Erika Johnson
EDITOR’S NOTE: A church community is created when people gather together for the love of God. At the same time, Saint Philip’s is comprised of many people who represent different ages, life experiences, and world views.
The “In conversation…” series is one attempt to create possibilities for connection between the different people in our community. As varied as we all are, there are also similarities and mutual interests waiting to be discovered. And there is one thing we all share: a desire to know God and be in relationship with him.
This week’s conversation is with parishioner and volunteer Erika Johnson.
How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
My husband Landon and I started coming in 2017.
Which service do you typically attend?
The 11:15am service. Adamantly! We love the incense, the sung service—the entire bells and smells experience. We figure that if we’re going to come to a giant fancy building then why not get the whole package?
Were you raised in a faith tradition?
I was. My parents were involved with founding an evangelical church here in Tucson in the 1970s.
How did you find your way to Saint Philip’s?
Before moving to Tucson in 2016, I had already attended Episcopal churches. And when Landon and I walked through the door here we both thought, “this is it.” Fr Mark’s poetry, Fr Peter including questions in his sermons, and Fr Robert’s honesty when preaching, Mtr Taylor's genuine care for community—we felt we could relate to everyone.
We love the intellectual curiosity here and the openness to new ideas. Given my background, I especially appreciate that it’s ok not to have all the answers, that it’s ok for things to remain a mystery.
What do you do professionally?
I teach kindergarten at a public charter school.
What do you like about it?
I love knowing that the skills and knowledge children learn in kindergarten will be used forever. No one ever asks if they’ll have a use for reading later in life!
But it’s also the children themselves that make the job meaningful. They are so interested in the world and learn a lot very quickly.
The flip side is that teaching and kids were really affected by the pandemic and our changing world. That’s a real challenge.
How are you involved in the parish?
I’m on the Vestry and serve as that body’s liaison to the Preservation & Endowment Board; I chair the Creation Care Commission; I co-manage the Evangelism group that meets on the third Sunday of every month; and, I participate in the Women’s Bible Study at 6:30pm every Thursday in The Lounge.
How does participating as a volunteer contribute to your spiritual growth?
When I do things that my faith requires of me, then that action helps shape my belief. Said another way, my actions help shape me into someone who can believe. That’s another reason I love Episcopal worship: we move our bodies. We sit. We stand. We kneel. We stand again. Doing creates space for faith in me.
What do you do for fun?
I ride my bikes. If my destination is within five miles I ride my regular bike. If I need to travel 5+ miles, then I use my electric bike. I’m not perfect with that intention but I’m pretty good.
Most of my family lives in Tucson so I spend a lot of time with them. Landon and I also love live music and attend a lot of concerts.
What’s one of your guiding principles?
I do my best to leave the earth in the same shape as I found it.
I took a permaculture course a while ago to learn how to develop agricultural ecosystems intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient. Before that I was trying to avoid plastic, collecting rainwater, installing solar panels, etc. I love permaculture because it brings disparate, well-meaning actions together so we can live regeneratively. Instead of drawing down the resources that we've been given, we can design systems that contribute back to the world to replace what we take.
I understand you’ve applied this philosophy to your home. Is that correct?
It is. Landon and I started with an older, standard Midtown house and have done as much as we can to make it sustainable.
We renovated and largely used items that were reclaimed and recycled. The yard went from nothing to 17 trees and other food bearing plants in the backyard that are watered almost entirely with rainwater and grey water.
What about inside your home?
We tackled it all ourselves, with help from our fantastic community and YouTube. We removed block walls, took down all the cabinets in the kitchen, built new cabinets (thank you Landon!), refinished floors, and put in new electrical and if I went on, I'd get exhausted all over again.
What’s one of your super powers?
Explaining things to kids and helping them develop empathy and understanding. I’m good at that and I believe it’s the most important part of my job. If a child leaves my class able to listen to people and show that they care, then I’ve made a difference.
What’s a core value for you?
Community working together to be regenerative.
What have I not asked that I should know?
I give my free time to the church because of that core value. I appreciate that parishioners at Saint Philip’s are working towards a common good and living into community with each other.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I’ve traveled to 34 countries. I taught English in Thailand for about a year and worked on ranches in New Zealand and Australia for six months.
Missed an interview? All previous interviews can be found on Saint Philip’s website under the “About Us” tab. Click here to visit that page.