David Elliot Johnson

David Elliot Johnson was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 1933. He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford with a Bachelor of Arts in 1955. He went to Virginia Theological Seminary, where he received a Master of Divinity degree in 1961. After ordination to the diaconate, he served as rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1963, he became vicar of St Martin's Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, while in 1965 became chaplain at the University of Arkansas. From 1972 till 1976, he served as rector of Calvary Church in Columbia, Missouri, before transferring to St Boniface's Church in Sarasota, Florida in 1976, a post he retained till 1985.

[3][4][5]

Johnson was elected Coadjutor Bishop of Massachusetts in 1985 and was consecrated on October 5, 1985 by Presiding Bishop John Allin in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He regularly preached about world peace and AIDS and was traditionally known to visit two parishes on Sundays. He was also a supporter of the ordination of women as priests and bishops but was not in favor of ordaining gay and lesbian persons.

His episcopacy was characterized with a number of clashes with some congregations, notably in 1993 when he was involved in a public dispute with Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston over their music program. He was also in conflict with the Church of the Advent after criticizing the means how the church was governed. In return the church filed suit asking for a court injunction to keep him from interfering. In November 1994 Bishop Johnson announced that he intended to retire in June 1995.

On January 15, 1995 Bishop Johnson was found dead in his home. It was revealed that he died from a single gunshot to the chest. It was concluded that Johnson committed suicide using a .22-caliber rifle . His funeral took place in Trinity Church in Boston and was presided over by Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning on January 19, 1995. A few weeks after his death the Episcopal church revealed that Johnson had been involved in several extramarital affairs throughout his ministry.