The Rev. Kevin Allen Johnson
Rector
St. Alban's Episcopal Church
Arlington, Texas
Greetings, dear people of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina. Thank you for your committed loyalty to the values and ethos of The Episcopal Church. As someone serving in a diocese with similar experiences as yours, I keenly appreciate your faithfulness.
Last September a friend sent me a text saying, “You must put your name in for this.” “This” was the discernment process for bishop of your diocese. At first, I was bemused. However, after considerable prayer and conversation with colleagues, I realized that the Holy Spirit was inviting me to journey this road with you.
There are many parallels between the vocational work I’ve done up to this point and the hopes and needs of South Carolina. Serving a congregation in the Diocese of Fort Worth that was displaced by ACNA because of their commitment to spiritual generosity, I know what it is to be in the in-between place in which you find yourselves. I’ve seen Christ work despite this situation, or maybe because of this situation. And I’ve experienced people’s faith, and mine, transformed.
This I know - there will be much work ahead for South Carolina on the way towards serving the 21st century - wounds to be healed and inspiring prospects for new ministry. The possibilities excite my spirit. I am grateful to be in discernment with you.
I grew up in the Fort Worth area and confirmed as an Episcopalian at St. Alban’s while attending graduate school at UT Arlington. For a dozen years I served in the U.S. Army as an engineer, domestically and internationally, which broadened my horizons, teaching me to appreciate God’s wide variety of humanity. I also learned that every place can be wonderful.
I enjoyed serving in the Army. But, I knew that it was always a step towards the call to ministry I’d always known, but avoided, since I was a little boy. In El Salvador a battalion chaplain helped me come to terms with God’s calling. Upon completing my master’s in divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary, I served large program-sized parishes in San Antonio and eastern North Carolina. For family reasons, I moved back home - I also missed beef BBQ, decent margaritas, and Texas swing music. Serendipitously (or perhaps God had something to do with it) St. Alban’s needed a priest. Life circled back around in interesting ways.
I have significant experience and formal training in helping organizations recognize and grow into who they are called to become. I’ve helped envision and stand up five viable non-profit social services agencies. This experience has evolved into a national consulting practice training church leaders to discern and put into practice God’s particular call for their church.
If God calls me into vocation with you I will bring my whole self, working in partnership with you so that we can manifest the Living Good News in the world. My prayers are with you each day as you listen for the voice of God.
Blessings to you and yours.
Kevin Johnson+
