SENIOR PASTOR

A. Elaine Crawford was reared and educated in the Indianapolis and has a rich background within the field of theology, administration, teaching, preaching, lecturing, and writing.

 

She has served as an Adjunct Professor of Theology at Samuel Dewitt Procter School of Theology and as Visiting Scholar for the Center for Christian Women in Richmond, Virginia. She was an Adjunct Professor of Religion at Spelman College and served as the Coordinator of the Womanist Scholars Program for the Office of Black Women in Church and Society at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC). Dr Crawford taught in the Course of Study Program at Candler School of Theology and served as a Leadership Resource Consultant to young Black female seminarians in the Black Women in Ministerial Leadership Program at ITC.

 

Dr. Crawford is a retired ordained Elder in Full connection in the North Georgia Conference (NGC). She served as an Associate Pastor at Ben Hill UMC and the historic Cascade UMC. Dr Crawford has served as the University Chaplain/ Director of Religious Life at Clark Atlanta University. She served as first female Sr. Pastor of Cumberland UMC and as Sr pastor of Newnan Chapel UMC, Newnan GA. Dr. Crawford served as the first female Sr Pastor the historic Bethel United Methodist Church in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Crawford retired in June 2020 from full-time ministry and served as retired supply pastor of Powell Chapel in Newnan GA (2020-2022) where, again, she was the first female pastor in its 141 year history. Dr Crawford currently serves as the Sr. Pastor  of Rivertown UMC in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia.

 

Dr. Crawford is a highly sought-after preacher/teacher both nationally and internationally. She has an extensive list of publications. Her book, Hope in the Holler, has been well received in the academy and the church. Her most recent publications are an Advent devotional – The Lord is Our Light and The Term, a collegiate journal.

 

Dr. Crawford holds a Degree in Nursing from Indiana University, Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona; the Master of Divinity from the Samuel Dewitt Procter School of Theology, summa cum laude (Valedictorian). Dr Crawford is the first African American woman to earn, a PH.D in Historical Theology from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond Virginia. Her awards and honors are numerous and include the Benjamin E. Mays Scholars Fellowship, Distinguished Scholar in Religion by the Consortium of Doctors and she studied in Oxford England and is a certified member of the Oxford Round Table. Most recently, she received the Trailblazer Award from Union Theological Seminar for her contributions to the church and the community.

 

Dr Crawford has 3 saved adult children and 10 blessed grandchildren. Her personal testimony is “To God be the glory for great things God has done."