ref><ref name="Blue Book 03-04">{{cite book|editor-last=White|editor-first=Jesse|title=Illinois Blue Book 2003-2004|chapter=Legislative Branch|page=83|publisher=Illinois Secretary of State|location=Springfield, Illinois|access-date=February 23, 2023|url=http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/43464}}</ref> Meeks was raised in Englewood, near West 64th Street and South Laflin Street.<ref name="Kensington House Building">{{cite news|last=Rodkin|first=Dennis|title=At 66, the Rev. James Meeks launches a second career as a homebuilder|date=February 22, 2023|newspaper=Crain's Chicago Business|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/james-meeks-vacant-lots-afforable-homes-roseland|url-access=subscription|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222160513/https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/james-meeks-vacant-lots-afforable-homes-roseland|archive-date=February 22, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> After graduating from Harper High School, Meeks continued his education at Bishop College in Dallas, where he earned a degree in Religion and Philosophy.<ref name="Randall Herbert Balmer 2004, p. 444"/>

==Ministry== In 1980, he became pastor of Beth Eden Baptist Church in Chicago.<ref>Mick Dumke, [https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/the-church-of-clout/ The Church of Clout], chicagoreader.com, USA, January 25, 2007</ref> In 1985, Meeks, still pastor of Beth Eden Baptist Church, shared the vision of founding a new church in a sermon.<ref name="chicagotribune.com">Monica Davey, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-04-06-9904060279-story.html AT THE CROSSROADS: A NEIGHBORHOOD, A CHURCH AND A PASTOR], chicagotribune.com, USA, April 6, 1999</ref><ref name="Randall Herbert Balmer 2004, p. 444"/> After a meeting with 205 members that same day, he founded the Salem Baptist Church.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/>

The new congregation held its first services January 20, 1985 at 8201 South Jeffrey Boulevard and remained at this location for five years.<ref name="chicagotribune.com"/><ref>Bob Smietana, [https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/february/1.28.html MegaShepherd], christianitytoday.com, USA, February 1, 2004</ref> In 2005, he inaugurated the ''House of Hope'', a 10,000-seat facility.<ref>Manya A. Brachear, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-07-01-0507010210-story.html Meeks' mega-church ready for its debut], chicagotribune.com, USA, July 1, 2005</ref> The venue has {{convert|203000|sqft|m2|-3|abbr=on}} of usable space.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2005-07-04-megachurch_x.htm| work=USA Today| title=Chicago megachurch opens doors for 10,000| date=4 July 2005| agency=Associated Press| accessdate=2013-10-30}}</ref><ref>Bill J. Leonard, ''Baptists in America'', Columbia University Press, USA, 2005, p. 2</ref>

In 2023, he stepped down as senior pastor.<ref>Jeramie Bizzle, [https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/rev-james-meeks-retiring/ Rev. James Meeks, founder and senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church, retiring after 38 years of ministry], cbsnews.com, USA, January 9, 2023</ref> In his post-minister life, he has become a non-profit, affordable housing developer in Kensington.<ref name="Kensington House Building"/> On March 6, 2026, however, Meeks would again provide ministry services when he officiated the Celebration of Life memorial service for Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/event/public-affairs-event/fmr-presidents-obama-clinton-biden-attend-rev-jesse-jackson-memorial-service/440989|title=Fmr. Presidents Obama, Clinton & Biden Attend Rev. Jesse Jackson Memorial Service|publisher=C-SPAN|date=March 6, 2026|accessdate=March 6, 2026}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/speakers-named-for-rev-jesse-jacksons-celebration-of-life-service/3902790/?_osource=taboola-recirc|title=Speakers named for Rev. Jesse Jackson's Celebration of Life service at Chicago's House of Hope|first=James|last=Neveau|publisher=NBC Chicago|date=March 3, 2026|accessdate=March 5, 2026}}</ref>

===Controversy=== LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD noted in April 2023 that during his ministry career, Meeks in fact made homophobic claims. Such incidents included Meeks claiming in 2013 that “Men should not be marrying men, and women should not be marrying women…. God does not support homosexuality, and neither do I” and having his church operate a "Halloween Fright Night" on October 31, 2006 were he claimed "A fenced-in cell housed a few denizens of ‘hell,’ including a pedophile trolling the Internet for a young victim, a meditating Buddhist, and two mincing young men wearing body glitter who were supposed to be homosexuals.”<ref name=glaadmeeksinfo>{{cite web|url=https://glaad.org/gap/james-meeks/|title=James Meeks|publisher=GLAAD|date=April 21, 2023|accessdate=February 22, 2026}}</ref><ref name=meeksremarkmarch2013>{{cite news|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130314/bronzeville/black-pastors-on-south-side-divided-over-same-sex-marriage/|title=Black Pastors on the South Side Divided Over Same-Sex Marriage|publisher=DNAinfo|date=March 14, 2013|accessdate=February 22, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/117630,CST-NWS-HELL31.article|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529230605/http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/117630,CST-NWS-HELL31.article|url-status=dead|title=Meeks sends kids to 'hell'|first=Cathleen|last=Falsani|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|date=October 31, 2006|archive-date=May 29, 2007|accessdate=February 22, 2026}}</ref> Meeks also told his congregation in April 2006, during the time considering a run for Governor, that “If I do run and there are two people in the race who both are not standing for morality, if I don’t have every white Christian vote in the state of Illinois, I will stand on top of the Sears Tower and call every one of ya’ll racist.”<ref name=glaadmeeksinfo /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/2006/04/pastor-state-senator-considering-illinois-gubernatorial-run/|title=Pastor, State Senator Considering Illinois Gubernatorial Run|publisher=Christianity Today|date=April 11, 2006|accessdate=February 22, 2026}}</ref>

== Political career == In 2002, Meeks became the first state senator to be elected as an independent.<ref>ABC7, [https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8427299/ Sen. James Meeks won't run for re-election], abc7chicago.com, USA, November 10, 2011</ref> He unseated Democratic incumbent William Shaw, and had been encouraged to run by the Shaw's political rival, Jesse Jackson Jr.<ref name="Jarovsky31October2002">{{cite web |last1=Joravsky |first1=Ben |title=By Any Means Necessary |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/by-any-means-necessary/Content?oid=910204 |website=Chicago Reader |accessdate=November 18, 2020 |language=en |date=October 31, 2002}}</ref> Meeks won re-election in 2006 as a Democrat.<ref>Chicago Tribune, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-07-28-0607280375-story.html Meeks demands better teachers], chicagotribune.com, USA, July 28, 2006</ref> In November 2011, he announced that he would not seek reelection when his current term ended in January 2013.

In 1998, Meeks led a movement to "dry up" Roseland Community by collecting votes to close 26 liquor stores. He also created a mentoring program called "It Takes a Village " which provides support and assistance to pregnant youth and young mothers.

Meeks was also concerned with issues of housing affordability. He sponsored a bill which would make permanent a 2003 Executive Order that established a task force to develop Annual Comprehensive Housing Plans to address critical housing issues. The bill focuses its attention on vulnerable groups, including those at risk of homelessness and low income people with disabilities.

Another bill sponsored by Meeks addressed law enforcement and racial profiling. The bill would allow police departments to apply for grants to purchase cameras for police cars. Meeks believes that cameras in police cars protects everyone involved in a traffic stop, arguing that it provides security for both the driver and the law enforcement officer, and that it may also help reduce instances of racial profiling.

Meeks was the chairperson of the Housing and Community Affairs Committee and Vice Chairperson of the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. Additionally, he was a member of the Senate Commerce; Appropriations I; Education; Higher Education; and Senate Education Funding Reform Committees.

During his speech supporting the removal of Rod Blagojevich from office, Meeks reprised the governor's now-infamous quote about Barack Obama's Senate seat, saying, "We have this thing called impeachment and it's bleeping golden, and we've used it the right way."<ref>[http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/01/blagojevich-to-give-impeachment-speech-in-a-few-hours.html Senate removes Blagojevich from office]. Chicago Tribune, 2009-01-29</ref>

Meeks was a leading and outspoken figure in the 2013 campaign to stop same-sex marriage legalization in Illinois.<ref name=meeksremarkmarch2013 /><ref name="Erbentraut"/>

=== Education reform === In fall 2008, he announced a boycott of the Chicago Public Schools, urging his congregants and people from other churches to keep their children home until Chicago inner-city schools received more funding from Springfield.<ref name="ABC7">{{cite web |url=https://abc7chicago.com/archive/6304243/|title=A controversial call was issued by a powerful Chicago minister Sunday.|author=Sarah Schulte |access-date=2008-08-10 |year=2008 |publisher=ABC News }}</ref> Meeks pointed out that at New Trier High School in Winnetka, thousands of dollars more are spent on each student, compared to Chicago Public Schools, where the population is mostly minorities from low-income homes.<ref name="ABC7" /> Over a thousand students met outside New Trier High School in the suburban North Shore to protest. The boycott ended after two days when governor Rod Blagojevich said he would not with Meeks during a boycott.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1144709,CST-NWS-skul04.article|title=Meeks calls off school boycott|author=Maudelyne Ihejirika|accessdate=2008-09-09|date=2008-09-04|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|archive-date=2008-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908192304/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1144709,CST-NWS-skul04.article|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2009 and 2010, Meeks worked to pass opportunity scholarships for children in Chicago's worst-performing public schools. This effort was supported by a bipartisan coalition of legislators and outside groups such as the Illinois Policy Institute.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.edchoice.org/Newsroom/News/Illinois-residents-need-school-voucher-program.aspx |title=Illinois residents need school voucher program | the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice |access-date=2011-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424060938/http://www.edchoice.org/Newsroom/News/Illinois-residents-need-school-voucher-program.aspx |archive-date=2012-04-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2015, he was elected chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education,<ref>Rick Pearson, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/chi-rauner-names-meeks-as-illinois-state-board-of-education-chairman-20150110-story.html Rauner names Meeks as Illinois State Board of Education chairman], chicagotribune.com, USA, January 11, 2015</ref> serving until 2019.<ref name="Pritzkernames1"/>

=== Controversy === In November 2010, in an interview on the radio station WVON, Meeks advocated that only African Americans should be qualified for city contracts designated for minorities and women. During the conversation, he stated, "The word 'minority' from our standpoint should mean African American. I don't think women, Asians and Hispanics should be able to use that title. That's why our numbers cannot improve — because we use women, Asians and Hispanics who are not people of color, who are not people who have been discriminated against". He later retracted his statement by saying he would only forbid white women if elected mayor. He told television station WFLD, "I don't believe white women should be considered in that count ….You have white women in the category. They receive contracts. Then, white men receive contracts. Where does that leave everybody else"? The next day, Meeks released a written statement further elucidating his comments. It stressed that "all minority- and women-owned businesses" are entitled to their "fair share" of city contracts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/2877318-417/women-meeks-contracts-percent-african.html |title=Meeks says minority contracts should only go to blacks - Chicago Sun-Times |publisher=Suntimes.com |date=2010-12-17 |accessdate=2010-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc7chicago.com/archive/7848456/ |title=Meeks apologizes for 'bad choice of words' | abc7chicago.com |publisher=Abclocal.go.com |date=2010-12-16 |access-date=2010-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/politics/senator-james-meeks-chicago-mayor-racial-minorities-women-business-contracts-mwbe-20101215 |title=Chicago Mayors Race | James Meeks Tries to 'Clarify' Comments on Women, Hispanics and Asians Not Being 'Minorities' |publisher=Myfoxchicago.com |date= |accessdate=2010-12-25}}</ref>

== Personal life == Meeks and his wife Jamell live in Chicago, Illinois and have four children: Jamie, Janet, Trent (Christina), and Jasmine, and one granddaughter and a grandson.

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=1271 Illinois General Assembly - Senator James Meeks (D) 15th District] '''official IL Senate website''' **[http://ilga.gov/senate/SenatorBills.asp?MemberID=1271 Bills] [http://ilga.gov/senate/SenCommittees.asp?MemberID=1271 Committees] *[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=MIL95074 Project Vote Smart - Senator James T. Meeks (IL)] profile *''Follow the Money'' – James T Meeks **[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200614&c=417339 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200414&c=407213 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200214&c=38908 2002] campaign contributions *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080327095213/http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/page_display.asp?pid=26 Illinois State Senate Democrats - Senator James T. Meeks] profile *[http://www.sbcoc.org/ Salem Baptist Church of Chicago]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meeks, James}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:African-American state legislators in Illinois Category:Baptist ministers from the United States Category:Bishop College alumni Category:Illinois Democrats Category:Illinois independents Category:Illinois state senators Category:Politicians from Chicago Category:Chairs of the Illinois State Board of Education Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:20th-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly