October 12 Today in OPC History

On October 12, 1973, Dennis E. Johnson was ordained and installed as pastor of Grace OPC, Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Mr. Johnson would pastor Grace OPC until 1976 when he accepted a call to Beverly OPC, Los Angeles. In 1982, Mr. Johnson joined the faculty of the now Westminster Seminary California (WSC), Escondido, California. That same year he was elected as moderator of the 49th General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He opened the 50th General Assembly preaching from 1 Corinthians 9 on the topic, "My Rights or Christ's Kingdom?" In this sermon he noted that many Christians drew the line in answering that question in different ways, but he urged that the ministers and ruling elders of the OPC defer to one another in love, seeking always the extension of God's kingdom and not the vindication of one's self. In 1992 after nineteen years as a minister in the OPC, Mr. Johnson tranferred his ministerial credentials to the Presbyterian Church in America.

Picture: Dennis Johnson