author
Francis John McConnell
1871–1953
A Methodist bishop, teacher, and social reformer, he wrote with the energy of someone who wanted faith to matter in public life. His books reflect a lifelong effort to connect religion with education, justice, and the everyday struggles of modern society.
1 Audiobook
Understanding the Scriptures
by Francis John McConnell
About the author
Born in Trinway, Ohio, on August 18, 1871, Francis John McConnell became an influential figure in American Methodism. He studied at Ohio Wesleyan University and the Boston University School of Theology, entered the Methodist ministry in 1894, and went on to serve as both a pastor and an educator.
McConnell was president of DePauw University from 1909 to 1912 before being elected a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1912. He became known not only as a church leader but also as a public-minded reformer, especially interested in how Christian belief should respond to social and industrial problems.
Alongside his church work, he wrote widely on religion and public life, including books on Methodism, Christianity, and social questions, as well as an autobiography published late in life. He died on August 18, 1953, in Lucasville, Ohio.