JAMES CROFT
Bio
Bio
Why are we here? What sort of world do we want? How do we build a better future? James help leaders and communities answer these questions.
In February 2023 James was appointed University Chaplain and Lead Faith Advisor to the University of Sussex, making him the first Humanist Lead Chaplain at any UK University ever. In his work as University Chaplain James helps the university foster belonging, promote becoming, and enables students and staff to connect with visions bigger than themselves.
Prior to his appointment to Sussex University, James served as the Senior Leader of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, one of the largest Humanist congregations in the world. As clergy for one of the few thriving congregations for people without a traditional faith, James told stories and designed aesthetic experiences to invite people into the work of social change.
Before becoming clergy, James was an interdisciplinary researcher with a focus on the philosophy of Human Development and the role of the arts in learning. He completed his Master’s and Doctoral degrees at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and his undergraduate degree at Homerton College, Cambridge. He is the winner of many awards for his academic work, including Homerton College’s Foundation Award for exceptional academic performance, and the prestigious Frank Knox Fellowship, awarded to those who demonstrate “leadership, strength of character, keen mind, balanced judgement and a devotion to the democratic ideal."
James is a gay rights and Humanist activist. His first speech as an activist, “6.12 seconds,” has been used around the world to train leaders in the art of Public Narrative (the use of personal stories to move people to action), and is literally a textbook example of the effective use of narrative to make change. James provides coaching for leaders who wish to communicate more persuasively.
A native of London, England, James lives in Brighton, England with his husband Kolten and their darling chihuahua Ella.
