Harvie M. Conn, LittD

Harvie M. Conn, LittD Legacy Professor

Education:

Teaching Career:

Professor of Missions and Director of the Urban Missions Program, Westminster Theological Seminary (1972-1998)
Taught New Testament at the General Assembly Theological Seminary in Seoul, Korea (1962-1972)
While at Westminster, Dr. Conn focused on interdisciplinary teaching methods, believing that effective ministry work must connect and meet people where they are at in their lives

Other Career Highlights:

Greatest contribution was to the field of urban missiology where he combined statistical data with Scriptural principles
Skilled at interpreting popular culture and building bridges to the truths of Scripture and was highly influential in advocating for the important role urban missions must play in spreading the gospel
Instrumental in the formation of the Center for Theological Studies
Speaker/lecturer at numerous venues throughout the world
Ordained as an orthodox Presbyterian minister
He and his wife spent nearly 13 years as missionaries in Korea (1960-1972), where he worked as an itinerant preacher and ministered to the indigent including special ministries to prostitutes, pimps, and the underprivileged. Physically beaten on numerous occasions for his ministry work, Dr. Conn was a tangible example of turning the other cheek and loving those who are persecuting you.
Leader of several student mission trips to India and Uganda
Instrumental in the Center for Urban Theological Studies, a training center for future African American pastors
Editor of Urban Mission (1989-1999)
Regular reviewer of movies/films in a column for Eternity Magazine
Active in the American Society of Missiology and the Evangelical Theological Society

Publications:

Numerous publications including the booksEvangelism: Doing Justice and Preaching Grace, A Clarified Vision for Urban Mission, and Theological Perspectives for Church Growth
Eternal Word in a Changing Worldis considered one of his most influential works
His works have been translated into Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese, among other languages