Harry Emerson Fosdick

Nationality

U.S.A.

Date of Birth

1878

Date of Death

1969

Political
Preference

Harry Emerson Fosdick born in Buffalo, New York. In his life he became one of liberal Protestantism’s most influential voices. He was a proponent of ecumenical Christianity, pacifism and civil rights. He earned his BA at Colgate University (1900), his BD at Union Theological Seminary (1903), and his MA at Columbia University (1908). After his degree, he went on to become pastor of New York City’s First Presbyterian Church from 1919 until 1925. In 1923, the local presbytery in New York started an investigation into Fosdick’s views. Fosdick challenged the Christian fundamentalism’s literal reading of the Bible and rejected historical biblical analysis. In his trial, Fosdick was defended by John Foster Dulles. After the trial, Fosdick was asked by John D. Rockefeller to head Park Avenue Baptist Church. Fosdick accepted and from that point on he was the pastor of the nondenominational and nonsectarian Riverside Church and, in addition, professor of practical theology at Union Theological Seminary. In 1941, Fosdick became member of the Commission for Just and Durable Peace – also called the “Dulles Commission” after its chairman, John Foster Dulles.