Bishop Frederick Douglas Washington (January 1, 1913 - January 12, 1988) was a Pentecostal minister of the Washington Temple

Church of God in Christ The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is a Holiness–Pentecostal Christian denomination, and the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Although an international and multi-ethnic religious organization, it has a predominantly Bl ...

(COGIC) in Brooklyn, New York. His most famous

protégé Mentorship is the 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 personal and p ...

is Rev. Al Sharpton, who acknowledged his call as a minister at the age of nine.

Biographical sketch

Named for civil rights leader Frederick Douglass, Washington was born on January 1, 1913, in Arkansas. He later served as a pastor for a church in Montclair, New Jersey. 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

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that stood at 1372 Bedford Avenue. Eventually, Washington Temple COGIC, with over 5,000 members, became one of the largest congregations of any denomination 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 a Holiness–Pentecostal Christian denomination, and the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United States. Although an international and multi-ethnic religious organization, it has a predominantly Bl ...

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; Reverend Timothy Wright, world-famous gospel singer, 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 Reverend

William Augustus Jones Jr. William Augustus Jones Jr. (February 24, 1934 – February 4, 2006) was an African-American Minister and Civil Rights leader. Biography Reverend Dr. William Augustus Jones Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to Mary Elisabeth Jones and Willi ...

, who converted Sharpton to his current Baptist faith. Interview with Al Sharpton, David Shankbone, '' Wikinews'', 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. 1988 deaths American Pentecostals Church of God in Christ pastors American evangelists American bishops People from Brooklyn 1913 births