Pope, Liston, 1909-1974

Liston Corlando Pope was born on September 6, 1909 in Thomasville, North Carolina. He was educated at Duke University (A.B., 1929; B.D., 1932) and Yale University (Ph.D., 1940). He served as pastor of churches in North Carolina and New Haven, Connecticut (1932-1938), professor of Social Ethics (1938-1973) and Dean (1949-1962) of Yale Divinity School, author and editor. He was active in the Congregational Christian Churches denomination (1850-1960) and the ecumenical movement, particularly the World Council of Churches, and in organizations involved in theological education. He died in Norway in April, 1974.

From the description of Liston Pope papers, 1909-1974 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702179288

• 1909 Sep 6: Liston Corlando Pope born in Thomasville, N.C., son of Robie Lester and Dora (Younts) Pope
• 1929: A.B. Duke University
• 1932: B.D. Duke University
• 1932 - 35 : Associate pastor, Wesley Memorial Church, High Point, N.C.
• 1934: Married Bennie Howell Purvis
• 1935: Ordained to Congregational ministry
• 1935 - 1938 : Pastor, Humphrey Street Congregational Church, New Haven, Ct.
• 1936 Jul 27: Daughter, Mary Anna, born
• 1938 - 1939 : Lecturer in Social Ethics, Yale
• 1939 - 1944 : Assistant professor, Yale
• 1940: Ph.D. Yale; awarded John Addison Porter prize
• 1942: Millhands and Preachers published
• 1943 Dec 26: Son, Liston Jr., born
• 1944 - 1948 : Editor, Social Action magazine
• 1944 - 1947 : Associate professor, Yale
• 1947 - 1973 : Gilbert Stark Professor of Social Ethics, Yale
• 1947: Editor, Labor's Relation to Church and Community
• 1949: Research and travel in Africa under the Julius Rosenwald and Phelps-Stokes Funds
• 1949 - 1962 : Dean of Yale Divinity School Resigned in 1962 in order to return to teaching and for health reasons. On sabbatical leave in North Carolina and Europe for two years before returning to Yale. Health problems continued to disrupt his teaching activities until his retirement in 1973
• 1950: Daughter, Bennie Alison, born
• 1955 - 1956 : Trip around the world concentrating on study of theological education in Asia
• 1957: The Kingdom Beyond Caste published
• 1967: Bennie Purvis Pope died
• 1970: Married Gerd Synnove Thoresen
• 1974 Apr: Died in Norway

Other positions held:

Director: Rockefeller Brothers Theological Fellowships Program 1955-1962

Congregational delegate to the National Council of Churches 1949-1960

Contributor to many journals

Biographical information obtained from Who's Who in America, 1974 and Series V Box 83 Folders 1062-1064.

From the guide to the Liston Pope Papers, 1909-1984, (Yale University Divinity School Library)