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In a surprise ceremony at the synod assembly in May, the Rev. Fred T. Crawford III, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Tamaqua, was awarded the Henry Melchior Muhlenberg Medal for exemplary congregational ministry. The medal is an honor conferred by the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
The Rev. Dr. Philip D. W. Krey, president of the seminary, noted that, through this award, the seminary recognizes and expresses appreciation for the exemplary ministry of the recipients. The medal is viewed by the seminary as recognition comparable to that of an honorary doctorate, but focusing specifically on exemplary service in the public ministries of the Church.
In presenting the award, Bishop Strobel told the gathering of over 700 lay and clergy leaders that, except for his first three years as an assistant pastor in Allentown, Pastor Crawford’s entire ministry has been spent in the heart of Schuylkill County’s anthracite coal region. “It is by choice, not by chance, that Pastor Crawford serves this area,” Bishop Strobel stated. “It is the area he loves and the area to which he knows he has been called.”
“Pastor Crawford has the heart of a pastor -- meeting and engaging people where they are and conveying the good news of salvation for their lives," Bishop Strobel continued. “This means comforting the afflicted (and there has been much opportunity for this among the folks in the coal region) and challenging (and afflicting) the comfortable.”
“A key word to understanding Pastor Crawford’s ministry is integration -- integration of faith and life; integration of his ministry and his life,” Bishop Strobel said. “He does not ‘go to work,’ even though he is conscientiously diligent in attending to the many ministry activities of the parish. Rather, he is fully involved in being a pastor as an expression of his life. This does not mean that he neglects to take time for his family, recreation, community activities, and personal interests. It does mean to convey a healthy integration of life and ministry.”
A small measure of Pastor Crawford’s commitment to his ministry in the community and his commitment to the whole Church was seen in his attendance at the assembly on Friday evening even though he had had three funerals in his parish that day. In fact, he had asked to be excused from attending the Friday sessions. But, when asked by a bishop’s associate to come Friday evening even though she could not tell him why, he agreed.
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