The James R. Crumley, Jr. Collection
Rev Dr James R. Crumley Jr was born on March 30, 1925, and was a native of Bluff City, TN. A graduate of Roanoke College and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, he became an ordained minister in 1951. He served parishes in Tennessee and Georgia, but is perhaps best remembered for his service to the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) at large, holding positions as the national church's secretary, president, and bishop until the realization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1987. Crumley is also regarded for his dedication to ecumenism. He was a member of and served committees and foundations such as the Lutheran World Federation, the National Council of Churches, the World Council of Churches, Lutheran World Ministries, the
Committee on Lutheran Unity, the Commission for a New Lutheran Church, and the International Lutheran-Roman Catholic Commission. He traveled widely during his term as bishop, visiting Asia, Africa, and Europe. After retirement, Crumley taught at Newberry College and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary for eight years.
He and his wife, Annette, were married for 65 years. They had three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Dr Crumley passed away at the age of 90 on April 7, 2015. This archives was dedicated to his name in 1994, and seeks to promote his legacy through record keeping and the sharing of Lutheran history.
