The Reverend Curtis L. McLaughlin II
Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Southwest Inc., Washington, DC
Rev. Curtis Lee McLaughlin II was born in Arlington, Virginia, to the late Min. Curtis and Mrs. Barbara McLaughlin. Curtis was educated in the District of Columbia Public School System and the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Curtis graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at the John Leland Seminary in Arlington, VA.
In 2006, Curtis was licensed to preach at First Baptist Church under the pastorate of the Reverend Dr. Frank D. Tucker and was also called to serve as the full-time youth minister. He has served as the director of the District Federation of Young People, the Baptist Convention of D.C., and Vicinity’s youth department from 2012 to 2016, coordinating with 15 youth ministries encompassing approximately 250 youth across the metropolitan area. He has served on the Board of Directors of both the District of Columbia Baptist Convention and the Baptist Convention of D.C. and Vicinity.
In June 2015, he was called to the Carmody Hills Baptist Church to serve as the youth director under the pastorate of the Reverend Oscar L. Broadie, Jr. Since that time, the youth ministry has grown spiritually and numerically. The Carmody Hills Youth Development Center provides Before and After-school programs, training in Culinary Arts, Fine Arts, and Creative Arts, and Mentoring and Financial Literacy programs. He has established faith-based partnerships with four Prince George’s County Public Schools, enabling the church to provide resources to families in need. He ensures that the church provides financial support and teacher appreciation resources to the faculty at all four schools throughout the year and serves as a representative on the PGCPS Area 3 Cluster Community Engagement Council.
In April 2016, Pastor Broadie appointed Curtis to the office of executive pastor, and he was ordained in October of 2016. As an executive pastor, he provides pastoral and administrative oversight to 18 ministries and two Community Development Corporations: the CHBC Youth Development Center and the HOPE Center of Carmody Hills. The HOPE Center provides professional, licensed counseling and day services for residents of Seat Pleasant, MD. He has established four new ministries and implemented training and the use of CHBC’s new church management software, which enables the pastoral staff, deacons, and ministry leaders to communicate effectively with updates on disciples and ministry logistics. He also provided an e-commerce solution for financial contributions and event payments through Vanco Payment Solutions. Curtis also oversees all administrative and pastoral staff members.
On October 25, 2025, he was elected to return home and serve as the 14th pastor of the First Baptist Church.
The Lord has blessed Curtis for such a time as this to be a gifted preacher, teacher, administrator, singer, counselor, revivalist, playwright, and graphic designer.
The Reverend Frank D. Tucker, Pastor Emeritus
The Reverend Frank D. Tucker was born in Blackstone, Virginia. He attended the Virginia Public Schools and graduated from Foster High School in 1957. He received his BA Degree in Sociology/Philosophy in June 1961 from Howard University. In June 1964, he received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Howard University’s School of Religion.
Rev. Tucker was College Minister and Assistant Professor of Theology at Florida Memorial College from 1965 to 1966. He was then called to Pastor the Jones Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1966 to 1976. On February 1, 1976, Rev. Tucker became Pastor of the First Baptist Church, located at New Hampshire Avenue and Randolph Street Northwest, Washington, D.C. In 1986, he joined the faculty at the Howard University School of Divinity as adjunct professor.
Rev. Tucker is affiliated with many community and religious groups. He is a member of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Washington, DC; Executive Committee of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; and is the Facilitator for the Wednesday Clergy Fellowship. He formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Washington Urban League; the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan and as President of the Baptist Convention of DC & Vicinity; former Chairman of the Board and CEO for the Church Association for Community Services; the Board of Directors of the United Planning Organization, and Former Chairman of the Mayor’s Faith Advisory Council.
Rev. Tucker is the recipient of many recognitions and awards, some of which are: The Man of the Year Award for Humanitarian Service (1992); the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Service Award (1993); the New England Youth Workshop Century Award (1999); the CACS Faith Award, Tenth Anniversary of CACS (1999); the Judy Halpern Award for making a difference in the World by Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (1999); and, the Prophet for a New Millennium Award-Honoring the Integrity and the Power of Prophetic Preaching (1999) presented by the Institute of Great Preaching. Rev. Dr. Frank D. Tucker was inducted in the D.C. Hall of Fame for religion in April 2008.
He is widowed to the former Brenda Barbour and is the father of one daughter, Lisa Elizabeth.