Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969)

Henry Emerson Fosdick was a liberal protestant American pastor, teacher and author who was central figure in the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy within American Protestantism in the 1920s and 1930s . He was one of the most prominent liberal ministers of the early 20th century.

He was ordained a Baptist minister in 1903. He was minister at Montclair N.J. from 1904 until 1915. He taught at Union Theological seminary for nearly 40 years (1908-1946).

In 1919 he became associate pastor at th First Presbyterian Church in New York City. Crowds filled the church to hear his sermons but conservative Protestants denounced him modernist. His sermon * Shall the Fundamentalists win ? * on May 21st, 1922 , caused an uproar. It lead to his resignation 3 years later.

Within a few months he was called to the Park Avenue Baptist Church in New York. With the aid of John D. Rockefeller. Jr. as a trustee a larger interdenominational church was built. It was renamed the Riverside Church. Henry was pastor there and preacher on the National Vespers nationwide radio programme for the next 20 years (1926-1946).

Henry’s sermons won him wide recognition. Many of his sermon collections are still in print. His radio addresses were broadcast nationally. He was a prolific author of sermons, articles and books over 60 years. ( see Works -this does not include work he contributed to) )

He is regarded as one of the top 10 preachers of the 20th century.
Martin Luther King placed him first ( see info from King encyclopedia)
More recently Michael Duduit placed him 5th ( see My intro to by William l. Self)

Sources
wikipedia
Britannica Online Encyclopedi
The Martin Luther king Research and Education institute
The 10 greatest preachers of the 20th century