BISHOP DWIGHT S. RIDDICK, SR
our leader
Bishop Dwight S. Riddick, Sr., a native of Chesapeake, Virginia, graduated in 1982 from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. In 1991, he received the Master of Divinity Degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia. In 2005, he earned the Doctor of Ministry Degree and the School of Divinity’s Leadership Award from Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Dr. Riddick also earned a second doctoral degree from Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL, in May of 2016. In May of 2023, Bishop Riddick received an Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Additionally, Bishop Riddick has completed the 2024 Collaboration Tract of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative.
Currently, Bishop Riddick serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Greater Peninsula C.A.R.E.S. Foundation, Inc.
Following a successful, six-year ministry at First Baptist Church, Dendron, Virginia, Bishop Riddick was called to lead Gethsemane Baptist Mission (now Gethsemane Baptist Church), Newport News, Virginia in 1985. Within the first two years, he meticulously led Gethsemane Baptist Church in building a 20,000 sq. ft. worship and education center. In 2011, he led the church in constructing its second building, the Transformation Place. Gethsemane Baptist Mission, starting with only 200 disciples, has developed into a congregation of well over 2,000 members.
Bishop Riddick founded F.L.A.M.E., Inc., which is an organization that equips and nurtures pastors. He has distinctively served in numerous positions including serving as the 40th President of the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference, President of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia and member of the Board of Trustees for Virginia Union University. Additionally, he was nominated for the Daily Press Newspaper’s Citizen Award in 2001 and received the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities Humanitarian Award in 2012.
Bishop Riddick is certainly a voice for our time. As referenced in his first published book “Does Preaching Have a Future, A Call to Join the Conversation,” he challenges preachers to broaden their world-view and creative implementation of the preached gospel as encouraged like only he can. In his second book, “Reflections: Life Lessons I Learned from My Dad,” Dr. Riddick extracts practical life principles that were poured into his life by the unconventional ways in which his Dad reared him. In his newest published work, “Good Success: Practical Principles for Achieving Your Life Goals from the book of Joshua,” he calls upon a combination of his experiences in life, business and ministry coupled with teachings from the Book of Joshua to provide readers with steps for achieving their God-given purpose. Dr. Riddick currently serves as a Mentor for the Styberg Preaching Institute and as an Adjunct Professor for the ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program in Chicago, IL.
In September 2019, F.L.A.M.E., Inc., unanimously voted and elected Dr. Riddick to the Office of Bishop which is an elevation that he most humbly and reverently accepted. He was consecrated as the Presiding Prelate for F.L.A.M.E., Inc. on November 13, 2021. In light of his many accomplishments, platforms, community and organization involvement, this elevation comes as no surprise to those who have been blessed by his tutelage.
Bishop Dwight Riddick, Sr. and his lovely, wife, Vera, are the proud parents of a son, Reverend Doctor Dwight Riddick, Jr. and his wife, Reverend Doctor Jennell Riddick, and also a daughter, Reverend Tiffany Foreman and her husband, Deacon Mitchell Foreman. They are the proud grandparents of five lovely grandchildren: Dwight (III), Amber, Jasmine, Rhyan and Tyler.