Louie Crew
Encyclopedia
Erman Louie Crew, Jr. is an American professor emeritus
of English
at Rutgers University
in Newark
. He is best known for his long and increasingly successful campaign for the acceptance of gay
and lesbian
people by Christian
s in general, and the Episcopal Church in particular. He sat on the Episcopal Church's executive council (2000–2006), and serves as secretary of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
.
. He attended Baylor University
and received his master's degree in 1959 from Auburn University
and his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in 1971. He has taught English at a variety of colleges and universities. He is a widely published poet who also uses the noms de plume Li Min Hua, Quean Lutibelle, and Dr. Ddungo. He has also written a book called 101 Reasons to Be Episcopalian. His longtime partner is Ernest Clay; the two were married in 1974.
Crew founded IntegrityUSA
, a gay-acceptance group within the Episcopal church, in 1974. He also co-founded the lesbigay caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English in 1975. He served on the board of directors of the National Gay Task Force (now National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) from 1976 to 1978. He also served on the Wisconsin Governor's Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues in 1983. When Crew first began working for the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons in the Episcopal church, he was widely denounced or dismissed, but today the Episcopal Church has come to agree with many of his views, while some churches and dioceses are strongly opposed.
"It is indisputable that Crew has been an enormously influential figure, in his diocese, in the national church, and throughout the Anglican world. If any one person can be deemed responsible for the state in which the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion now finds itself, that person is ... Louie Crew."
He maintains a comprehensive Web site with information about the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion
.
He is a member of Grace Church, Newark
, New Jersey.
of the band My Chemical Romance
was taught by Crew while attending Rutgers University.
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. He is best known for his long and increasingly successful campaign for the acceptance of gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
people by Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s in general, and the Episcopal Church in particular. He sat on the Episcopal Church's executive council (2000–2006), and serves as secretary of Province 2 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
Province 2 of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America
Province 2 is one of nine ecclesiastical provinces making up the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It comprises the six dioceses of the State of New York, the two dioceses of the State of New Jersey, the diocese in the Republic of Haiti and the diocese in the Virgin Islands , as...
.
Biography
Louie Crew was born in Anniston, AlabamaAnniston, Alabama
Anniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
. He attended Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
and received his master's degree in 1959 from Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
and his Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in 1971. He has taught English at a variety of colleges and universities. He is a widely published poet who also uses the noms de plume Li Min Hua, Quean Lutibelle, and Dr. Ddungo. He has also written a book called 101 Reasons to Be Episcopalian. His longtime partner is Ernest Clay; the two were married in 1974.
Crew founded IntegrityUSA
IntegrityUSA
IntegrityUSA is a U.S. not-for-profit organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and straight friends. Integrity was founded by Dr...
, a gay-acceptance group within the Episcopal church, in 1974. He also co-founded the lesbigay caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English in 1975. He served on the board of directors of the National Gay Task Force (now National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) from 1976 to 1978. He also served on the Wisconsin Governor's Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues in 1983. When Crew first began working for the inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons in the Episcopal church, he was widely denounced or dismissed, but today the Episcopal Church has come to agree with many of his views, while some churches and dioceses are strongly opposed.
"It is indisputable that Crew has been an enormously influential figure, in his diocese, in the national church, and throughout the Anglican world. If any one person can be deemed responsible for the state in which the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion now finds itself, that person is ... Louie Crew."
He maintains a comprehensive Web site with information about the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
.
He is a member of Grace Church, Newark
Grace Church, Newark
Grace Church in Newark , located at 950 Broad Street in Newark, New Jersey was founded on Ascension Day in 1837 at the behest of Bishop George Washington Doane, who intended it to be the standard bearer for Anglo-Catholicism in the northern part of his diocese .The church building, designed by...
, New Jersey.
Recognition
- A scholarship bearing his name was established at Episcopal Divinity SchoolEpiscopal Divinity SchoolThe Episcopal Divinity School is a seminary of the Episcopal Church based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known throughout the Anglican Communion for prophetic teaching and action on issues of civil rights and social justice, its faculty and students have been directly involved in many of the social...
, and that institution also conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree in 1999. - He was the recipient of the Bishops Cross from the Rt. Rev. John Shelby SpongJohn Shelby SpongJohn Shelby "Jack" Spong is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. He was formerly the Bishop of Newark . He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author...
, Diocese of Newark, in 2000. - He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from General Theological SeminaryGeneral Theological SeminaryThe General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
in 2003, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from the Church Divinity School of the PacificChurch Divinity School of the PacificChurch Divinity School of the Pacific is one of the eleven seminaries of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is located in Berkeley, California, and is a member of the Graduate Theological Union...
in 2004.
Notable students
Frank IeroFrank Iero
Frank Anthony Iero Jr is the rhythm guitarist, co-lead guitarist and backup vocalist of the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance as well as the vocalist of the post-hardcore band Leathermouth.-Early life:...
of the band My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
was taught by Crew while attending Rutgers University.