Johnson ordained into priesthood

Former Texas teacher ready to lead congregation

Rev. Ann Ruth Johnson was ordained into the priesthood before a crowd of over 70 parishioners Saturday at St. John's Episcopal-Lutheran Church, located on the corner of Second Street and Grant. Johnson, a retired schoolteacher from Texas and lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, moved to northern Arizona in August 2006 from Texas.

"My job was a deaf educator and so I did that for 37 years," said Johnson. "If God's work takes hold of you, it just doesn't let you go. So, when I retired, I just knew it was time for me to do this."

Johnson graduated from seminary last May from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.

"In this church you're required to be a deacon at least six months and there was an ordination at the end of July and I was ordained a deacon then," said Johnson. "For the past six months I've been a deacon."

Johnson will take over for Rev. Dayl Bingell who retired from St. John's last July after 15 years. Bingell was ordained a priest in 1992.

"One of the things that people are surprised about is that I'm a woman and people are still not used to women in the pulpit," said Johnson. "Even in the Episcopal Church though we've been doing this for over 30 years, it's still a question and it's lovely when a congregation is so accepting."

"I was always active in choir work and altar guild and taught Sunday school and did youth groups," said Johnson. "I didn't know I was going to do this, but I always knew that I was called to serve the church, whether it was Sunday school teacher, baking bread for the bazaar, doing the altar guild or singing in the choir."

Johnson, a widowed mother of three who currently lives in the Flagstaff area, said she is considering a move to Williams in the future and has already become a member of the Williams Rotary Club.

"In the Episcopal Church, as in the Catholic Church, there are people whose job it is to explain God, to bring God (to the people)," said Johnson. "We believe that everybody has a ministry, that all people have ministries to each other and that we're all ordained, but there are people who have responsibilities for helping people realize that. My job is to preach the word and to deliver the sacraments. My job is to love God's people."

St. John's was first established in 1912 and became affiliated with the Lutheran congregation in 1980, when the two churches joined forces. Dr. E. B. Perrin, along with circuit rider Rev. J.L. Meade, originally founded the church, which met at various locations throughout Williams. The stained glass windows that adorn St. John's came from a church in Jerome, along with many of the other furnishings still in use at the Williams parish. In 1989, St. John's became a Total Ministry church, which means that all members of the church share in the work, ministry and business of their parish.

St. John's Episcopal-Lutheran Church can be reached (928) 635-2781.