Robert Carroll Johnson Jr.

Johnson was born on July 18, 1938, in Columbus, Georgia and was raised as a Southern Baptist. He was educated at Mercer College from where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1960. He also studied at Yale Divinity School and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1964. He also received a Master of Arts from North Carolina State University in 1973.

Johnson was ordained as a Baptist minister but shortly later joined the Episcopal Church while in Yale and sought ordination. He was ordained deacon in 1964 by Bishop Richard H. Baker and priest in 1965 by Bishop Thomas Fraser of North Carolina. He served as assistant priest of St Peter's Church in Charlotte, North Carolina from 1964 till 1966. In 1966 he was appointed rector of St Paul's Church in Smithfield, North Carolina and in 1969 priest-in-charge of St Christopher's Church in Garner, North Carolina. In 1975 he became rector of St Luke's Church in Durham, North Carolina.

Johnson was elected Bishop of North Carolina on December 4, 1993, during a special convention held at the then conference centre of the Diocese in Browns Summit, North Carolina.[2] He was consecrated bishop on May 14, 1994, by Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning in Duke Chapel. During his episcopacy he promoted the inclusion of all baptized Christians, including gay members. He was also vocal against racism and capital punishment. He was also a member of the Ecclesiastical Court which heard charges against Bishop Walter C. Righter after he ordained an openly lesbian priest. The charges were later dismissed. Johnson retired in 2000 and died in 2014.