Michigan-Indiana Region
The Third Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Rev. Dr. Phillip D. Washington is currently serving as Presiding Elder of the Detroit and Mid-Michigan Districts, of the Third Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church where Bishop Paul A. G Stewart Sr. is the Presiding Prelate.  He serves as the Episcopal Program Director of the Third Episcopal District.  He also serves as a board member of the Personnel Services of the Christian Methodist Church and is the former chair of the joint board of finance of the Michigan-Indiana Region. 

Before being assigned as Presiding Elder, Rev. Washington served as pastor of the St. John CME Church in Detroit, Michigan. Rev Washington led this dynamic congregation in areas of spiritual guidance, leadership, discipleship and personal growth.  Under his leadership he inspired and led the congregation in designing and implementing such ministries as Voices of Faith Young Adult Choir, St. John Liturgical Dance Ministry, and “The Nehemiah Mission” church renovation effort.

Rev. Washington has been in the pastorate for over 28 years throughout the CME connection serving the    St. Matthew CME Church, Wichita, KS; St. James CME Church, Leavenworth, KS, Scotts Mater CME Church, Americus, GA, Mt. Zion CME Church, Viene, GA., Laymen Chapel CME Church South Bend, IN. Pilgrim Temple CME Church, East St. Louis, IL and Turner Chapel CME Church, Mount Clemons, MI.  His leadership has led congregations in spiritual, numerical and financial growth. 

Rev. Washington is passionate about community outreach and empowerment and it was this passion that lead him to become founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vision In Communities, a non-profit organization that works with faith based organizations and other institutions in the development and capacity building of programs that go beyond the church walls and promote the church as a community asset for the human development of people.  He was also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Pilgrim Temple Human Development Outreach Center in East St. Louis, where he provided summer programs for youth throughout the East St. Louis Community.   

Rev. Washington earned a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice from Wichita Sate University, a master of divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center Phillip’s School of Theology and a Doctorate of Ministry Degree from the United Theological Seminary, Dayton. Ohio. The Rev. Dr. Phillip D. Washington is regarded as a prolific preacher and teacher.   

Rev. Washington has served on numerous boards and committees throughout his tenure. In addition he has taught in many arenas’ including a seminar in Austria on “Spirituality.” Due to his leadership and community involvement he was the first pastor in the state of Indiana to be invited to open congress with prayer.  He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Rev. Washington is a fifth generation CME and follows a legacy of CME preachers and laypersons. He is the son of the late Rev. Lester Washington and Mrs. Emma Washington. His great, great, grandfather, the late Rev. Cyrus Alexander, Sr., organized the Alexander-Lawson Memorial CME church; the first CME church in Bastrop, Louisiana and served as the Presiding  Elder of the Monroe District.

Rev. Washington is married to a loving and beautiful wife, Alandra L. Washington, the proud father of two daughters Tyna and Terrea and the overjoyed grandfather of Teleah Marie-Zion.