The Rev. Dr. Jerome Washington, a longtime pastor and the CEO of a consulting group for faithbased institutions, will be the keynote speaker at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Worship Service at First Baptist Church in Lexington this Sunday, Jan. 18, at 4 p.m.
Several clergy from the Lexington community will also participate in the worship service. The program also includes remarks from Washington and Lee University President Will Dudley, Provost Dr. Lena Hill and several W&L professors, along with salutations from Lexington Mayor Frank Friedman and other community leaders.
Clifton Forge’s Resurrecting Praise Community Choir under the direction of Roger Patterson will offer special music.
The Rev. Washington hails from Louisiana and has served in pastoral ministry for more than three decades. He has served churches in Louisiana and Michigan, and for the past nearly 20 years, he has served as the senior pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Durham, N.C.
Dr. Washington is also president and CEO of the Lucent Group, a consulting group dedicated to empowering faith-based institutions through leadership training, organizational development, and capital campaign management. Under his leadership, the Lucent Group partners with congregations and ministries nationwide to strengthen their impact and sustainability.
At Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Dr. Washington has spearheaded major initiatives, including a $1.5 million capital campaign that enhanced accessibility and technology, and the creation of the Mount Vernon Community in partnership with Durham Habitat for Humanity, resulting in the construction of 10 affordable housing units.
Dr. Washington’s commitment to ethical and spiritual leadership was recognized when he was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College.
Prior to his ministry, he was a trained classical vocalist, performing throughout the United States and Europe.
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