Sherman Johnson; Headed Seminary
Sherman Elbridge Johnson, former president and dean of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, an Episcopal seminary in Berkeley, has died. He was 85.
Johnson, who died March 24 in Berkeley, headed the seminary from 1951 to 1972. In addition to his extensive teaching, Johnson published more than 150 theological articles, reviews and books.
He helped found the Graduate Theological Union, which opened in Berkeley in 1962, co-sponsored by UC Berkeley and the American Assn. of Theological Schools. The union is an ecumenical consortium of theological schools formed by Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Unitarian and Roman Catholic seminaries to share faculty, facilities and libraries for doctoral studies.
Johnson is survived by his wife, Mary, a son and two stepdaughters.
The family has asked that any memorial contributions be made to the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 2451 Ridge Road, Berkeley, Calif. 94709, or to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 122 E. J St., Benicia, Calif. 94510.
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