Rev. Dr. Theodore A. Gill

Denomination: Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA)
Organization: San Francisco Theological Seminary

The Rev. Dr. Theodore Alexander Gill Sr. (1920–2005) was a distinguished Presbyterian theologian, preacher, and educator whose career spanned both church leadership and higher education. Born in Eveleth, Minnesota, Gill graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1940 and earned his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1943. He went on to complete a doctorate at Union Theological Seminary in New York, followed by two additional doctorates at the University of Zurich and the University of Basel in 1948. Among his teachers were leading twentieth-century theologians Karl Barth, Emil Brunner, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Paul Tillich.

Gill began his ministry as pastor of West End Presbyterian Church in Manhattan before moving into teaching and editorial work. He served as dean of chapel and chair of religion at Lindenwood College, and later became managing editor of The Christian Century and editor of its companion publication The Pulpit. In 1958, he was named president of San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, California, where he championed bold theological engagement and social justice, even marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

Gill later served as executive director of the Department of Higher Education of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, before joining the faculty of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, where he was professor of philosophy and provost. His leadership helped transform John Jay into a comprehensive liberal arts institution. In retirement, he served as theologian-in-residence at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey.

Throughout his career, Gill emphasized the deep connections between theology, literature, and the arts, inspiring generations of students, clergy, and readers. His preaching on The Protestant Hour—now Day1—remains a testament to his vibrant vision of Christian faith engaged with the world.