John R. Mott

Nationality

U.S.A.

Date of Birth

1865

Date of Death

1955

Political
Preference

Mott was born in Livingston Manor, New York. In 1888 he received a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. In that same year, Mott became student secretary of the International Committee of the Young Men’s Christian Association. As one of the organizers of the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh in 1910, Mott contributed to the beginning of the modern ecumenical movement. This movement ultimately resulted in the formation of the World Council of Churches. Between 1921 and 1942, Mott was the chairman of the International Missionary Council and between 1926 and 1937 the president of the World’s Alliance of YMCA’s. In 1938, Mott was elected vice-chairperson of the Provisional Committee of the WCC. During the Second World War, Mott was also a member of the Committee of Direction in the Commission for Just and Durable Peace, in which plans for the future world order were drafted.