Biographical Snapshot

Bishop Ricky D. Helton was elected the 67th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church on June 29, 2022, in Cincinnati, Ohio. A career theologian and educator, he is currently the Presiding Prelate of the Tenth Episcopal District, which covers the West African nations of Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo.

Current Roles & Leadership

• Presiding Prelate: Tenth Episcopal District, West Africa (assigned 2022).

• International Administration: Headquartered in Washington, D.C., he oversees regional educational hubs including the Montgomery Breeding Bible College and the Christian Methodist Senior High School in Accra, Ghana.

• Former Episcopal Service: Served as the Chair of the Committee on Episcopacy for the church.

Ecclesiastical Career

• Pastoral Leadership: Prior to the episcopacy, he served as the Senior Pastor of the historic Israel Metropolitan CME Church in Washington, D.C. (2007–2022).

• National Service: His itinerant ministry includes pastoral appointments at Lewis Temple CME (Grambling, LA), Russell Temple CME (Bridgeport, CT), and Sweet Springs CME (Holly Springs, NC).

• Early Ministry: Accepted his call at age 17 and began pastoring immediately after undergraduate studies in 1983.

• Specialized Roles: Former Campus Minister at Duke University and certified Chaplain at Duke University Medical Center.

Education & Academic Background

• B.A. in English: North Carolina Central University (1983).

• Master of Divinity: Duke Theological Seminary (1986).

• Doctor of Ministry: Hartford Theological Seminary (1992).

• Faculty Experience: Served as an Associate Professor at Grambling State University for over a decade and as an instructor for the ITC Extension Program and Wiley College.

Historical Service & Contributions

• Civic Engagement: Active member of the NAACP and former President of the Alliance of CME Ministers in the Washington, D.C. area.

• Leadership in Finance: Served as Chair of the Joint Board of Finance for the New York-Washington Region.

• Community Advocacy: Involved in numerous community boards to enhance civic life in Grambling, Louisiana, and Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Personal Life

A native of Concord, North Carolina, Bishop Helton is married to Loretta Shaw Helton. They have three adult daughters, one son-in-law, and a grandson. His personal interests include writing, community organizing, and flying model aircraft.

Bishop Ricky D. Helton

1703 Tamarack St NW,
Washington, DC 20012

202-726-5103

bishoprdhelton@thecmechurch.org