Show Notes

Dr. Alonzo Johnson graduated from Claflin University with a B.A. in Religious Studies and a minor in philosophy. He then went to receive a Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Theology, Master of Philosophy, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Union Theological Seminary. 
Known as a self-starter, builder and visionary, and a consummate team player in the course of his career, academia, the church, and the business world, Dr. Alonzo Johnson has and continues to enjoy both the pleasure and the awesome responsibility of facing the challenges that come with establishing, nurturing and directing institutions that serve the public good. He credits his experiences in graduate and undergraduate academic institutions that helped shaped him in fully understanding each challenge that public and private institutions face as they seek to serve students and the demands of accrediting agencies.

Dr. Alonzo Johnson has served on the Board of Trustees of the
Interdenominational Theological Center for nearly two decades. During much of this time, he has served on and chaired the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board; working up close with two cycles of  SACS & Association of Theological Schools 10-year Accreditation Reaffirmation preparation.  He is deemed as an experienced team builder, working within institutions and building partnerships with outside community-based entities.

Dr. Alonzo Johnson is an ordained elder in the Church of God in Christ and is both pastor and founder of The Universal Outreach Church in Irmo, South Carolina where he has successfully led the church in the growth of its membership, ministries, programs, and budget, culminating in August 2016 with the purchase of the multi-million-dollar campus in Irmo, SC.  The church is strongly community-focused in vision and ministry.

On the state level, Dr. Alonzo Johnson serves as the assistant bishop to the South Carolina Jurisdiction. Duties consist of the training of clergy and laity,  supervision of pastors, overseeing church planting
and administration for sixty-five congregations in South Carolina.

On the national level, Dr. Alonzo Johnson serves in the capacity of Executive Consultant & Commissioner, The Church of God in Christ – Memphis, TN where he has had the responsibility of developing unified systems for the delivery of training for clergy and laity throughout the world, serving 5-million members, 25,000 congregations, and 12,000 pastors. In this role he developed the curriculum for the training of clergy throughout the denomination; led in the establishment of the denomination’s school, All Saints Bible College, Memphis, TN; reorganized the denomination’s system of Bible Colleges, and developed the structure for the online delivery of ministry training programs.

In the secular world, he is the Owner of Agape Health Services, LLC – Irmo, SC which is a provider for Medicaid Adult Day Care and Home Health Services. In academia, Dr. Alonzo Johnson currently serves as Associate Professor of Theology, Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary (Allen University)—Columbia, SC whose Primary area of responsibility is in teaching core and upper-level courses in theology and ethics, participation in student advisement, doing scholarly research, and participation in public service events within and outside of the university community. He has served as a Professor of Religious Studies at The University of South Carolina – Columbia, SC. He was Responsible for the development and teaching of all courses on African Americans, Caribbean,
Latin American, and African Religions. Taught graduate and undergraduate courses and taught in the Honors College, African American Studies Programs, the USC degree programs
for incarcerated men, as well as core curriculum classes. Dr. Alonzo Johnson also served as Assistant Professor at Benedict College – Columbia, SC where he taught core religion and philosophy courses for the core curriculum.

Dr. Alonzo Johnson is also the author of several works.

In-Process: A Book Review of Frederick L. Ware, Antonia Michelle Daymond, Eric Lewis Williams, Editors:
T&T Clark Handbook of African American Theology, (T&T Clark).
In-Process: Co-Author with Dr. David D. Daniels: “Political and Theological Reflections on Race: A Black
Pentecostal Perspective,” for Pneuma.
Virtual Lecture Presentation: “Equipping Clergy for Ministry During the Pandemic & Beyond.” Ontario
Jurisdiction, Church Of God In Christ, October 25, 2021.
Chief Editor and Contributing Author, Church Of God In Christ: Ordination and Licensure Textbook,
Church Of God In Christ Publishing House, Memphis, TN., November 2019.
Chief Editor and Contributing Author, Church Of God In Christ: Ordination and Licensure Textbook, Teachers’
Edition. Church Of God In Christ Publishing House, Memphis, TN.
Presentation: COGIC Scholars & O. T. Jones Institute, Church Of God In Christ: Ordination and Licensure
Textbook, Teacher’s Edition. November 7 & 9, 2019, St. Louis, MO.
Presentation: COGIC Scholars & O. T. Jones Institute: Understanding Spiritual Formation in the New Age,
Social Media Era. November 10, 2018, St. Louis, MO.
Presentation (Seminar Led): COGIC Scholars & O. T. Jones Institute: Gender Identity, Transgender, & Human
Sexuality: The New Moral, Legal, & Theological Landscape, What Religious Organizations Should Know and
Why! November 6-8, 2015, St. Louis, MO.
Current Editor & Contributor: Revised Standardized Ordination Curriculum, Church of God in Christ.
Co-Author of the Chapter on “The Church of God in Christ Statement of Faith,” Standardized Ordination
Curriculum, Church of God in Christ, Church of God in Christ Publishing House, Memphis, TN., 2015.
Author, Good News for the Disinherited. University Press of America, Washington DC, 1997.
Author of the lead Chapter & Co-Editor, Ain’t Gonna Lay My ‘Ligion Down. The University of South Carolina
Press, Columbia, SC, 1997.
Author, Thought You Knew Everything About Church? Think Again! Universal Publications & Media, Inc.,
2005.
Author, The Pastor’s Helper. Provider’s House Publishing, 2004.
Co-Author: Powe, B.D., & Johnson, Alonzo. “Fatalism Among African Americans: A Philosophical
Perspective.” Journal of Religion and Health (Summer 1995)
Chapter Author: “Researching the Church of God in Christ”. African-American Religion: Research Problems
and Resources for the 1990s. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York City, NY.
Series Compiler & Editor: Church of God in Christ Doctrine & Theology: Student Book. Church of God in
Christ Publishing House, Memphis, TN, 2002