Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner

Shannon Johnson Kershner was called  as pastor of Black Mountain Presbyterian Church on Sunday, August 23, 2009.    The Pastor Nominating Committee has high praise for her both as a preacher and a theologian.  She comes to us after seven years as pastor of the Woodhaven Presbyterian Church in Irving, TX ( .http://www.woodhavenpres.org/ )

Shannon received her Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, in May of 1994.  In May of 1999 she received her Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary and was awarded the Columbia Leadership Award for demonstrating the greatest potential for future leadership within the PCUSA.

Shannon describes her leadership style as one of vision and collegiality.  Her meetings are effective, good-humored, sensitive to the needs of people but focused.  One of her goals is to help the Session discover that their primary tasks are spiritual leadership and vision casting.  She empowers lay people to find their voices of leadership and vision.  Her leadership style shares power and she believes God speaks through the voices of people gathered in community.

Shannon grew up as the elder child of a Presbyterian minister and an elementary school teacher.  Her father, Jimmie D. Johnson, has been an ordained Presbyterian minister since 1976.  He currently serves as the Head of Staff, Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Waco, Texas, where he has been since 1982.  Her mother, Sherry Johnson, is a soon-to-be-retired fourth grade school teachers after being in the classroom since 1985.

 Shannon and Greg met in high school and married in 1994, working in Houston for a while before both attending Columbia Theological Seminary.  They have two children:  Hannah Lee is eight years old and in the third grade this year.  Ryan Paul Kershner just turned five and will be in a pre-kindergarten class this year.

Greg's family is also centered in the Lone Star State.  He and his three brothers grew up in Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church in Houston.  Greg is a Certified Financial Planner.