Reverend Dr. George L. Parks Jr. is the seventh pastor in the 159-year history of Metropolitan Baptist Church of Washington, DC, now in Largo, Maryland. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, to Rev. George L. Parks Sr. and Mrs. Kay Ramona Parks, he and his family relocated to Dayton, Ohio, and later moved to Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Parks began his undergraduate studies at the American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical and Pastoral Studies. Dr. Parks’ thirst for spiritual growth led him to return to school and he earned his Master of Divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. There he was awarded the highly regarded J.H. Jackson Award for Promise in Pastoral Excellence. In May 2016, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree in Expository Preaching from Union University School of Theology and Missions in Jackson, Tennessee.

Dr. Parks attributes the formation of his spiritual journey to his father, Dr. George L. Parks Sr. He accepted his Call to preach on January 25, 1998 and preached his initial sermon on March 22, 1998, at the Sacrificial Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio, where his father currently serves as Pastor.

God has given Dr. Parks a diversity of assignments throughout his ministerial career. He was licensed and ordained to preach in 1998 and 2007, respectively. He served as an Associate Minister and Youth Director at Watson Grove Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He also served as an Assistant Pastor at Meridian Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Dr. Parks pastored the Riverside Missionary Baptist Church for seven years and served as the Senior Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Little Rock and Conway, Arkansas, for eight years. On July 30, 2023, he began his current appointment to the Metropolitan Baptist Church pulpit.

Dr. Parks was inducted into the prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in 2020, and he serves as an adjunct professor at Philander Smith College. A proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., he is well known for his commitment to community outreach and service.

Dr. Parks is married to the former Joy Marie Dailey and they are the proud parents of George L. Parks III (Trey), Genesis, and twins Gabriel and Grayson.