Captain G. N. Todd: Chaplain of the United States Coast Guard appointed Rev. Jeff P. Crim to serve in the position of Auxiliary Clergy Support in a letter dated June 6. Pastor Crim, as a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, will volunteer in this position to serve members of the United States Coast Guard by augmenting the work of United States Coast Guard Chaplains.
In the letter, Captain Todd describes the ACS program as “designed around a close relationship between military chaplains and Auxiliary Clergy”. Rev. Crim is among the very first people appointed to this program which is new to the United States Coast Guard
Rev. Crim currently serves as pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church and staff chaplain at CHI Memorial Hospital. In addition to healthcare chaplaincy and congregational ministry, Rev. Crim’s career has frequently included ministry to the Sea Services. His first ministry placement was an internship with the Seamen’s Church Institute of NY & NJ as a port chaplain. He volunteered his time in a similar capacity while as pastor in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. He had been a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in another capacity prior to this appointment.
Since 2011, Rev. Crim has served as pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church located at 720 S. Germantown Road in East Ridge. Founded in 1913, Ascension is one of Chattanooga’s oldest faith communities. It is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. With over 4 million baptized members, the ELCA is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the United States.