{"id":801,"date":"2015-01-18T11:41:40","date_gmt":"2015-01-18T19:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.campbellunited.com\/web\/?page_id=801"},"modified":"2025-07-09T19:41:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T02:41:09","slug":"bio","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/about\/staff\/bio\/","title":{"rendered":"Ministry Staff Bios"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

Rev. Dr. Theon Johnson III, Senior Pastor<\/em>
\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Rev. Theon Johnson was appointed to serve as senior pastor of Campbell United Methodist Church beginning July 1, 2024.<\/p>\n

Rev. Dr. Theon Johnson III came to the California-Nevada Conference from Mississippi. An Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church, Rev. Johnson has served as a campus minister and in local churches. Upon arriving in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2012, Rev. Johnson became the youngest person to serve on the pastoral team at Glide Memorial UMC. In addition to providing pastoral support for congregants, supporting thousands of clients, and interacting with community partners and elected officials, he considered serving as a cheerleader for the 150+ member GLIDE staff one of his primary roles. Dr. Johnson then served alongside the people of Downs Memorial UMC in Oakland from 2018-2024.<\/p>\n

Rev. Dr. Johnson completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy-Religious Studies (Minors in Education and Faith & Work Initiative) from Millsaps College in 2006. He completed his theological studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. (M.Div., 2009). While in Washington, D.C., he served with the Education Leadership Formation division of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society on Capitol Hill. Dr. Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision from Jackson State University (2018). His research interests explore dynamics related to organizational leadership, culture, and strategy.<\/p>\n

You may contact Pastor Theon at:\u00a0 pastortheon[at]campbellunited[dot]org.<\/p>\n

_____________________________________<\/h3>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Rev. Alyss Swanson, Deacon of Reconciling Ministries<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pronouns: She\/Her\/Hers
\nPastoral Psychotherapist<\/p>\n

Alyss Swanson is a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. She is currently appointed to serve as a pastoral psychotherapist at Process Therapy Institute (PTI), a non-profit mental health agency in San Jose. Alyss also works at DreamPower Horsemanship in Gilroy where she provides Equine and Animal Assisted Therapies. Alyss is completing her Doctor of Ministry at Claremont School of Theology where she is directed towards the advancement of Reconciliation within the church and the LGBTQ+ community.\u00a0 Prior to entering the mental health field before 2013, Alyss worked as an software\/systems engineer at various semiconductor equipment companies in the SF Bay Area. Alyss is a Viet Nam era Navy veteran.<\/p>\n

You may contact Pastor Alyss at:\u00a0 pastoralyss[at]campbellunited[dot]org.<\/p>\n

_____________________________________<\/h3>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Rev. Dr. Daniel Gbundema, (former Associate Pastor)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pastor Daniel was appointed to serve as Senior Pastor at Ely, NV United Methodist Church beginning July 1, 2025.<\/p>\n

Daniel was born in Tombodu, Kono District,\u00a0\"20160623_DanielAtAnnualConfBurlingame_crop\" a predominantly United Methodist District in eastern Sierra Leone, West Africa.\u00a0 He was ordained in the Sierra Leone Annual Conference in 1992 as a deacon and in 1994 as an elder.<\/p>\n

During the several years of civil war in Sierra Leone, Daniel served as Assistant Pastor, J\u2019 Hall Smith United Methodist (Jaiama); Assistant and Pastor Gaston United Methodist (Yengema); Associate Pastor, Kercher Memorial United Methodist (Kenema); Associate Pastor, King Memorial United Methodist, Freetown; and Pastor at Milton Margai Memorial, Goodrich Freetown.\u00a0 He also served as of coordinator of evangelism in the district of Kono in Sierra Leone. Daniel migrated to the United States in 2000 and joined Campbell United Methodist Church in 2004.\u00a0 He is one of the pioneers of the African Ministry at Campbell United Methodist.<\/p>\n

Daniel is a graduate of the [then] Sierra Leone Theological College and Church Training Center, Freetown, Sierra Leone (Now called College of Theology, Management and Church Training Centre); William Jessup University, Rocklin, California; and Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley California.<\/p>\n

Daniel loves to play soccer and volley ball.\u00a0 He has two sons and a daughter; Aiah Alex, Sia Ntaneh and Sahr Tumachia Gbundema.<\/p>\n

_____________________________________<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rev. Dr. Theon Johnson III, Senior Pastor Rev. Theon Johnson was appointed to serve as senior pastor of Campbell United Methodist Church beginning July 1, 2024. Rev. Dr. Theon Johnson III came to the California-Nevada Conference from Mississippi. An Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church, Rev. Johnson has served as a campus minister and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17905,"parent":796,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-801","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P6VbcX-cV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":796,"url":"https:\/\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/about\/staff\/","url_meta":{"origin":801,"position":0},"title":"Staff","author":"cumcadmin","date":"January 18, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Rev. Dr. Theon Johnson III, Senior Pastor Email: pastortheon[at]campbellunited[dot]org Pastor Theon's Bio Rev. Alyss Swanson, Deacon of Reconciling Ministries Email: pastoralyss[at]campbellunited[dot]org Pastor Alyss' bio Rev. Dr. Daniel Gbundema, (former Associate Pastor) Pastor Daniel was appointed to serve as Senior Pastor at Ely, NV United Methodist Church beginning July 1, 2025.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/LO-RES-CRPPD_Pastor-Theon-front_IMG_9537-245x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":923,"url":"https:\/\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/worship\/sermons\/","url_meta":{"origin":801,"position":1},"title":"Services, Sermons, & Anthems","author":"cumcadmin","date":"April 8, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Links lead to specific times in the YouTube video Sunday, May 10th, 2026\u00a0\u2014 View online on YouTubeWord for Children: Pastor TheonText: John 14: 15-21Anthem: \u201cJesus Is Alive\u201d\u00a0 \u2014\u00a0 African Fellowship ChoirSermon: \u201cLove That Stays\" \u2014 Rev. Dr. Theon Johnson III Sunday, May 3rd, 2026\u00a0\u2014 View online on YouTubeWelcome: James Creer,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2025_Be-Found_mountaintop-arms.png?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2025_Be-Found_mountaintop-arms.png?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2025_Be-Found_mountaintop-arms.png?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/2025_Be-Found_mountaintop-arms.png?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":915,"url":"https:\/\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/worship\/this-week-in-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":801,"position":2},"title":"Coming Up in Worship","author":"cumcadmin","date":"April 8, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Sunday, May 17th\u00a0at 10:00am - In the Sanctuary & streamed Live We hope to see you in the Sanctuary in-person, or online! Find Sunday and other recent services below. EasterTide Series Theme:\u00a0 Beloved, Live \u2014 Practicing ResurrectionEaster celebrates the resurrection of Jesus\u2014but the story does not end there.This Eastertide series\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260517_LO-RES_John17-7_waves_17111ac.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260517_LO-RES_John17-7_waves_17111ac.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260517_LO-RES_John17-7_waves_17111ac.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260517_LO-RES_John17-7_waves_17111ac.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260517_LO-RES_John17-7_waves_17111ac.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":822,"url":"https:\/\/www.campbellunited.org\/web\/what-i-do\/reconciling-congregation\/","url_meta":{"origin":801,"position":3},"title":"Reconciling Congregation (LGBTQ+)","author":"cumcadmin","date":"January 19, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Campbell UMC is an Affirming & Reconciling Congregation - ALL are Welcome Here! Find Current Events here Campbell UMC is a Reconciling Congregation (see below), officially becoming a \u201cReconciling UMC\u201d with the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) in 1997. 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Easter Moves Us Easter changed everything. Yet, even in the light of resurrection, we continue to live in a world marked by grief, pain, loss, uncertainty, and transition. 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