Published on September 14, 2024, 12:39 am

Image source: Fox News

The notable black Baptist congregation, Abyssinian Baptist Church, which was founded over 200 years ago in New York City, is preparing for a significant leadership change. A mere three months after the announcement of Rev. Kevin R. Johnson’s appointment as its new senior pastor, the church will be executing his official installation this month.

Johnson’s installment as the new senior pastor is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29 at 3 p.m., serving as the grand finale to a week of carefully planned installation events. The list of engagements includes a banquet scheduled for Friday, Sept. 27 where tickets are already sold out.

Speaking about accepting this role, Johnson exclaimed that it felt like a “profound honor and joy” to be returning to his spiritual roots saying, “This pastoral call feels like a homecoming, an opportunity to serve our beloved Abyssinian family, the Harlem community and beyond.” He has plans to build upon their rich 216-year legacy by bringing forth a fresh vision for both local and global ministry.

The doors to Abyssinian’s top position were abruptly opened on Oct. 28, 2022 when Reverend Calvin O. Butts III succumbed to pancreatic cancer after holding this post for three decades.The church reported that over 40 candidates across various backgrounds in terms of ages, genders and sexual orientations were considered for the prestigious position.

Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman had emerged as one such candidate worth highlighting. As a Yale Divinity School professor she previously made history by becoming the youngest pastor ordained at Abyssinian in 2007 and believed she could set another distinctive record by being appointed first female head pastor following Butt’s demise. Unfortunately she did not make it into the final running for this role which led her to file an accusationagainst religion institution citing gender discrimination.

Coming with an impressive repertoire in terms of leadership experience was Johnson who previously served at Dare to Imagine Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His tenure saw the congregation growing from merely 20 people to a grand figure of over 1,500 individuals, attesting to his dynamic leadership skills. Further solidifying his eligibility was his status as founder, president and CEO of Dare to Imagine Community Development Corporation. Holding degrees from Morehouse College, Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary added further credibility to his credentials.

Johnson has been happily married for almost 27 years to his wife Kimya who is a corporate lawyer by profession, serving as the vice president of Dare to Imagine Church’s board while raising their three children.

Stay tuned with us for the most trusted news around the world. We always bring you exclusive real news that adheres strictly to Christian worldview allowing you to stay informed and updated about global happenings.