As President 1960-63, Led NCC on Race, Peace;
Columbus, Ind., Industrialist Brought Faith to Life
J. Irwin Miller of Columbus, Ind., whose decades of service to the National Council of Churches USA included his term as the NCC’s first lay president in 1960-63 (pictured in 1960), died Monday (August 16) at his home at age 95. Under his leadership, the NCC founded the Commission on Religion and Race, which coordinated organized religion’s support for strong civil rights legislation, and jointly sponsored the March on Washington. As vice president of the NCC's Division of Christian Life and Work from 1957-60, he helped lead the launching of the NCC's Nationwide Program for Peace. "Miller's priorities included keeping the church faithful, relevant and effective,” commented NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar. “In his later years, he was especially supportive of the NCC’s priority work against poverty and its revisioning for the 21st century.” Miller headed the Cummins Engine Co. for more than 40 years, and was an active member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Rev. Dr. Brenda Girton-Mitchell of Washington, D.C., NCC Director of Public Policy, will represent the NCC at the memorial service for Miller, scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at North Christian Church, Columbus, Ind. Read more.
