UK Church Army Chief Secretary takes on major new international role
20 March 2006
Captain Philip Johanson OBE, Chief Secretary of Church Army in the UK and Ireland, has been appointed as the first International Secretary for Church Army International. It is a move that ushers in an exciting new collaborative approach amongst the eight individual societies working across fourteen countries around the globe from Canada to New Zealand.
Announcing the move to supporters and employees, Roy Totten, the Chairman of the Church Army Board writes: "Philip is held in high esteem for his wisdom and his courage in leadership. It did not come as a surprise when I received the request on behalf of all the Church Army Societies around the world to ask him to consider the newly created position of International Secretary. Although it is with some reluctance, we must be willing to allow Philip to follow God's calling on his life in this important new role. Philip has served as our Chief Secretary for the past sixteen years and has helped lead the society through an incredible period of change and development; we owe him a tremendous debt."
Philip Johanson, aged 59, has led Church Army at the forefront of some of the most pioneering mission and evangelism work within the Anglican Church. He has been instrumental in developing a close association between the work of Church Army and that of the newly established Fresh Expressions initiative.
Philip Johanson who first joined the Society in 1968, has spent 16 years in the top job at Church Army. He was the first lay person ever to be appointed to head up the 124 year old society when commissioned as Chief Secretary by the late Lord Coggan in 1990. In 2002 he was awarded the OBE for services to Church Army by Her Majesty the Queen who is the Patron of Church Army.
Commenting on his appointment Philip Johanson adds, "I am delighted to accept the post of International Secretary and I am humbled by the faith shown in me by my international colleagues. It is a tremendous privilege and challenge to serve in this new role and through it to help raise the international profile and standing of the excellent work being done by Church Army societies across the globe."
Johanson will take up his new role in early 2007 and the focus of his exciting new role will be to facilitate communication and cooperation between Church Army Societies and to encourage the growth of Church Army ministry worldwide. He will provide practical help and support to the various international societies in areas of Church Army work such as sharing resources for training and effective models of ministry, interchange of staff, developing new outposts where invited and developing an international Gap Year Programme for young people. He will encourage closer co-operation between societies and represent Church Army on the international stage.
Commenting on his achievements as Chief Secretary, Philip Johanson adds, "There has been a great deal of change in society and the Church and we have chosen to embrace it. There is a natural fear on the part of most people regarding change and some of it has been painful. With others in the Society, we have brought about a greater understanding and recognition of Church Army and the contribution it can make to the total mission of the Church. I am proud to have played my part in advancing the mission of the church in the UK and Ireland over the past 40 years".
Church Army has wasted no time in the search for a successor to Captain Johanson, and has recruited consultants Career Plan to assist with the process. Board Chairman Roy Totten hopes to have the name of Captain Johanson's successor to put before the Church Army Board in the summer of this year.
