Denzel Washington gets baptised and obtains minister licence

Denzel Washington has been baptised and taken his first step towards becoming a minister at a ceremony in New York just days before his 70th birthday.

Denzel Washington has been baptised and taken his first step towards becoming a minister.

The Hollywood actor took part in a special ceremony at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ, in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood, on Saturday (21.12.24) during which he addressed the congregation to make a speech about his faith and was immersed in water.

According to New York Post column PageSix, Archbishop Christopher Bryant revealed Denzel said: “In one week I turn 70. It took a while but I’m here. If [God] can do this for me, there’s nothing He can’t do for you. The sky literally is the limit.”

The actor’s wife Pauletta Washington also spoke of her pride in her husband’s spiritual achievements, saying: “Forty-six years later, here I’m still standing next to him as only God will have it.

“So, I’m very proud of you. You are the head of our house and you have set a great example for our children, who are now adult children who know the difference because we have shown them the difference.”

The couple married in 1983 and are parents to John, 40, Katia, 37, and twins Olivia and Malcolm, 33.

After the ceremony, Denzel posed for a picture holding his certificate of baptism and his minister licence – which will allow him to be ordained in the future.

It comes after the ‘Training Day’ star opened up about his faith in a recent interview with Esquire magazine, admitting he believes it’s not “fashionable” to talk about religion in Hollywood.

He said: “When you see me, you see the best I could do with what I’ve been given by my lord and saviour. I’m unafraid.

“I don’t care what anyone thinks. See, talking about the fear part of it – 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.

“I’m free now. It’s not talked about in this town. It’s not talked about. It’s not talked about. It’s not fashionable. It’s not sexy. But that doesn’t mean people in Hollywood don’t believe.”