T. D. Jakes

==Biography==
Thomas Dexter Jakes was born on June 9, 1957, in [[South Charleston, West Virginia]], and grew up in the Vandalia neighborhood in [[Charleston, West Virginia]], where there is a street bearing his last name.<ref>S. Torriano Berry, Venise T. Berry, ''Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2015, p. 239</ref>

===Beliefs===
Although Jakes was converted and ordained within [[Oneness Pentecostalism]], he revealed in an interview with [[Mark Driscoll (pastor)|Mark Driscoll]] in 2012 that he affirms the [[Trinity]], although Jakes did not affirm the eternality of the individual persons of the Trinity, which is denied by Oneness churches.<ref>{{cite news |last=Foust |first=Michael|title=T.D. Jakes Embraces Doctrine of the Trinity, Moves Away from 'Oneness' View |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2012/january/td-jakes-embraces-doctrine-of-trinity-moves-away-from.html |access-date=January 13, 2014 |newspaper=[[Christianity Today]] |date=January 27, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Menzie |first=Nicola |title=TD Jakes Breaks Down the Trinity, Addresses Being Called a 'Heretic' |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/td-jakes-breaks-down-the-trinity-addresses-being-called-a-heretic-67972/ |access-date=January 13, 2014 |newspaper=[[Christian Post]] |date=January 26, 2012}}</ref>

Jakes is an advocate of [[sexual abstinence]] and has made appearances advocating it on ''[[Good Morning America]]'' and ''[[Dr. Phil (talk show)|Dr. Phil]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1045 |title=Dr. Phil.com&nbsp;— Shows&nbsp;— Teens and Sex with the Bishop |work=drphil.com|date=3 March 2008 }}</ref>

In 2015, Jakes stated that his views on homosexuality and LGBT rights are evolving. However, Jakes stated that his words were misinterpreted and that while he does not support same-sex marriage, he "respect[s] the rights that this country affords those that disagree".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/10/td-jakes-clarifies-his-comments-on-evolving-on-gay/ |title=T.D. Jakes clarifies his comments on 'evolving' on gay rights |author=Cheryl Wetzstein |publisher=The Washington Times |date=August 10, 2015 |access-date=March 10, 2018}}</ref>