Online Archives

The Rev. Peggy Johnson was endorsed by the members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference to be their candidate for bishop in the upcoming episcopal elections, which will be held in July at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference.

Johnson, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf in Baltimore, was recommended to the annual conference by the 36 members of the General and Jurisdictional Conference delegations, who underwent a detailed discernment process last winter.

These same delegates will vote at the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference for one new bishop who will serve in that jurisdiction when it meets July 14-18 in Harrisburg, Pa. That bishop will fill a vacancy that will be left by Bishop Violet Fisher, who retires this year.

Johnson accepted the overwhelming endorsement of the conference "with exceedingly great joy," and said she feels "absolute confidence" that she is following a call from God in being considered for the episcopacy.

There is a sense of pride and joy, she said, in being able to share her vision of a bishop as "a servant leader whose main task is to be a spiritual head of the church" and whose "primary goal is to bring the light of Christ to the world."

At annual conference, Johnson was one of five candidates considered. Four others were nominated from the floor on the morning of May 24.

The Rev. Ken Jones nominated the Rev. David Simpson of Bethany UMC in Ellicott City. The Rev. Wade Martin nominated the Rev. Cynthia Belt of Centennial-Caroline Street UMC in Baltimore. The Rev. Connie Smith nominated the Rev. Mamie A. Williams of Fowlers UMC in Annapolis and Wanda Cockrell nominated the Rev. Laura Easto of Westminster UMC in Westminster.

Each candidate was given three minutes to address the conference.

Easto spoke of her "abiding passion for this our church" and her willingness to allow God to use her heart and all that she is as God wishes.

Williams talked about the denomination's new focus on building young leaders, creating new spaces for new people, combating poverty and addressing world health issues. These new focuses give her hope for the church, she said.

Belt focused her comments on the need for the church to commit itself fully to be in ministry to and with young people and her vision of a church where all are welcome at the table.

Simpson stressed his belief that there is still vitality in The United Methodist Church. "I don't believe God is finished with us yet," he said, citing his passion "to see people brought to Christ."

Johnson told the members that "call is everything" and that she hoped to respond faithfully to this call she feels to the episcopacy.

The balloting was then conducted. To receive the conference's endorsement, the candidate had to receive 66 percent of the vote.

Johnson was endorsed on the third ballot in which 729 valid ballots were cast and she received 542 votes, more than 80 percent of those who voted.

On the final ballot, Simpson received 72 votes; Easto 56, Williams 28 and Belt 19.

Bishop Schol thanked them all for being willing to put themselves forward to serve the church. It was a courageous, humbling and faithful act, he said.

Upon becoming the conference's nominee for bishop, Johnson said, "Thank you from the bottom of my little deaf heart."

Although she is not deaf herself, Johnson is fluent in American Sign Language and has worked as an international leader in deaf ministries for more than 20 years.

She has also received the nomination of the denomination's Association of Physically Challenged Pastors.

Johnson believes that if she is elected, her primary goal will be to be a spiritual leader for pastors. She is also excited about devoting herself completely to the will of God to "bring good news to the oppressed, sight to the blind, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive."

It will not be her task, nor the task of any bishop, to "save this denomination from decline," she said. Rather, she hopes to "model the outrageous inclusive love of Christ to people in the margins."

Johnson is a child of the Baltimore Conference, baptized and confirmed at Lansdowne Methodist Church. She was ordained in 1979 and has served at Mt. Pleasant Charge in Frederick, Lansdowne UMC in Baltimore, as a chaplain at Gallaudet University in Washington and since 1988, as pastor of Christ UM Church of the Deaf.

She has served on a number of conference and General Church committees and won numerous awards for her work in evangelism and deaf ministries.

In 2007, she published the book "Deaf Ministry: Make a Joyful Silence."

She is married to the Rev. Michael Johnson, of Lansdowne UMC. They have two sons.