In Memoriam
Gordon G. Johnson, 91, died April 1, 2011. Johnson studied at Bethel Junior College and at Moody Bible Institute, where he met his wife Alta. He served in the U.S. Navy chaplaincy during World War II. He completed under-graduate study at the University of Minnesota, earned his B.D. from Bethel Seminary, his Th.M. from Princeton Seminary and his Th.D. from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary.
From 1946 to 1959 he pastored churches in Wisconsin, New Jersey and Illinois. While serving at Central Avenue Baptist Church in Chicago, in 1957 he wrote My Church, a review of Baptist distinctives and BGC history that is still in print.
In 1959 Bethel Seminary called Johnson to serve as director of field education and professor of preaching. Later, as seminary dean 1964-84, he was involved in construction of the Arden Hills campus, the seminary’s full accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools, the opening of a second seminary campus in 1977 in San Diego and the growth of seminary enrollment from 100 to nearly 600. In retirement he served as minister of pastoral care and associate pastor at College Avenue Baptist Church, San Diego, and taught as interim dean at Bethel Seminary San Diego.