The Rev. Dennis Johnson '60, serving as Chaplain of the Minnesota House, stands in front of the gubernatorial portrait of Harold LeVander '32. (Photo by Erin Wilken '02)
Kelly J. Nelson ’10
The Rev. Dennis Johnson ’60 is now the spiritual anchor for a political group with much at stake. Johnson was sworn in as chaplain of the Minnesota House of Representatives on Jan. 6, 2009. Along with being a spiritual counselor for House members, he opens every session with prayer or hosts the guest chaplain.
Minnesota’s government is under a great deal of pressure, experiencing a $5 billion budget shortfall. “Really the greatest challenge in the state is balancing a budget and providing the necessary services,” Johnson explains. “Just watching the whole process is very interesting. Everyone anticipates a stressful session, but they also know that they will have to pull together to make this work. I am impressed with the dedication and hard work of the persons who serve in government.”
Margaret Anderson Kelliher ’90, Speaker of the House, has the privilege of appointing the chaplain. After a few invitations to Johnson, he finally was able to accept. His appointment is for five months, after which he can choose to renew or not. Although he has just begun his work, he explained that he is excited for what is to come in his position, and he will have gained much by the end of his work with the House.
Johnson’s history with Gustavus is a rich one, starting with his transfer to Gustavus in 1958 and graduation in 1960. After seminary, graduate school, and years as a parish pastor in Texas, he returned to St. Peter in 1977 to serve as pastor of First Lutheran Church. In 1985, Gustavus president John Kendall asked Johnson to return to Gustavus to serve as vice president for church relations, and was instrumental in creating the Gustavus Adolphus Association of Congregations. Among other things, he eventually served as vice president for college relations, vice president for advancement, and president of the college for an interim period of one-year in 2002.
Johnson says that his array of professional opportunities was made possible by his liberal arts education at Gustavus. “I can’t imagine having a more interesting life or a greater variety of opportunities than what I have been given. A liberal arts education is something that prepares one to do almost anything. In my career I’ve had to draw on every talent I had and develop abilities and skills I didn’t know I had. My liberal education enabled me to respond to the challenges.”
Johnson is at least the fourth Gustavus graduate to serve as chaplain in the Minnesota Legislature, following two other Gustavus graduates from the Class of 1960: the Rev. Jim Anderson and the Rev. Roger Anderson; and the Rev. Leman Olsenius ’34. Moreover, there are currently six Minnesota legislators who have roots at Gustavus.
In addition to his new role at the House, Johnson enjoys spending time with his wife, Carol, and babysitting their grandchildren. He is involved with a number of volunteer organizations, including “Jordan New Life Hub” — an outreach ministry in North Minneapolis, “Friends of the Library” board at the University of Minnesota and “Commission 150” at Gustavus. He is also co-author of Esbj! The Heart and Mind of a Professor and is currently working on a book about his own career.