Categories: Articles, Hazel Rosetta Smith,
On October 28, 2022,the Abyssinian Baptist Church suffered a deep loss at the passing of its longtime pastor, Reverend Dr. Calvin Otis Butts, III. Dedicated to his faith, Dr. Butts was an advocate for social and racial justice and a guiding light in the village of Harlem.
Since that time, throughout the mourning period, Abyssinian’s Pulpit Search Committee traversed a difficult path in a process to vet potential applicants of diverse ages and genders for a position that everyone agreed would be a hard act to follow.
The Reverend Dr. Calvin Otis Butts, III had served the Abyssinian Baptist Church in a ministerial capacity for fifty years, beginning as a student at Union Theological Seminary under the very astute then Abyssinian Senior Pastor, the Rev Samuel DeWitt Proctor. Following the passing of Proctor, Dr. Butts began his journey as the Senior Pastor in 1989.
In the book of Jeremiah 3:15, it states, “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” The question that moved throughout the congregation and community was who would be found that could continue such a profound legacy while building their own?”
After vetting nearly forty interested parties, the Pulpit Search Committee announced their selected candidate was Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Johnson. A candidate meet-greet week was held in person at Abyssinian and by Zoom with officers, ministers, ministries, and members of the church. Challenging questions and in-depth inquiries were presented. Rev. Johnson preached on Pentecost Sunday.
According to the church’s bylaws, the Senior Pastor selection is not complete until the congregation has voted to approve the candidate. Churchwide voting was submitted online from June 21 through Sunday, June 23. In-person paper ballot voting took place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on June 23rd.
Before the sun had fully descended on the 23rd, ElectionTrust, a professional election company, officially tallied the ballots.
The word went forth, that Rev. Kevin R. Johnson, a Baptist minister for over thirty-three years, the founding Lead Pastor of Dare to Imagine Church, Inc., Philadelphia, was proclaimed to be the Abyssinian Baptist Church’s 21st Pastor following the late Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III.
Rev. Johnson joined Abyssinian in 1997. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Morehouse College and later received post-graduate degrees at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary.
He was mentored by the late Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III and served as an intern and Assistant Pastor. Johnson is returning to the Abyssinian Church recognized as having established a ministry that started with twenty people in his home and now boasts a congregation of over 1,500 members on a $2.2 million campus in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia.
Under his leadership, the church donated over $750,000 to support area organizations that provide services for people in need. He also serves as the founder, president, and CEO of Dare to Imagine Community Development Corporation.
The hope of the voting process was provided by the Pulpit Search Committee as #AbyForward. That desire was similarly expressed by Rev. Johnson in the following message to the Abyssinian congregation.
“With profound gratitude, I humbly accept God’s call to serve as Abyssinian Baptist Church’s 21st senior pastor. This sacred responsibility fills my family and me with joy. Abyssinian is not just a church – it is our spiritual home, and I am honored to build upon its rich legacy with you. Together, we will advance God’s kingdom, serve our community by His grace, further impact the world, and shape Abyssinian’s next glorious chapter.
“As we embark on this faith journey together, I’m reminded of words that our late beloved pastor, Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, shared with me and other Abyssinian ministers: “If you love the people, they will love you.”
