Preston Washington

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For the community in the United States, see Preston, Washington.
Preston Washington
Reverend
ChurchMemorial Baptist Church
MetropolisHarlem, New York
Appointed1976
SuccessorRenee Frances Washington
Personal details
Born
Preston Robert Washington

August 26, 1948
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 25, 2003(2003-06-25) (aged 54)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DenominationBaptist
SpouseRev. Renee F. Washington
Occupationminister
Alma materWilliams College
Union Theological Seminary
Columbia University

Preston Robert Washington (August 26, 1948 – June 25, 2003) was a prominent minister of

Harlem, New York.[1][2] He was a co-founder of the Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement and held leadership positions from 1986 to 2001, bringing millions of dollars in development projects for housing and retail to the neighborhood.[2]

Early life

Washington was born in

summa cum laude in 1970.[2][3] While he was at Williams, he was a member of the social and literary fraternity St. Anthony Hall.[1]

Next, attended Union Theological Seminary where he received a master of divinity.[2][1] His masters thesis was The Paradox of Theological Education: A Third Way.[4] He also received a doctorate in education from the Teacher's College at Columbia University.[1][2] His Ed.D. dissertation was The Black Religious Imagination: A Theological and a Pedagogical Interpretation of the Afro-American Sermon in the Twentieth Century.[5]

Career

In 1976, Washington became a senior pastor at Memorial Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, serving there until he died in 2003.[2] The congregation grew to 1,500 people under his leadership.[2] The church became a popular stop for politicians.[2]

In 1986 with Canon Frederick B. Williams, Washington co-founded the Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI), a consortium of 90 congregations that developed housing and retail services.[1] He served as the president and CEO of HCCI.[3] HCCI helped start a revival in Harlem during the difficult years of the 1980s and early 1990s. HCCI spent $200 million in the Bradhurst section of Harlem, developing 1,300 housing units.[2] Part of this was House of Hope which built houses for homeless single parents and their children.[6] HCCI also established thirty retail stores in Harlem.[2]

HCCI spent $1.7 million, supporting programs for housing for people with HIV/AIDS, as well as education and prevention of HIV/AIDS.[1] Washington said, "'What kind of damn God is this that allows this damn stuff? Babies dying of AIDS?'' I have to constantly check my own faith because this disease threatens every aspect of faith."[2]

Washington encouraged his congregation to welcome tourists who arrived by busloads to hear gospel music.[2] These tourists made contributions that helped renovate the church.[2] Washington even organized the church service so that his preaching would take place after the tourists, many who did not speak English, had left.[2] In 1996 he told NPR that "members joked that the church was a European church on Sunday morning and a clandestine black church at nights during the week."[2]

Washington also pushed the role of a church into managing three parks and a jobs skills training program.[2] In 1997, he told Mother Jones magazine, ''We want to get beyond soup kitchens and care packages."[2]

He also preached in China, Cuba, and South Korea.[3] He served on the board of the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, the Boys Choir of Harlem, and the Consortium for Central Harlem Development.[3]

Publications

  • From the Pew to the Pavement: Messages on Urban Outreach (Aaron Press, 1986)
    ISBN 978-0942683004[2]
  • God's Transforming Spirit: Black Church Renewal (Judson Press, 1988)
    ISBN 978-0817011291[2]

Honors

Personal life

He married Renee Frances Washington who also became a minister and assisted at Memorial Baptist Church.[2] They had five sons together: Brandon, Devon, Jamel, Nicholas, and Preston Jr.[2] They also had two adopted sons: Keith Gay and Jonathan R. Staples.[2] They lived in New Rochelle, New York.[2]

In 2003, Washington died at the Medical Center in Manhattan of heart failure at the age of 54 years.[2]

In 2004, Rev. Renee Washington was elected to succeed Washington as senior minister of Memorial Baptist Church.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Necrology". The Review. Fall. St. Anthony Hall: 16. 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Douglas Martin, "Preston R. Washington, 54, Minister in Harlem, Is Dead", New York Times, Jul 4, 2003. p. 8. Retrieved Jan 25, 2009
  3. ^ a b c d e "Preston Washington, Class of 1970". Williams College. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Washington, Preston Robert. 1991. The paradox of theological education: a third way. New York, N.Y.: Union Theological Seminary. via WorldCat
  5. ^ Washington, Preston Robert. 1991. The Black religious imagination: a theological and a pedagogical interpretation of the Afro-American sermon in the twentieth century. Columbia University. via WorldCat
  6. ^ Wright, K. (June 30, 2003). "HARLEM PASSING". City Limits. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "A CHURCH WITH A LOVING PASTOR". www.mbcvisionharlem.org. Retrieved June 3, 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Preston_Washington&oldid=1186831319"