GRAHAM TAYLOR SOCIETY

Graham Taylor: Evangelism and Community Ministry in the Missio Dei

Graham Taylor (1851–1938), a minister and social reformer, embodied the missio dei through evangelism and community ministry. Born in Schenectady, New York, to a Dutch Reformed minister, Taylor studied at Rutgers College and the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church in America. His early pastorates in Hopewell, New York (1873–1880), and Hartford, Connecticut (1880–1888), revealed the interplay of poverty and urban challenges, shaping his belief that evangelism must address both spiritual and material needs. In Hartford, he launched a city mission program, training “gap-men” to share the gospel through service, reflecting the missio dei’s holistic call.

In 1892, Taylor joined Chicago Theological Seminary, establishing the first Christian sociology department in an American seminary. His courses, like “Biblical Sociology,” blended evangelism with social reform, viewing the gospel as a catalyst for personal and societal renewal. In 1894, he founded the Chicago Commons Settlement House in Chicago’s 17th Ward, serving diverse immigrant communities. The non-sectarian Commons offered education, clubs, and civic forums, integrating evangelism through service by training seminary students in “Christian Sociology,” aligning with the missio dei’s call for compassion and justice.

Taylor’s broader impact included co-founding the Chicago Federation of Settlements in 1894 and leading national social reform efforts. His work on poverty and public health during the Great Depression underscored his commitment to systemic change. Retiring from the Commons in 1921, he remained active until his death in 1938. Taylor’s legacy reflects the missio dei by uniting gospel proclamation with tangible service, addressing personal salvation and societal transformation.