Reverend Dr. Solomon Tilewa Ethelbert Willie Johnson, born 27th February 1954 in Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa. Married with three children.

• Wife - Priscilla
• Daughter - Njilan
• Son - Jeggan
• Daughter - Dado

EDUCATION:

Primary: Wesley Primary School (1962 – 1966)

Secondary: Gambia High School (1966 – 1974)

University: Trinity College, Umahia, Nigeria

Diploma in Theology (1977 – 1980)

University of Durham, Great Britain

B.A. (Hons) Theology (1982 – 1985)

Thesis: “The Impact of African Communal Ritual on Modern Christian Missions 1821 – 1965”

Oxford University, Great Britain

Certificate, Summer Programme in Theology - August 1997

Graduate Theological Foundation - Donaldson, Indiana, USA

Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Applied Ministries 1997 – 2000

Doctoral Project: “A Bishop’s Manual for the Implementation of a Jointly Generated Vision for the Diocese of Gambia for the Decade Beginning the Year 2000”

Foundation Fellow, Graduate Theological Foundation – Oxford-Rome-Indiana

ECCLESIASTICAL CONFERMENT'S:

1990 Consecrated Bishop

1980 Ordained Priest

1979 Made Deacon

EMPLOYMENT : 1990 TO PRESENT

BISHOP OF GAMBIA : HEAD OF THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF GAMBIA WHICH COMPRISES THE REPUBLICS OF THE GAMBIA, SENEGAL AND CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.

Overseeing and directing the spiritual, pastoral and socio-economic needs of the Diocese.

In line with the policy of the Government of the Republic of The Gambia, spearheading the development activities of the Diocese through its development arm, the Anglican Mission Development Ministries (AMDM) and in the following sectors – Education, Health, Agriculture, Christian Education and Refugee and Emergency Services. The task encompasses project formulation; project monitoring and appraisal; raising appeals through fundraising.

Keeping abreast of developments as they affect the AMDM’s contribution to the country; familiarization with Government, UN system and other development cooperation activities in the country that offer a potential for AMDM’s appropriate intervention.

Developing links with NGOs and grassroots initiatives and enhancing AMDM’s work in the country.

Developing links and PARTNERSHIP-IN-MISSION with the global Church. Currently partnerships are maintained with:

The Church in England through the Church Mission Society (CMS) – funding and personnel (mission partners, experience placements and group visits); the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG) – funding and looking at personnel; and the initial stages of looking at a partnership with the Diocese of Chichester.

The Episcopal Church in the USA, through support to projects.

The partnership with the Reformed Church in America (RCA) has involved the placement of mission partners, funding for projects and course of study for two priests. The suggestion by RCA to withdraw mission partners was agreed upon.

1985 – 1990 : Incumbent, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Banjul

1982 – 1985 : Resident Priest-in-Charge

Church of the African Martyrs, Farafenni, The Gambia Chaplain,

Anglican Training Centre, Farafenni, The Gambia

Visiting Priest,

St. Peter’s Interdenominational Congregation, Dakar, Senegal 1977 – 1980 : Student,

Trinity College, Umahia, Nigeria

Pastoral work – St. Michael’s Cathedral, Aba, Nigeria 1975 – 1977 : Teacher,

Gambia High School, Banjul, The Gambia.

Forms I to V – Technical Drawing, Cabinet Making and Woodwork

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES NATIONALLY

RELIGIOUS

• President, Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Gambia
• President, Diocesan School of Evangelism
• Executive Director, Anglican Mission Development Ministries (AMDM)
• Vice President, Gambia Boys’ Brigade Council
• Chairman, Board of Governors, Rev. J. C. Faye Memorial School, Banjul
• Member, Diocesan Radio Ministry
• Chairman, Management Committee, St. Mary’s Primary School, Banjul
• Chairman, Social Outreach and Development Sub-Committee, Gambia Christian Council
• Chaplain, Diocesan Mothers’ Union
• Honorary Chaplain, Missions to Seamen

CIVIC

• Chairman, National Dialogue Team, Strategy for Poverty Alleviation
• Chairman, National Committee on Christianity, Population and Development
• Member, National Population Commission
• Member, National Consultative Council for Social and Economic Policy
• Member, Council of elders for Conflict Prevention and Management in the Economic Organisation of West African States (ECOWAS)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONALLY

RELIGIOUS

• Dean, Church of the Province of West Africa (CPWA) Anglican Communion
• Chairman, Continental Committee for Ministry to the Uprooted, All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), Nairobi, Kenya
• Member, General Committee, AACC, Nairobi, Kenya
• Member, Executive Committee, AACC, Nairobi, Kenya
• Member, World Council of Churches (WCC) Faith and Order Plenary Commission
• Member, Global Ecumenical Network Forum (Advisory Body to the World Council of Churches Refugee and Migration Service)
• Member, International Ecumenical Consultative Committee for Refugees (IECCR)
• Vice President, Church Mission Society (CMS), London, UK
• Provincial Regional Coordinator, Decade of Evangelism
• Associate, Monastic Order of the Holy Cross

PAST PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Chairman, the Gambia Christian Council
• Chairman, The Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (TANGO) of The Gambia
• Chairman, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Republic of The Gambia
• Vice Chairman, Provisional Independent Electoral Commission (PIEC), Republic of The Gambia
• Member, Commonwealth Observer Group to General and Regional Elections, Guyana, December 1997
• Chairman, Coordinating Committee for Liberian Refugees (CCLR), Banjul
• Vice Chairman, Commission on Humanitarian Affairs, International Council for Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)
• Member, (observer status), Executive Committee, ICVA
• Member, Donor / NGO Central Coordinating Committee, Ministry of Health, Republic of The Gambia
• Member, Reference Group to draft the World Council of Churches (WCC) Statement on “Uprooted People”
• Member, Inter-Faith / Inter-Church Sub-Committee, the Gambia Christian Council
• Member, Management Committee of The Gambia National Branch of the African Society of International and Comparative Law
• Member, Constitutional Review Commission, Republic of The Gambia
• First Chairman, The Gambia Public Works and Capacity Building Project (GAMWORKS)
• Member, Board of Directors, Gambia Youth for Christ
• Chairman, Commonwealth Liaison Unit, The Gambia
• Chairman, Evangelical Fellowship of The Gambia

SIGNIFICANT PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS WRITTEN

• “An Epistle from the Churches in Africa to the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland”. Address to the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland Assembly. Swanwick England, February 1992.
• Address to the General Synod of the Church of England session – ‘Africa Today – Crisis and Opportunity’. London, England, November 1993.
• “Christian Relations with Islam: The Gambia”. Presentation to a Plenary Session of the 1998 Lambeth Conference. Canterbury, England, July 1998.
• “Building God’s Kingdom On Earth In The Age Of Globalisation: Africa’s Challenge To The Church In U.S.A.”. Commencement Address at the Graduate Theological Foundation Indiana Graduation. Indiana USA, May 2000.
• “Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens”. Series of Five Meditations on St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, presented to the Partners-in-Mission Consultation and Provincial Synod, Church of the Province of West Africa. Accra, October 1997.
• “Batum Yalla – Word of God. The Centrality of Scripture in the Life of the Church”. October 1993.
• “The Root of All Evil: Unjust Disparities of Wealth” in Jokkoo, Technical Co-operation Magazine of the United Nations System in The Gambia, Vol. 2 No. 2 – 1992. United Nations Development Programme: Banjul 1992.
• “Regionalisation Policy of the Ministry to the Uprooted. Genesis and Progress”. All African Conference of Churches: Nairobi 1998.
• “Holiness”. Series of Meditations presented to the clergy of the Diocese of Harare at Retreat – Harare: January 1999.

LANGUAGES

ENGLISH :

• Excellent speaking
• Excellent comprehension
  
• Excellent drafting
  
• Excellent translation
  

FRENCH :

• Good speaking
• Good comprehension
• Good drafting
• Good translation
  

SWAHILI :

• Fair speaking
• Fair comprehension
• Fair drafting
• Fair translation
  

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Keen sportsman in Basketball (played on the Gambia National Basketball Team from 1970 – 1977), Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis, Pool / Snooker. Badminton, Squash, Swimming, Yoga Exercises and Cricket.

Led cricket teams as captain and umpired test matches between African countries held in Banjul, The Gambia.

Captain, Bishop’s Eleven Cricket Team

Reading, debating, writing, counselling