A Detroit bishop who hosted Donald Trump at his church in September is one of six religious leaders selected to take part in Trump's swearing-in ceremony during his inauguration next month.

Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, who leads Great Faith Ministries International in Detroit and preaches a prosperity gospel, will help offer readings and give the benediction at the ceremony, Trump's inaugural committee announced Wednesday.

Also taking part will be Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Catholic Archbishop of New York, Rev. Franklin Graham, a son of America's most popular preacher, Rev. Billy Graham, Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Paula White, pastor of New Destiny Christian Center in Florida, and Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

Jackson could not be reached for comment Wednesday. A spokeswoman for him said the church is closed for the holiday season until Friday and will have its usual weekly services on Saturday.

Jackson owns Impact Network, a TV station that he has said is the largest African-American Christian TV network owned by an African American. Jackson interviewed Trump on his TV station and had him speak at his church in September.

Jackson's hosting of Trump during services drew several protests and other African-American pastors criticized him for allowing a candidate criticized for negative remarks towards minorities to speak in his Detroit church.

But Jackson defended his hosting of Trump, telling the Free Press in August: "It’s not about being a Judas to my people. I love my people. I feel that we should be better off than what we are. This is not an endorsement. This is engagement, for him to tell us what he wants to do."

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Speaking alongside Trump in his church on Sept. 3, Jackson placed an Israeli prayer shawl on Trump's back and gave him a Bible, telling him: "There are going to be some times in your life that you are going to feel forsaken, you are going to feel down, but the anointing is going to lift you up."



"Because when things go down, you can study the word of God," Jackson told Trump as he gave him what he called a Jewish heritage study Bible.

During the campaign, Trump sought to win the votes of evangelicals and other conservative Christian groups.

Jackson has faced criticism for his prosperity gospel preaching, blessing water and claiming his faith healings can cure disease like cancer. He owns one of Detroit's biggest mansions, a 39,000-square-foot home in Palmer Woods with 10 marble fireplaces that once was owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, according to a report in the online magazine Model D.

He also once owned a gator-skin shoe store called Wayne T's shoes that was featured in a 1997 story in the Wall Street Journal about the popularity in Detroit of shoes made of alligator skins. Located on Grand River Avenue, the church holds its weekend services on Saturdays, instead of Sundays like most other churches.

Contact Niraj Warikoo: 313-223-4792 or nwarikoo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nwarikoo