Service of celebration to mark Rev Karl Johnson becoming first Caribbean president of Baptist churches worldwide

Reverend Karl John’s historic appointment to the helm of the Baptist World Alliance is being recognised today at Phillippo Baptist Church, the church he leads in Spanish Town, Jamaica’s first capital, with a service of celebration beginning at 4:00 p.m.

In what for him is a merging of history, Johnson is acutely aware of the legacies and burning desire for social, economic, political, and religious freedom exemplified by National Heroes Paul Bogle and Sam

Sharpe, like them, Johnson, a Baptist minister, is the first in the organisation’s 120-year history to hold the position.

In an interview with The Gleaner, Johnson pledged to give voice to the forgotten and voiceless.

“So every five years they choose a leader. They have never chosen any from this region, and traditionally, they would choose the leader from the region where the congress is held. That was not written as a ruler policy, it just happened and it kind of became a custom. When you think about the population of the Caribbean, that we would be predominantly black, lower middle, and the poorest region, but globally, the weight of our leadership and our intellect, our integrity and our voice is what makes us known worldwide,” Johnson said.

Given the custom, the leader should have come from that region.

However, tossing custom aside, he was nominated by representatives of its six regions, Africa, Asia Pacific, Caribbean, European, North American, and Latin American regions.

The local Baptist history of fierce resistance to the underbelly of ugliness in social, economic, and political life is not lost on Johnson, who plans to combine that history with today’s reality.

It will maintain the history of fight, perseverance and endurance, but tempered with love, forgiveness, brotherhood, and peace, being the end game.

According to him, the Baptist Church recognises bravery.

“Leave it within the Baptist church to see the bravery. What we stand for in this region. These heroes are not just heroes for Jamaica, but for the world and for the anti-slavery movement.

“What was moving is that my nomination came from every region. It was just one of these unique moments. And what happens is that you have a nominations committee and people send in nominations. Anybody can nominate, you can't even nominate yourself. The nomination committee drills down and they have interviews,” he explained.

Johnson brings a distinguished career of service to the ministry of the Baptist church in Jamaica, with three decades of service.

He was ordained and accredited in September 1992, and previously served as pastor of the Ulster Spring and Calvary Circuits of churches.

For 20 years, he served as general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, a position he held until 2021.

The University of the West Indies-educated Johnson is recognised as a public theologian, committed ecumenist, and passionate advocate for regional development.

He is widely known as someone who does not mince word, and whose service extends beyond Jamaica’s borders through leadership roles in several international organisations.

Johnson explains what it all means.

“Well, let me say that with my own approach to this assignment, I have said to them that I would like to be the voice of those on the margins. People in those countries that you easily forget. For example, Sudan, where nobody hears about the hundreds of thousands suffering. You hear about Ukraine and Russia every day. You don't hear about some countries in the Asia-Pacific. Nobody remembers them, because they just don't get the visibility on the airwaves. And that is multiplied all across the world. I want my five years to bring those people's voices up front, that people can hear,” Johnson explained.

Religious persecution, which lurks dangerously in the murky waters across the world, rests heavily in Johnson’s heart.

He not only calls it “vicious” but said it is dangerous, noting that Christianity in parts of Nigeria, Rwanda, and other countries on the continent was “just heartbreaking.”

One issue that will not be forgotten is that of “slavery and reparations.”

He said the Baptist World Alliance passed a resolution some time ago on such issues, including racism and slavery, but he believes more needs to be done, from which “flourishing justice”, and “flourishing freedom” are central to Baptists' advocacy for human rights and justice and religious liberties.

“I want some of those things to be part of what will accompany my period of service. And I really wanted to give a salute to our history and our journey,” Johnson said.

Thursday’s service is being held to celebrate the historic mark for the country and regions.

The service hopes to bring together Christians across all denominations, with the Baptist church's membership expected to be a large part of those attending.

Johnson said his only insistence is that the service should be held at the church he pastors.

His first official visit will be to the Caribbean and he heads to Trinidad next week, followed by the African continent.

He will serve until 2030.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com

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