Georgia Harkness (1891-1974) was the first female full professor of theology at a Protestant seminary, Garrett Biblical Institute. Harkness wrote more than thirty books on theological subjects. A committed pacifist and social reformer, Harkness’ writings emphasized both personal salvation and social responsibility. Harkness also was an active proponent of full clergy rights for women in the Methodist church, which were finally granted in 1956.
Significance
Georgia Harkness (1891-1974) was the first female full professor of theology at a Protestant seminary, Garrett Biblical Institute. Harkness wrote more than thirty books on theological subjects. A committed pacifist and social reformer, Harkness’ writings emphasized both personal salvation and social responsibility. Her published works included: Understanding the Christian Faith (1947), Prayer and the Common Life (1948), The Gospel and Our World (1949). She wrote almost 40 books in her lifetime which emphasized both personal salvation and social responibility to address the structural evils of society, including sexism, racism, militarism, and classism. She was greatly sought as a lecturer both within the church and the academy. She opposed the merger of the Methodist Church with the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1968, arguing that no union should take place until the all-black central jurisdiction of the Methodist Church was intergrated into the new United Methodist Church. While at Garrett, Harkness lobbied and strategized vigorously for full clergy rights for women in the Methodist denomination, which was not granted until 1956.