James Johnson ’83

Ordained Minister

Inducted 2024

Jim Johnson was one of a few hundred NC graduates to experience what it was like to attend both the old and the new North Central High School buildings. During his freshman and sophomore years were spent in the old building before moving across the street to the new building for junior and senior years. His Class of 1983 was just the second one to graduate from the new building. 

After high school, Jim attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, where, in 1987, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with an endorsement in Social Sciences.

He attended Lutheran Northwestern Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, receiving his Master of Divinity degree in 1993. Later that year he was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Since then, he has severed in parish ministry. In 2001 he came to St. Luke Lutheran Church in North Spokane as Lead Pastor.

Known in his parish as simply Pastor Jim, he has had many opportunities that have further developed his skills and education as a pastor. In 2006, he completed a three-year study through the Center of Theological Inquiry at Princeton University. Since then other sabbaticals and grants have allowed him to study in Israel, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Tanzania.