Dr. Washington is the founder and Pastor Emeritus of Rock Of Our Salvation Evangelical Free Church in Chicago, Illinois, (an urban church reaching across racial barriers in the inner city of Chicago).

He co-authored Breaking Down Walls: A Model of Reconciliation in an Age of Racial Strife with Glen Kehrein, the 1994 Gold Medallion winner from the Christian Booksellers Association.

Dr. Washington attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, earning the Bronze Star for meritorious service in Vietnam. He entered Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1980 (now known as Trinity International University), where he earned his Master of Divinity and received numerous awards. Raleigh was awarded Doctor of Peacemaking by Westminster College. He was the third recipient of the award; the first went to Mother Teresa and the second went to Bishop Desmond Tutu.

At Trinity, Raleigh developed the Master of Arts in Urban Ministries program, which he directed for six years. He holds honorary doctorates from Trinity International University, Westminster College, and Azusa Pacific University. Dr. Washington has been a featured speaker for Promise Keepers, Moody Founders Week and many other ministries.