User:Chaplainlma/James Rowe Adams

James Rowe Adams is the founder of The Center For Progressive Christianity. Born in Lincoln, NE June 30, 1934, Jim grew up in Aurora, NE. After attending the University of Nebraska for two years, he moved to Washington, DC, where he graduated from George Washington University in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts. In 1958 earned a Bachelor of Sacred Theology at the Episcopal Theological Seminary (now Episcopal Divinity School) in Cambridge, MA. He was ordained into the Episcopal Priesthood and served in the Diocese of Washington, first as a curate at St. John's Georgetown, then as rector of St. Christopher's New Carrollton, MD, then as Rector of St. Mark's Capital Hill.

James Rowe Adams is the author of several books including The Sting of Death, (Seabury, 1971); with Verna Dozier Sisters and Brothers in the Church: Reclaiming a Bible Idea of Community (Cowley, 1993); So You Think You Aren't Religious: A Thinking Person's Guide to the Church, (Cowley, 1994, republished by Pilgrim Press 2010); So You Can't Stand Evangelism: A Thinking Person's Guide to Church Growth (Cowley, 1994); From Literal to Literary: The Essential Reference Book for Biblical Metaphors (Rising Star Press 2005, Pilgrim Press 2008).

With members of St. Mark's Capital Hill, where he served 30 years as rector, James Rowe Adams founded The Center For Progressive Christianity, "a non-profit corporation that encourages churches to focus their attention on those for whom organized religion has proved to be ineffectual, irrelevant, or repressive. When he stepped down from the presidency in January 2006, TCPC had a mailing list of over 3,500 people. The online directory listed 290 affiliated congregations and organizations, representing 12 denominations as well as independent and ecumenical groups. TCPC is the U.S. branch of an international network of autonomous progressive Christianity networks that includes organizations in South Australia, New Zealand, Britain, Ireland, and Canada." Adams served as President from 1996 to 2006. Since his retirement, TCPC has continued to flourish under the leadership of United Church of Christ pastor Fred Plumer.

Adams is married to Virginia Marie Mann Adams and they three daughters Lesley Margaret Adams, Gretchen Gail Adams, and Nancy Barbara Adams.

James Rowe Adams is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions including the 2009 Episcopal Divinity School Distinguished Alumni award,