Rev. Dr. Paul Wesley Johnson (Pastor Paul) has served as lead pastor of Hughes Memorial UMC since July 1, 2014. Previously, he served as the pastor of The Nehemiah Charge which is composed of Grace UMC (Takoma Park, MD) where he served for eight years and Ager Road UMC (Hyattsville, MD) where he served for three years.
Pastor Paul loves to preach the word of God and transform the lives of people through community organizing. Since his arrival at Hughes, Pastor Paul has focused on developing ministries that engage and equip the emerging generation in our community. Pastor Paul helps lead the C.A.P. (Community Antiviolence Program), which provides after-school tutoring and mentoring for at risk youth. Pastor Paul is also a Board member of Project Transformation DC. Project Transformation DC is a literacy-based summer program that seeks to help the children in our community improve their reading level during the summer.
Pastor Paul is a passionate advocate for social justice. He was a part of a coalition that successfully advocated for the passage of the Maryland DREAM Act. He previously served as the Clergy Chair of the Maryland IAF affiliate, AIM {Action in Montgomery} and was a member of the Baltimore Washington Conference Board of Church and Society. Pastor Paul is committed to developing the next generation of church leaders. He is currently a member of the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOOM) and serves as the Chair of the Greater Washington District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM).
Pastor Paul is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. At the age of six the Lord spoke to his heart telling him he would be a pastor someday but it was not until much later in life that he answered the call to ordained ministry. Pastor Paul graduated from Benjamin E. Mays High School at the age of 16. He participated in the Atlanta University Center Dual Degree Engineering Program, which resulted in him receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Morehouse College in May 1991 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech in June 1991. He worked as an engineer for over 15 years during which time he was active in a variety of ministries.
Pastor Paul graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in May 2009 with a Master of Divinity degree and again in May 2019 with a Doctor of Ministry degree which focused on Public Engagement. He is married to the brilliant and beautiful Rev. Selena M. Johnson (Pastor of Mt. Zion UMC in Washington, DC) and they are the proud parents of their son, Paul W. Johnson II and daughter, Rachel E. Johnson.