Liston Pope
Encyclopedia
Liston Pope was an American clergyman, author, theological educator, and dean of Yale University Divinity School from 1949 to 1962.
, the son of Robie Lester Pope and his wife, née Dora Vivian Younts. Robie Pope was a banker, a city councilman andmayor of Thomasville, and had served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Liston Pope considered his father to be a "banker with a conscience" and an inspiration in his study of social problems from the Christian point of view..
, with a B.A., in 1929. He entered into the insurance business for fifteen months, then entered the School of Religion at Duke, obtaining a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1932. He became the associate minister of the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in High Point
for three years, then became pastor at the Humphrey Street Congregational Church in New Haven
. He was ordained in 1935 and served as pastor until 1938. He enrolled at the Graduate School
of Yale University
, obtaining a Ph.D. in 1940. His thesis, a study of the interrelationship of religion and economics was published in 1940 under the title Millhands and Preachers, won the John Addison Porter Prize, and was used as a text in social ethics courses in many universities.
He was active in the Congregational Christian Churches
denomination and the ecumenical movement
, particularly the World Council of Churches
, and in organizations involved in theological education.
Pope became a lecturer at Yale in 1938, an assistant professor in 1939, and an associate professor in 1944. He became the Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Social Ethics in 1947, and was made dean of the Yale Divinity School
in 1949, a position he served in until 1962. He retired from teaching in 1973, and donated his extensive library of books on social ethics to Yale, along with an endowment to be used for keeping the collection current; the collection is named the Dean Liston Pope Divinity School Library of Yale University.
in 1973, where Pope died the following year. Pope was interred at Thomasville.
Early life
Pope was born in Thomasville, North CarolinaThomasville, North Carolina
Thomasville is a city in Davidson County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 21,354 at the 2010 census. The city is notable for its furniture industry as are its neighbors of High Point and Lexington. This Piedmont Triad community was established in 1852 and hosts the state's...
, the son of Robie Lester Pope and his wife, née Dora Vivian Younts. Robie Pope was a banker, a city councilman andmayor of Thomasville, and had served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Liston Pope considered his father to be a "banker with a conscience" and an inspiration in his study of social problems from the Christian point of view..
Academic and professional life
Pope graduated from Thomasville High School in 1925 and from Duke UniversityDuke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, with a B.A., in 1929. He entered into the insurance business for fifteen months, then entered the School of Religion at Duke, obtaining a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1932. He became the associate minister of the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in High Point
High Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
for three years, then became pastor at the Humphrey Street Congregational Church in New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. He was ordained in 1935 and served as pastor until 1938. He enrolled at the Graduate School
Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
The Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1847, is one of the oldest graduate schools in the United States. It conferred the first Ph.D...
of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, obtaining a Ph.D. in 1940. His thesis, a study of the interrelationship of religion and economics was published in 1940 under the title Millhands and Preachers, won the John Addison Porter Prize, and was used as a text in social ethics courses in many universities.
He was active in the Congregational Christian Churches
Congregational Christian Churches
The Congregational Christian Churches were a Protestant Christian denomination that operated in the U.S. from 1931 through 1957. On the latter date, most of its churches joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church in a merger to become the United Church of Christ. Others created the National...
denomination and the ecumenical movement
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
, particularly the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
, and in organizations involved in theological education.
Pope became a lecturer at Yale in 1938, an assistant professor in 1939, and an associate professor in 1944. He became the Gilbert L. Stark Professor of Social Ethics in 1947, and was made dean of the Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
in 1949, a position he served in until 1962. He retired from teaching in 1973, and donated his extensive library of books on social ethics to Yale, along with an endowment to be used for keeping the collection current; the collection is named the Dean Liston Pope Divinity School Library of Yale University.
Personal life
Pope married Bennie Howell Purvis on 3 February 1934; they had three children together. She died on 13 November 1967. In 1972 Pope married Mrs. Gerd Synnove Thoreson, whom he had met while on sabbatical in Spain in 1971. The couple retired to Trondheim, SwedenTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
in 1973, where Pope died the following year. Pope was interred at Thomasville.
Works
- Religious Proposals for World Order - 1941
- Mill Village Churches - 1941
- Millhands & Preachers: a study of Gastonia - 1942
- Labor's Relation to Church and Community (editor) - 1947
- New Directions for the Ministry - 1954
- Kingdom Beyond Caste - 1957
- Beginning of Knowledge; a sermon - 1960