Carmichael D. Crutchfield is the General Secretary of Department of Christian Education and Formation for the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church and Chair: Clara Scott Professor of Church and Ministry, Professor of Christian Education, Spiritual Formation and Youth Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary. He is a native Tennessean, born in Weakley County and educated through high school in Henry County. He holds the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with a major in Accounting from the University of Tennessee Martin; the Master of Science (M.S.) in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville; and the Master of Divinity (M.Div) with high honors from Memphis Theological Seminary Memphis, Tennessee. He has the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) from Memphis Theological Seminary. His doctoral project work was entitled “A Model of Christian Education based on Spiritual Formation and Discipleship.” He has a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Christian Education and Congregational Studies from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary Evanston, Illinois. His dissertation was entitled “How Can Leadership Formation of African American Adolescent Males in the Church Be Transformative and a catalyst for Social Reform.”
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Carmichael’s immediate family is son Chris and daughter-in-law Krystal Crutchfield, daughter Chanel Hope and son-in-law, Darrius Pewitte along with grandchildren Darrian, Taylor and Chloe. He will be married to the Rev. Freda Hall April 18, 2020.
Crutchfield is an ordained elder in full connection with the CME Church and served as a pastor for 16 years in the denomination, seven at Mother Liberty in Jackson, Tenn., prior to being elected to his present position July, 2002. August 2014 he was called to serve as pastor of Lane Chapel CME Church in Humboldt, Tennessee. July 2018 he was called to serve for a second time at Mother Liberty.
He has always been actively involved in the community he has served, thus, has served on many boards throughout his pastoral/ministry career. He presently serves on the Trustee Boards of Lane College (Chair of Academic Committee), Paine College (Secretary and Chair of the Audit Committee) and, Phillips School of Theology. Over the last fourteen plus years as General Secretary of the Department of Christian Education, Crutchfield has written various articles and has made writing contributions to the CME. Church, including works entitled “A Trifold Understanding of Giving” and “It Is All About Discipleship.” Additionally, he leads his department to produce numerous publications for the CME church. As a Fellow in 1992 with the Congress of National Black Churches he produced a book entitled “Enlightened Males: A Rites of Passage Manual for African American Boys.” This program has been successfully implemented in the cities in which he has been assigned pastor and in various other locales. Recently, this work has been revised and distributed in the CME Church. He has conducted seminars, workshops, and delivered sermons all over the United States. Presently, he has two book contracts with Judson Press with one book scheduled to be released Fall 2020 and a second Fall 2021.
In his role on the faculty at Memphis Theological Seminary, Crutchfield has served as Chair of the Faculty and Chair of the Henry Starks African American Scholarship Dinner, as well as Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Youth Ministry degree. Additionally, he is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Religious Education Association.
Carmichael’s most recent publication is “Identity Formation and Leadership in Process” an essay included in the book “Educating for Redemptive Community” edited by Denise Jannsen.
Prior to becoming a full time person in the Pastoral/Christian ministry he worked with two Fortune 500 Corporations for over 14 years. Dr. Crutchfield was a charter member of Iota Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. UT Martin and the first Basileus of the Chapter. He is presently a member of Theta Iota Chapter Jackson, Tennessee where he served as Basileus for three years. He is a life member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and of the NAACP.
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Carmichael has been recognized for his work with numerous awards. The most recent awards include being named by the Church in the Black Experience of Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary as one of its forty-five (45) outstanding Alumni and the Outstanding Alumni Award.
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