Forrest Church | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Frank Forrester Church IV (1948-09-23)September 23, 1948 Palo Alto, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 24, 2009(2009-09-24) (aged 61) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Morris Hill Cemetery Boise, Idaho |
| Education | Stanford University (BA) Harvard Divinity School (MDiv) Harvard University (PhD) |
| Occupations | minister, author, and theologian |
| Employer(s) | Unitarian Church of All Souls,New York City,New York |
| Known for | LeadingUnitarian Universalisttheologian and author, prominentNew York City religious figure |
| Title | Minister of Public Theology |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Frank Church Bethine Clark |
| Relatives | Chase A. Clark (grandfather) |
Frank Forrester Church IV (September 23, 1948 – September 24, 2009) was a leadingUnitarian Universalist minister, author, and theologian. He was Senior Minister of theUnitarian Church of All Souls inNew York City, until late 2006 when he was appointed as Minister of Public Theology.[2]He wrote about Christianity, Gnosticism, religious liberty in the US tradition, and his own father, a US Senator.
Church was born inPalo Alto, California, while his father,Frank Church, was a student atStanford Law School. Following graduation in 1950, the family returned toBoise,Idaho.[3] His father was elected to theUnited States Senate in 1956 and served four terms, until January 1981.
Church was a graduate ofStanford University andHarvard Divinity School. He received aPh.D. in early church history fromHarvard University in 1978.
In 1991, Church's affair with a congregant brought his ability to serve as minister into question, but most of his congregation supported him.[1]
On February 4, 2008, Church sent a letter to the members of his congregation informing them that he had terminal cancer. He told them of his intention, which he successfully realized, to sum up his thoughts on the topics that had been pervasive in his work in a final book, entitledLove & Death.
Church died ofesophageal cancer in New York City on September 24, 2009, a day after his 61st birthday.[4] He is buried in Morris Hill Cemetery inBoise.
Church is best known as a leader ofliberal religion. Between 1985 and his death, he wrote or edited more than 20 books. These include technical studies ofChristian andGnostic literature, as well as over a dozen books addressing a wider audience.[2][5]
Books authored by Church include:
Books edited by Church:
Church can be seen offering commentary in theHistory Channel documentariesHaunted History of Halloween[6] andChristmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas.[7]
