The Reverend Dr. John Hammond "Jack" Crum died last month -- on September 20, to be exact. On September 24, a Service of Death and Resurrection, for Jack, took place at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh. Both solemn and joyful, the service featured personal testimonies from conference ministers who knew him best, Dr. Vernon C. Tyson and Rev. William M. Wells, Jr.

For 35 years, Jack served under the appointment of the bishop of the Raleigh Area of The United Methodist Church. He became an acquaintance, and then a friend, of this pastor while he served City Road United Methodist Church in Elizabeth City. In 1977, I received a first appointment in the North Carolina Conference. As the associate pastor of First United Methodist Church in Elizabeth City, I was blessed by God with the opportunity to minister near Jack, his family, and his congregation.

During the Elizabeth City years, the United Methodist clergy of the area often met for lunch, conversation, and prayer. Those many luncheon table talks with Jack revealed his thoughtfulness and his theology. According to my unsure memory, he oftentimes ordered a large salad to accommodate his diabetes, carefully sliced and diced it with knife and fork, and freely conversed with the other ministers at the table. He had the time to talk even with the youngest pastor in the group. And he had the patience to make his theological points with persuasiveness.

From the initial introduction to Jack, there was much to admire in him. His commitment to Christ and His Church was strong and courageous. He loved his wife, Kay, and their son, Bart. He pastored with patience and perseverance. I will never forget Jack teaching a study of Luke 4 at the City Road Church one evening. Though a very small group had assembled, Jack poured himself into the teaching task at hand.

The motivating passion of Jack's pastoral work was the Church's prophetic ministry -- particularly as it related to the race issue. In sermon after sermon, he took a bold stand that emphasized the God-given human dignity of all persons of all races. His was a message that, at the time, was not always well received by the congregations he served. It is not surprising that he was appointed to ten churches/charges in less than 30 years of pastoral ministry. (In addition to his church work, he was appointed to study for his doctorate at Boston University and to serve on the staff of the North Carolina Council of Churches.)

Much of Jack's ministry took place during the civil-rights movement, which was a high point of what was once called "mainline Protestantism." For mainline Protestantism, early on, became a strong advocate for civil rights in American society. It was most interesting at the funeral service to hear Dr. Tyson and Rev. Wells tell stories about Jack's courage and wisdom in standing up for the civil rights of blacks and others. They spoke of a man who, with reason and without fear, challenged bishops, other pastors, and laity to do the right thing for the sake of Christ. Several retired ministers, who represented a once agenda-setting liberal establishment in the conference, admiringly told similar stories after the service. (That was a simpler time. All things politically liberal were assumed, by many clergy, to be Christian as well.)

Jack was always enjoyable to engage. His smile was quick, and his laughter was ready. But even when he smiled and laughed, one always wondered what he was really thinking.

About fifteen years ago, the conference Church and Society Committee met for a weekend retreat at the Crum's residence. Since I had not called in a reservation, Jack and Kay had me sleep on a cot in their garage. This incident provided many an opportunity for this pastor to kid the Crum's about their housing discrimination against a long-time friend. To this day, Kay defends their action with, "But Paul, you did not have a reservation!"

The Reverend Dr. John Hammond Crum was a man -- and a minister and a husband and a father -- to respect and admire. Those ministers who knew him were challenged, and encouraged, by him to be better people, more faithful pastors.

Thanks be to God for Jack Crum. May the memory of Jack remain with many, even as he now rests in God's peace.