Rev. Dr. Theon Johnson III serves as Senior Pastor of Campbell United Methodist Church in the heart of Silicon Valley, a vibrant and diverse congregation representing more than 15 nations and home to the largest West African presence within the California-Nevada Conference of The United Methodist Church. Since July 2026, he has also served as Co-District Superintendent of the El Camino Real District, providing regional leadership, pastoral support, and strategic oversight for congregations and clergy across communities reflecting the rich cultural, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the San Francisco Bay Area. His work emphasizes congregational vitality, clergy development, and strategic partnerships that strengthen the church’s engagement with its communities.
An ordained elder, Dr. Johnson has served in both higher education and local congregations. At Jackson State University (JSU)—a distinguished historically Black university in Mississippi—he served as United Methodist Campus Minister. In 2012, he joined the pastoral team of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, contributing to its expansive ministry at the intersection of faith, social justice, and community transformation. His work encompassed pastoral care, civic engagement, organizational collaboration, and support for the institution’s broad network of programs and services, which reached thousands of individuals and families. From 2018 to 2024, he led Downs Memorial United Methodist Church, a historic African American congregation in Oakland with a legacy of prophetic ministry locally and globally.
Beyond the local church, Dr. Johnson serves on the Advisory Committee of the Junius B. Dotson Institute for Music and Worship in the Black Church & Beyond and on the Connectional Table of The United Methodist Church, where he is a member of the Executive Committee and chairs the Vision Subgroup shaping the denomination’s future. He also mentors candidates for ministry, represents the California-Nevada Conference as a delegate to the denomination’s General and Jurisdictional Conferences, and serves on the Board of Directors of both Black Methodists for Church Renewal, the denomination’s oldest ethnic caucus, and the Santa Clara Methodist Retirement Foundation, which advances housing and care for older adults in Silicon Valley. His leadership reflects a consistent commitment to empowering people, strengthening organizations, and building thriving communities.
Dr. Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy–Religious Studies, with minors in Education and the Faith & Work Initiative, from Millsaps College in 2006; a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2009; and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision from Jackson State University in 2018. His doctoral research explores organizational leadership, culture, and strategy.
