Dr. Dennis L. Johnson

Dr. Johnson is a native of Illinois and began his ministry at Baptist Temple in the fall of 1995, after 23 years of pastoral ministry in metropolitan Chicago.  His undergraduate study is in Fine Arts/Drama, and both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees are from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in suburban Chicago.

His special interests in ministry are spiritual formation, worship renewal, Christian spirituality, with special focus on Celtic spirituality, and affirming the arts in Christian worship, formation and outreach.

His community concerns include areas of social justice, peace and non-violence.  His involvements in the Charleston community include serving on the mayor's special panel on diversity, a board member of the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center, and a commissioner on the city's human rights commission.  He is a regular panelist on the inter-faith dialogue program, "Roots and Branch."  He is a past-president of the West Virginia Baptist Convention and is currently parliamentarian for the General Board of the American Baptist Churches, USA.

He and his wife, Holly, have hosted tour groups for several years, most recently to such places as Greece, Ireland, Italy, England and Scotland.