The actor, who has been placed on pastoral leave in New York, says tackling faith in the industry is considered ‘unattractive’
Denzel Washington became a pastor at the age of 69, after being baptized and licensed to minister at the Kelly Temple in New York last Saturday (12/21). The information was confirmed by Archbishop Christopher Bryant in a Facebook post.
“We celebrate today the addition of Pastor Denzel Washington to the clergy, who has received his license in the Church of God in Christ, in a truly uplifting moment,” Bryant wrote. He pointed out that the Oscar-winning actor wore a white robe during the ceremony, when he was baptized with water.
The archbishop explained that Temple Kelly holds special importance to Washington, as the actor frequented the site as a child and reported being filled with the Holy Spirit after visiting another church with director Richard Townsend in the 1990s. 80.
During the ceremony, Washington said, “It’s been a while, but I’m finally here. If [Deus] can do this for me, there is nothing He can’t do for you. The sky is literally the limit.”
Connection with faith
In an interview with Esquire magazine in November, Washington recalled the profound impact visiting the church with Townsend had. He said that, at the end of the service, he was called to the altar to be “saved” and taken to a private space where they prayed for him. “I was thinking, ‘I’m going to give myself to God today, whatever that means.’ And when I went there, they started praying for us. I felt like I was relieved, my body bowed, my eyes closed. I can’t describe it exactly, but I was filled with the Holy Spirit,” he revealed.
Religion in Hollywood
The actor commented that this experience connected him deeply to his faith and freed him from the fear of expressing it publicly. “When you see me, you see the best I could do with what my Lord and Savior gave me,” he said. He also criticized the Hollywood environment, which he said discourages conversations about religion. “You can’t talk like that and win Oscars. You can’t talk like that and party. You can’t say that in this town,” he said.
Washington pointed out that faith is “unspoken” in Hollywood because it is considered “not attractive, not sexy.” However, he added: “That doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe it.”
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
