John grew up in Kansas, did graduate work in political science, and has been an activist for social change since his youth. He received his doctorate in Ministry from Meadville/Lombard UU Seminary at the University of Chicago in 1970 and was awarded a Merrill Fellowship at Harvard University while serving in Paramus, N.J.. John served five UU congregations during his 35+ years of ministry before coming to Jacksonville in 1999 -- including Chicago, New York City, Bloomington, Indiana, Paramus, New Jersey, and Sacramento, California.