Amid racial tensions in the US, renowned pastor and bestselling author Bishop TD Jakes is leading the "Healing the Racial Divide" summit on January 15, the birthday of humanitarian and activist Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

The summit at his Dallas church, the Potter's House, came amid ongoing tensions across the US sparked by the controversial deaths of African-Americans Michael Brown and Eric Garner, both at the hands of police officers.

The deaths have triggered protests, civil disorder, and violence against members of law enforcement officers.

Bishop Harry Jackson, one of the most prominent African-American pastors in the country, will be part of the summit programme along with Atlanta mayor and UN Ambassador Andrew Young.

"The recent events in Missouri, New York, and elsewhere were short-term flashpoints to an underlying long-term problem," Jackson said in an interview with CharismaNews. 

"In a divided society, the church needs to lead the way for societal reform by modelling unity and acting as a force of peace. The polarisation of our nation can be shifted by healing racial divisions in the church, where we have a common language and mission."

Jakes and other Christian leaders will meet to discuss the best methods to address the problem and a covenant of reconciliation will be signed by the participants.

The summit will revolve around the seven "Bridges to Peace" community initiatives developed by Bishop Jackson with Bishop Raphael Green and the Urban Regents Coalition. These are reconciliation and prayer forums; education policy reform; community engagement forums; community service and compassion outreaches; personal, marriage and family development; engagement with the criminal justice system; and economic development strategies.

In an interview with CBN.com, Bishop Green, who started the Urban World Summit in 1987 said: "A year ago I gave the invitation to ask Bishop Harry Jackson to join us. Of course, Michael Brown Jr was alive at that time. We had no idea that we'd be right here at the culmination of this decision. So I believe it's God's design."

Faith leaders joining the summit will also push President Barack Obama to address issues affecting education, urban economic development policies and criminal justice reforms in his State of the Union Address on January 20.

Jakes saidL "We must begin the conversation in the church where every significant movement impacting the lives of African-Americans has begun. But this is not our fight alone. This is America's burden as well as her opportunity to rightfully tilt the scales toward justice for all. This is also a tremendous opportunity for the church to be the light in what have been very dark days for our country."