Henry Sloane Coffin

author

Henry Sloane Coffin

1877–1954

A leading American minister and educator, he helped shape Protestant thought in the early 20th century through both preaching and teaching. He is especially remembered for guiding Union Theological Seminary and for his clear, accessible religious writing.

1 Audiobook

Some Christian Convictions A Practical Restatement in Terms of Present-Day Thinking

Some Christian Convictions A Practical Restatement in Terms of Present-Day Thinking

by Henry Sloane Coffin

About the author

Born in New York City on January 5, 1877, Henry Sloane Coffin became one of the best-known Presbyterian voices of his era. He studied at Yale and Union Theological Seminary, and early in his career served as pastor of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York, where he built a strong reputation as a preacher.

Coffin went on to serve as president of Union Theological Seminary from 1926 to 1945. He also served as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and was associated with the movement often described as liberal evangelicalism, which tried to join historic Christian faith with serious engagement with the modern world.

Alongside his public leadership, he wrote widely for general readers as well as church audiences. His work reflects a lifelong effort to make Christian belief thoughtful, practical, and relevant to everyday life.