The Reverend Dr. John Richard Walton, Jr., is a native of Cleveland Ohio.  Licensed to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in August of 1992, he was ordained in June of 1994 in Cleveland. 

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He was Assistant to the Pastor at Israel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., Senior Pastor of the St. Mark Church of Boston, and since March of 2002, has served as Senior Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church of Milwaukee.  In his 25th year, he is the second longest serving pastor in our 131 year history.  His leadership is informed and inspired by the Great Commission of Jesus in the Gospels, the Pastoral Epistles, and his growing up in and serving in the Black Church, with a primary focus on discipleship in the local church.  He is known as a pastor’s pastor.  In addition, Pastor Walton is a Certified Senior Spiritual Director with Soul Shepherding, a national organization based in Irvine, California.  In this role, he helps new and longtime pastors to maximize their mental, spiritual and physical health. Lastly, Reverend Walton is an avid Civil War, World War II, and African-American history buff as well as an health and fitness enthusiast.

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Pastor Walton received his B.A. from Cleveland State University, Master of Divinity from Howard University, and Doctor of Ministry in Leadership Through Preaching from the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, with additional coursework at Boston University School of Theology. 

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Pastor Walton has been an active part of every community where God has planted him throughout his 34 year ministry career.  In his tenure here in the city of Milwaukee, he has worked with United Way Teen Pregnancy Prevention, the Blanket of Love Initiative with Ascension Wisconsin and MICAH.  Also, he is a past member and Moderator of the Commission on the Ministry for the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin and has served on the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee Christian Center.  He is the Immediate Past Chair of the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee and served on its Executive Committee for 14 years.  He also served as Vice President of the Board of Housing Ministries of American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin.

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Dr. Walton has been married to the former Lorrie Grace Craig of Maryland for 30 years.  They are the parents of four adult children.