The Rev. Kevin A. Johnson is an ordained pastor in the United Methodist
Church (UMC), in good standing, but has not been able to be the pastor of a
church within the UMC since 1982 because of the general church's official stance
on homosexuality. As an out gay man, he has worked within Broadway UMC in
Chicago and the Reconciling Ministries Network to live out his call to ministry
while working day-to-day as a businessperson. Kevin has heard increasingly his
primary call to ordained ministry. The opportunity presented by the formation of
the inclusive, progressive "Church within the Church" movement in the UMC, which
was founded in February 2002, afforded Kevin and Broadway a way to start a new
ministry with Kevin’s leadership. In May/June/July of 2002, Kevin responded to
God's prodding by resigning his job, selling his condo and most of its contents,
and moving to Southern California’s Coachella Valley to start Bloom in the
Desert Ministries.
Johnson has played an active leadership role at Broadway UMC, a congregation
that declared itself in "constructive engagement" with the UMC following the
2000 General Conference negative votes pertaining to legislation regarding
sexual orientation. Kevin chaired the Broadway’s Future Task Force of 11 persons
who developed and facilitated a congregational process by which Broadway made
the January 2001 decision to remain United Methodist. In other areas Kevin has
been active as co-chair of Broadway’s Reconciling Ministries Committee, a member
of the Education Committee and a regular participant in the Church Council and
Congregational Meetings.
Johnson also spent 20 years working in the Chicago business community, most
recently as vice president of marketing for Quicksilver Associates, a
woman-owned business communications company producing meetings, video,
multimedia and Web-based business solutions. Through the years Kevin served on
the board of directors for Meeting Professionals International Chicago Area
Chapter, the communications committee of The Executives’ Club of Chicago and the
steering committee of Chicago’s Woman’s Business Development Center.
Prior to the move to Chicago, Kevin spent 10 years in various ministries
starting at the age of 19 as a Boy Scout summer camp chaplain while in
university. He graduated from United Theological Seminary (Dayton, Ohio) in 1978
after serving as president of the student body in his senior year. While in
Seminary, he co-founded an Evangelical Caucus support group on campus and was an
active member of the touring choir. For two years, he was the student associate
pastor of Grace UMC in Piqua, Ohio.
Upon seminary graduation, Johnson was appointed Associate Pastor of the
1200-member First UMC in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where his ministry involved youth,
single adult and general education programs. Mission trips and mountain
expeditions were alternating yearly highlights of the program, which grew from
three attendees at the first meeting called by Kevin to become the second
largest youth group in the conference. He was also a regular worship leader,
preacher and choir member. Kevin was ordained Elder and accepted into full
membership of the conference clergy in June 1979.
It was in Kenosha, October 1981, that Johnson was "outed" via a breach of
confidence while quietly coming to terms personally with being gay. Upon
learning the news of Kevin’s orientation, the 9-member Kenosha First UMC Pastor
Parish Relations Committee immediately voted to have Kevin leave the parish.
Since Kevin was an Elder in good standing and a full member of the Wisconsin
Conference, with unquestioned rights to a guaranteed appointment at that time,
Bishop Marjorie Matthew’s sought to honor his credentials and make another
full-time appointment. Bishop Matthews, the first female bishop elected in the
modern mainline church, worked with her district superintendents for five months
trying to make an appointment. Five Wisconsin congregations were approached and
each acknowledged the credentials and experience that Kevin would bring to the
parish. However, they decided not to consider the appointment of an "out" gay
pastor.
As predictions of an intentional, negative national publicity campaign were
made, Kevin decided to release the stalemate and requested Leave of Absence
status, which was granted. He then moved to Chicago on April 1, 1982, to begin a
new life as a businessperson. Since then, Kevin has faithfully maintained his
relationship with the Wisconsin Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
Kevin developed the vision for the Bloom in the Desert ministry over two
years. As Kevin states: "Like we used to say when I was a student pastor in
Ohio, the Holy Spirit’s ‘conviction’ grew ever stronger in me. A clear picture
developed in my mind that I could not shake off. In that picture, I saw myself
standing in the desert, in my white robes, hugging people. To me this meant that
the Spirit would not rest until I had made the decision to move to the desert to
do ministry. Since the decision was made, the ‘peace that passes understanding’
has confirmed my faith that this is what I am supposed to do as a new phase of
life."
(This biographical statement provided by Kevin Johnson.)