Bishop T.D. Jakes Announces He Is Stepping Down as Lead Pastor of The Potter’s House

Bishop T.D. Jakes has announced that he is stepping down as lead pastor of the megachurch he founded. In an emotional moment Sunday at The Potter’s House in Dallas, Jakes revealed that leadership will pass to his daughter and son-in-law, pastors Sarah Jakes Roberts and Toure Roberts.

“You have been faithful to God, and you have been faithful to me,” Jakes told the congregation, his voice thick with emotion. “And I’m so grateful.”

Sarah Jakes Roberts tearfully responded, “I’m grateful, I’m honored, as your daughter. I’m so happy you’re going to get some rest.”

The transition comes just months after Jakes suffered a massive heart attack during a sermon in November. He later told The Today Show that doctors said if he’d arrived at the hospital five minutes later, he would have died.

“I cannot afford, especially after November, to risk something happening to me and you be sheep without a shepherd,” Jakes explained to the congregation.

Although church leaders said this succession plan had been years in the making, members expressed a mix of sadness and hope.

“I was sad, it’s hard to replace an icon like Bishop,” said longtime member Patrick Moore. “It’s actually impossible to do that, so very sad.”

Still, Moore said, “Transition is always tough, in anything we do, but it’s still an exciting time too.”

Jakes, who founded The Potter’s House in 1996, will remain chairman of the church’s board and continue serving as its spiritual overseer.