CST Names Horswill-Johnston as Communications & Advancement VP

The Rev. Steve Horswill-Johnston, a four-time Emmy-winning communications executive for The United Methodist Church, has been named Vice President for Communications & Advancement at CST. 

Horswill-Johnston currently serves as Chief Communications Officer for Discipleship Ministries, a UMC international agency. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Claremont and was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2019. He will assume his new position on Nov. 1.

“Back in April, I reached out to Steve to help the school by strengthening our communication efforts,” CST President Jeffrey Kuan said. “Amid the significant challenges in the transition the school is going through, messaging and communication became a top priority. In a short time, we have seen the results of the new messaging efforts that Steve has led for us.”

Horswill-Johnston is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and served as pastor of two churches in the Los Angeles area. He also served as the Director of Communications for the UMC’s California-Pacific Conference.

“I am incredibly humbled by this opportunity to serve Claremont at this critical juncture. CST formed and launched my ministry, so to serve President Kuan and the school in the later part of my career seems like God’s timing. I hope to help in any way I can,” Horswill-Johnston said.

Almost exactly 10 years after graduating from Claremont in 1989, Horswill-Johnston crafted the theme “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors,” the official brand promise of The United Methodist Church, and launched a $22 million television national advertising campaign for the church, the first mainline Protestant advertising campaign. While executive-in-charge of the campaign, working at United Methodist Communications in Nashville, he produced 16 national network commercials and planted messages of hope in the days following 9/11. 

At Discipleship Ministries, he produced Chuck Knows Church, the most watched online video series in the denomination’s history. 

Horswill-Johnston serves as theological script consultant for DreamWorks Studios in Los Angeles and was a consultant to Jim Wallis of Sojourners in Washington, D.C. 

In addition to his M.Div. from Claremont, Horswill-Johnston earned an undergraduate degree in film production from San Diego State University.

“Critical work in communication must be in the forefront of the work of raising funds for Claremont,” Kuan said. “I am convinced that Steve has the innate understanding and skills to lead the fundraising efforts of the school. His connection to the religious communities is strong and deep. Most of all, as an alumnus of the school, Steve is passionate about the mission of the school and wants to do everything to help the school to thrive again.”