Deon Kevin Johnson was consecrated as the 11th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri on June 13, 2020, at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis. He became the first black, first gay, first immigrant to serve as bishop in this diocese.
Johnson was born and raised in a small village on the Caribbean island of Barbados. His faith was formed under the watchful eye of his maternal grandmother who taught him how to pray, how to listen with his heart and introduced him to the beauty of worship in the hymns and spirituals she sang throughout Deon’s childhood.
His grandmother’s presence and prayers continued to influence him as he immigrated from Barbados to New York at the age of 14. “Leaving my mother and grandmother behind was perhaps one of the most difficult journeys my older brother and I could ever undertake,” Johnson recalls. “Because of their unconditional love, and the faithful witness of many others, I have been shaped into the person and priest I am today.”
After receiving Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and History and an Associate degree in Biology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH (2000), he went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from The General Theological Seminary in New York, NY (2003), where he also received an Honorary Doctorate degree (2021).
Johnson served as Associate Rector at Christ Episcopal Church in Shaker Heights, OH (2003-2006), and as Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brighton, MI (2006-2020). His service to the wider church community includes the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, the Taskforce for Liturgical and Prayer Book Revision, and the Office of African Descent Ministries. He also serves on the advisory boards and councils of Sewanee: The University of the South and General Theological Seminary.
The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri elected Johnson as its 11th diocesan bishop on Nov. 23, 2019, just before the COVID pandemic hit. His ordination was originally scheduled for April 25, 2020, but was postponed and downsized for safety reasons until June 13, 2020. The pandemic shaped much of his early years as bishop. Throughout the health emergency, Johnson led with compassion and hope.
"I see my role primarily as pastoral in this time in the church and the world," Bishop Deon said. His passion for social justice and racial reconciliation has formed his ministry. Johnson authored an anti-racism covenant, established diocesan missioners to lead advocacy ministries, and established a racial reconciliation fund to help heal the divisions throughout our diocese.
Bishop Johnson and his husband Jhovanny Osorio are the proud parents of two children, Lilohalani and Ja’Lon. He enjoys cooking, photography, hiking and being an armchair movie critic.
For more information or to speak with Bishop Deon Johnson, please contact his executive assistant, Jillian Smith.