Presbytery News & Announcements
Presbytery Meeting September 20-21, 2019
Visiting Speakers
Carlton Johnson, Vital Congregations PCUSA Stephen Keizer, Presbyterian Foundation
Carlton Johnson
Carlton David Johnson is a native of Atlanta GA. He received his undergraduate degree from Emory University in English with a concentration in literature from the African diaspora. Following a 25-year career in Project, Operation and Client Services Management, Carlton returned to the academy to receive the Master of Divinity at Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary and, more recently, the Master of Theology (Homiletics) from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. His area of research is the impact of African American preaching on grief and mourning.
Throughout his life, he has maintained an intimate concern for the disenfranchised, especially young African-American males. He has worked diligently in the outreach ministries of the church and given himself to mentorship with the United States National Guard Youth Challenge Academy and his beloved Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Carlton currently serves as the Associate for Vital Congregations for the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). He also serves as Chief Operations Officer for Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary. Carlton recently completed a two-year residency in Chaplaincy with Grady Health Systems where he developed a specialty in Emergency and Trauma Initiated Palliative Pastoral Care.
Carlton is an associate minister at the First Afrikan Presbyterian Church in Lithonia, GA where he leads the Ujima Men’s Fellowship, Kijana Boys Rites of Passage, Fawohodie Ministry to the Incarcerated and their families and serves in music ministry. He is a board member of the First Afrikan Presbyterian Church Community Development Corporation, the Presbyterian Pastoral Care Network and NEXT CHURCH (Strategic Planning Team). He is a regular contributor to the Presbyterian Outlook monthly magazine. Carlton and his wife Cara slit their time between Atlanta, GA and Louisville, KY.
Stephen Keizer
Stephen came to the Presbyterian Foundation in 2004 and leads the Ministry Relations efforts for the Presbyterian Foundation. His team of Ministry Relations Officers serves pastors and their congregations throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from regional offices across the country. Stephen and his staff work to help congregations create a culture of generosity in the church, offering seminars and workshops, developing gifts and fundraising plans for ministries, and providing coaching to finance, stewardship, and endowment committees.
Prior to joining the Foundation, he spent 15 years at Western Michigan University where he served in many fund-raising capacities within the development office including the Annual Fund, athletic fund-raising, corporate and foundation relations and finally as a major gift officer. Stephen has three degrees from WMU – Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Master of Arts in Athletic Administration, and Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership. He is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Portage, Michigan.
Congregations are healthy and vital when they:
