Frederick Douglas Washington (January 1, 1913 – January 12, 1988) was a

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a movement within the broader Evangelical wing of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes direct personal experience of God in Christianity, God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit#Cl ...

minister of the Washington Temple Church of God in Christ in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, New York. His most famous

protégé Mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the perso ...

is Rev.

Al Sharpton Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr. (born October 3, 1954) is an American civil rights and social justice activist, Baptists, Baptist minister, radio talk show host, and TV personality, who is also the founder of the National Action Network civil rig ...

, who acknowledged his call as a minister at the age of nine.

Biographical sketch

Named for civil rights leader

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 14, 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. He was the most impor ...

, Washington was born on January 1, 1913, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. His parent founded White Lily Church Of God In Christ. When his father passed the church was renamed Washington Memorial Church Of God In Christ. His mother, Jessie B. Washington served as the State Supervisor of the Department of Women for Arkansas Second Jurisdiction Church Of God In Christ. He later served as a pastor for a church in

Montclair, New Jersey Montclair is a Township (New Jersey), township in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated on the cliffs of the Watchung Mountains, Montclair is a commercial and cultural hub of North Jersey and a diverse ...

. With his wife, Madame Ernestine Beatrice Washington, who was called "The Songbird of the East" Washington moved to Brooklyn, New York to set up a tent at 966 Fulton Street. This ministry was known as "The Sawdust Trail". From there Washington's ministry grew until he was able to purchase the old Loews Theatre that stood at 1372 Bedford Avenue. Eventually, Washington Temple COGIC, with over 5,000 members, became one of the largest congregations of any

Christian denomination A Christian denomination is a distinct Religion, religious body within Christianity that comprises all Church (congregation), church congregations of the same kind, identifiable by traits such as a name, particular history, organization, leadersh ...

located in Brooklyn, New York. Washington served as assistant Jurisdictional Prelate to Bishop O. M. Kelly before finally succeeding him in 1983. He also served on the General Board of the

Church Of God In Christ The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is an international Christian perfection#Holiness Pentecostalism, Holiness–Pentecostal Christian denomination, and a large Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Although an international and multi ...

as Second Assistant Presiding Bishop to Bishop J. O. Patterson Sr. In addition to his early work with Sharpton, Washington also served as a mentor and spiritual father to many COGIC pastors. Included among these are Bishop Norman L. Prescott, the prelate of New Jersey's Third Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and pastor of Washington's former church in Montclair; Superintindent Robert L. Madison of Washington Temple; Elder TJ Williams Jr. of First COGIC of Bridgehampton, NY; Rev.

Timothy Wright Timothy Wright (June 17, 1947 – April 24, 2009), generally credited as Rev. Timothy Wright or Reverend Timothy Wright on recordings, was an American gospel singer and pastor. Biography Timothy Wright started on piano at age 12, and sang and ...

; Elder Stanley Williams of Grace Temple COGIC in Westbury, NY; Elder Odolph Wright of City Of Faith COGIC (New York and Georgia); and Elder Michael Collymore (North Carolina). Washington also introduced Sharpton to William Augustus Jones Jr., who converted Sharpton to his current Baptist faith. Interview with Al Sharpton, David Shankbone, ''

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'', December 3, 2007. Washington died in January 1988. He was succeeded as bishop by Ithiel Clemmons and as pastor by Elder Robert L. Madison.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, F. D. 1913 births 1988 deaths American Pentecostals Church of God in Christ pastors American evangelists 20th-century American bishops Religious leaders from Brooklyn