Updated: March 3, 2010
Contact Information:
Virginia Jackson, M.Div., BCC
Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Email:
Tel: (650) 493-5000, x64806 Mobile: (408) 396-9567 Fax: (650) 849-0121
Biography:
The Reverend/Chaplain VirginiaJackson
Reverend Jackson has had a varied and rewarding life and career. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Bio-Chemistry from PrairieViewA&MUniversity (1963), Master's of Divinity from American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkeley, California (1996) where she completed her studies in two and one half years and graduated with honors. For 17 years she was a professional singer in the USA, Europe, Asia, Canada, and the CaribbeanIslands. She was a licensed radio and television newscaster and DJ.
Reverend Jackson answered her call to ministry in 1993 and was ordained at the AllenTempleBaptistChurch in Oakland, California after finishing Seminary in May 1996. February of 1997 she went to StanfordUniversityHospital to enter the Clinical Pastoral Education program where she completed five units of CPE. She is presently a full-time protestant Staff Chaplain for the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System of Palo Alto and Menlo Park, California. Along with ministering to patients in her assigned units, Chaplain Jackson pastors veterans, their families and staff. She conducts four worship services each Sunday and a 30 minute "Meditation Time" on Wednesdays at 12:30 P.M. She directs the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Male Patient Chorus at the NationalCenter for PTSD in Menlo Park. In May 1999 she was called to be Associate Pastor of CrosswalkCommunityChurch (half-time) and served for three and one half years. From there, she became Director of Christian Education (half time) at Saint Mathew's Episcopal Church in San Mateo, California. When the war in Iraq started she became a full-time VA Chaplain.
In March of 2001, she was appointed by StanfordUniversity to the Administrative panel on Human Subjects in Medical Research and is now serving her fifth year term.
In 2001 she became nationally board certified by the National Association of VA Chaplains and is a member of the National Black Chaplains Association (VA), member of the Military Chaplain's Association of the United States of America.
Chaplain Jackson is presently a Doctorial Candidate for the degree in Pastoral Care and Counselingat the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California. She will graduate in May of 2010.
Reverend Virginia Jackson will be attending the National Prayer Breakfast in WashingtonD.C. for the fourth time in February of 2010.