Rev. Dr. Michele F. Parker is the proud daughter of Stanley and Ellen Murphy of Capitol Heights, Maryland. She is a native of Washington, DC, and later moved to Capital Heights, Maryland in 1966. Understanding the value of education, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, a Master of Education degree from Bowie State University, a Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

 

An original charter member of Capitol Heights CME Church, Rev. Parker was called into the ministry in December 1990.  She served the church faithfully and assisted her pastors in the many facets of ministry, including but not limited to Christian education and evangelism.

 

In August 1999, the late Bishop Charles Lee Helton appointed her as the pastor of Wesley Chapel CME Church in Vernon Hill, Virginia.  In July 2006, she was appointed by the late Senior Bishop Thomas Lanier Hoyt, Sr. as the first female pastor of Ebenezer CME Church, South Boston, Virginia.  In 2015, she served as a Minister-in-Residence at the Saint John CME Church in Washington, DC under the pastorate of Reverend John A. Dillard, III.  In August 2016, Bishop James B. Walker appointed her as the pastor of Russell Temple CME Church in Alexandria, Virginia.  On July 30, 2021, Bishop James B. Walker appointed Dr. Parker as the pastor of St. John CME Church, Washington, DC, where she currently serves.

 

With each assignment, she serves the church faithfully, always using her talents and gifts to edify the body of Christ and to glorify the Lord. Pastor Parker has embraced her ministry with zeal and brings high energy to all her efforts.  Her inspiring messages of hope, transformation, and empowerment are motivating and sustaining both young and old. She has been blessed with the gifts of exhortation, administration, and teaching.  The focus of her ministry is to exemplify the love of Jesus Christ with a passion for encouraging, educating, engaging, and empowering the people of God. It is her heartfelt desire to develop and multiply disciples to advance the Kingdom of God. 

 

Her greatest joys, as a born-again believer, are lifting the name of Jesus and praising His holy name. Her favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all the ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.”