John H. Munro is the senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is an author, speaker and radio commentator.[1]
John Hay Munro | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1948 Rosyth, Scotland |
| Nationality | Dual American and United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | Dallas Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry) and University of Edinburgh (Bachelor of Laws) |
| Occupation(s) | Senior pastor, Calvary Church |
| Years active | 1984 – present |
| Spouse | Gudny Munro |
| Children | Christopher |
Early life and education
editJohn Hay Munro was born on 10 January 1948 to Thomas and Ruth Munro in the town of Rosyth, Scotland. Thomas was a civil servant and Ruth was a homemaker for their six sons. John became a Christian while attending a youth evangelical camp in 1960.[2] His wife Gudny is from the Faroe Islands, and they met while she was visiting Scotland on a mission trip.[1][2]
Munro first earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Edinburgh. After graduation, Munro was a criminal prosecutor in Edinburgh for several years until joining a private law firm, where he specialised in litigation.[1][2]
In 1981, Munro moved to the US and began attending Dallas Theological Seminary for a Master of Theology degree (completed in 1985). Munro later returned to Dallas Theological Seminary to earn a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1993 with a dissertation in pastoral leadership.[1][2]
Ministry
editMunro was the pastor of South Hills Bible Chapel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1985 to 1992. During that time, he was a pastor to professional American football players Craig Wolfley, Mike Webster and Tunch Ilkin. Munro next spent 4 years in Nova Scotia as pastor of Grace Chapel, and then 10 years as the senior pastor of Calvary Bible Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 2006, Munro was named the senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he continues to serve.[1][2][3][4][5] As of 2014 the church was the largest in Charlotte.[6]
In 2014, Munro was accused of a violation of the church employee handbook. Without publicly providing details, church elders placed him on paid leave, pending the outcome of an external investigation, and international media ministry Back to the Bible terminated its relationship with Munro over accusations of similar misconduct. Although it was determined that there was no evidence of any violation of policy, Calvary Church did acknowledge that "Munro used judgment that did not align with the high expectations to which church leaders are held." At his first address to his congregation upon full reinstatement, Munro received a standing ovation, and said that he had made an unspecified "innocent error of judgment that while was neither unlawful nor sinful, failed to demonstrate the judgment the church expect[ed]" of him.[7][8]
Munro currently hosts an internationally syndicated daily and weekly 25-minute radio program called The Verdict, in addition to his pastoral duties.[9][10] Munro has also been a regular columnist for Decision Magazine[11][12][13][14] and has written a monthly column for the South Charlotte Weekly.[15][16][17][18] Munro is a regular speaker at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's conference and retreat facility The Cove,[19] and was an invited speaker at Southern Evangelical Seminary's 2016 Apologetics Conference, hosted by Calvary Church.[20]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Charlotte's Calvary Church Calls Senior Pastor", PR Newswire, 19 December 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Senior Pastor Biography. "John Munro, Senior Pastor", "Calvary Church". Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ Minchin, Marty. "Calvary Church Plans Expansion", The Charlotte Observer, 30 October 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ Freeze, Trevor. "Calvary Church Pastor Munro: 'My Hope Captures Our Mission 100 Percent'", Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 8 May 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ CNN Transcript. "CNN Newsroom Transcript", "CNN", 31 July 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ Blair, Leonardo. "Charlotte's Largest Church Puts Pastor on Leave After Back to the Bible Fired Him for Unknown 'Inappropriate Conduct'" The Christian Post, 25 August 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Suspended Calvary pastor John Munro to return after complaint 'not supported'". WBTV-Charlotte, 8 October 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Murashko, Alex. "Back to the Bible CEO Stands by Decision to Fire Show Host John Munro Despite Megachurch Finding No Support for Allegation". The Christian Post, 11 September 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ The Verdict, RK Media. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ The Verdict with Pastor John H. Munro, "Calvary Church". Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ Munro, John. "The mystery and the mission of Christmas", Decision Magazine, 2 December 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Munro, John. "Beginning Your Journey With Jesus", Decision Magazine, 31 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ Munro, John. "Are you living in truth?", Decision Magazine, 2 February 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Munro, John. "Surviving the white water of life", Decision Magazine, 2 February 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Munro, John. "It's not wealth that has made me happy, it's my family", South Charlotte Weekly, 25 September 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ Munro, John. "Winning over worry", South Charlotte Weekly, 13 October 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Munro, John. "Life has a purpose", South Charlotte Weekly, 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Munro, John. "Recalling the shepherds' story during the Christmas season", South Charlotte Weekly, 21 December 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ Almond, Joy. "Summer Growth and Relaxation Opportunities at The Cove, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 6 July 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ "SES National Conference on Christian Apologetics 2016 Program", Southern Evangelical Seminary. Retrieved 8 January 2016.