Georgia Harkness

Nationality

U.S.A.

Date of Birth

1891

Date of Death

1974

Political
Preference

Georgia Elma Harkness was an American Methodist theologian and philosopher. She has been described as one of the first significant American female theologians. Harkness was born on April 21, 1891, in Harkness, New York. In 1923, she completed her doctoral studies in philosophy at Boston University. While being professor of applied theology at Garrett Biblical Institute (1939–1950) and the Pacific School of Religion (1950–1961), she also became a leading figure in the ecumenical movement.

In 1946 Harkness was included in the American delegation to the International Conference of Church Leaders on the Problems of World Order, for the American ecumenists pressed for the inclusion of a “outstanding woman” in the delegation. She was also one of the four women to be invited to The International Conference of Church Leaders on the Problems of World Order held by the World Council of Churches.