Criswell College elects Jerry Johnson as president

by Jerry Pierce                                                                                                               Vol. XVII, No. 1, January 2004

The board of trustees of the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies (CCBS) unanimously elected Jerry A. Johnson, 39, of Louisville, KY, as the sixth president and chief executive officer of CCBS, which includes Criswell College and Criswell Communications, during its meeting Dec. 5. Johnson, a native of Malakoff, TX, and a 1986 Criswell graduate, will likely assume his duties Feb. 1, Mike Deahl, search committee chairman, told the board.

Johnson comes to Criswell College from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a doctor of philosophy in Christian ethics and most recently served as dean of the seminary's Boyce College and a member of the seminary's executive cabinet.

Johnson succeeds C. Richard Wells, who resigned in May to become pastor of South Canyon Baptist Church in Rapid City, SD. Since then, Lamar Cooper, executive vice president and provost, has served as acting president of the four-year college begun in 1971 by First Baptist Church of Dallas and named in honor of the late W.A. Criswell, the church's longtime pastor.

Jim Richards, a Criswell trustee and executive director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, said, "With tremendous rejoicing and celebration I welcome Dr. Jerry Johnson back to Texas and The Criswell College. He brings scholarship, a passion for souls, and a Christ-like spirit to the office of president. I believe and pray that The Criswell College's best days are ahead. It is my delight to have Jerry as a co-laborer in Texas. I have counted him among my dearest friends for a number of years. It is now a special treat to be able to work more closely with him.

"The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention has a strong advocate in Dr. Johnson. We share the same convictions. We desire to reach people for Christ. We are a part of the greater Southern Baptist Convention family. Jerry Johnson will make a tremendous impact in the years to come."

Johnson's first ministry assignment was as pastor of Ireland Baptist Church in Ireland, TX, from 1982-83. He has served as a youth pastor, interim pastor, and pastor at numerous churches. He earned a master of divinity degree in 1998 from Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary; he served churches in Colorado for 12 years after earning a bachelor of arts degree in biblical studies at Criswell in 1986. [BP]