Monday, February 12, 2007
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – University of Maryland Eastern Shore President Thelma B. Thompson hosts the community during the fourth annual President’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on Friday, February 23, in the Student Services Center Ballroom at 8:30 a.m. Dr. Lee P. Washington is the keynote speaker.
Washington, senior pastor of the more than 8000-member Reid Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in Glenn Dale, is a spiritual activist sought after for his pragmatic approach to ministry. His educational achievements include earning a Doctor of Ministry and a Masters of Divinity from Howard University, Washington, D.C.; a Bachelor of Science degree in behavioral and social science from the University of Maryland, College Park; an associate’s degree from Community College, Baltimore; and a general business degree from Cortez Peters Business College in Washington, D.C.
An accomplished leader, Washington has led his mammoth congregation through a successful building program that yielded a worship complex comprising a bookstore, a credit union, a commercial kitchen, a 1000-seat multipurpose fellowship hall, an outdoor amphitheatre, a recording studio and more. Active ministries under his leadership include a simulated law practice, a men’s ministry, a women’s ministry, anger management counseling, financial empowerment counseling, a sport’s ministry, a senior center, a homeless ministry, a computer literacy ministry, and a college outreach that provides transportation to services and meals to students at Bowie, Howard and the University of Maryland during the 6 p.m. worship services.
Washington has been featured in Upscale Magazine as a National Spiritual Leader. Afro-American Newspaper has cited him as one of the top preachers in the Washington Metro area. He is frequently quoted on issues related to the community and the Mega church phenomena and has appeared in the Washington Post, Washington Times, Bowie Gazette, PG Post, Sentinel, Washington Informer and numerous news related articles. Radio stations have honored Washington as Pastor of the Week and Pastor of the month.
His many citations include: National Business Honor Society Award, Social Security’s Highest Civilian Award, Outstanding Young Man of America, Henry Maynard Preaching Award, Howard University Excellence In Ministry Award, Who’s Who Business Executives, Second Episcopal District Living Legend Award in Ministry, Dept. of Army Intelligence Corp. Martin Luther King Award, AME Department of Worship and Evangelism Soul Winner’s Award, Spirituality and Medicine Award to name a few.
Within the first year of her tenure, Thompson initiated the interfaith annual prayer breakfast as a call to action in the religious community. For more information about the President’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, to reserve a seat or for ticket information, call 410-651-6102. Tickets are $35 per person or $300 for a table of 10. Proceeds will benefit the UMES student scholarship fund.
###
Suzanne Waters Street, interim director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-7580, sstreet@umes.edu.
Contact: Vernia Fletcher, administrative assistant, Office of the President, 410-651-6102, vmfletcher@umes.edu.
