Norman Pittenger

Norman Pittenger was one of the first process theologians without connections with the University of Chicago Divinity School, and produced the first genuine works on process theological christology (see The Word Incarnate. 1959). Pittenger wrote ninety books and many articles throughout his life (see below). In addition to his writing on explicitly Christian themes, he wrote on sexuality in general (e.g., Making Sexuality Human, 1970) and penned a Christian defense of homosexuality in particular (Time for Consent, 1970), a book that was so controversial when published that the Church Times refused to review it. He also became “discreetly open about his own homosexual orientation” in this era of his life. After his retirement in 1966 he established himself at King’s College, Cambridge University, where, though not a Fellow, he participated in activities and meals as an Honorary Senior Member until the end of his life; he died at King’s Lynn, Norfolk on 19 June 1997.

William Norman Pittenger (July 23, 1905 – June 19, 1997) was an Anglican minister, teacher, and theologian. He wrote about and promoted process theology, and became one of the first acknowledged Christian defenders for the open acceptance of homosexual relations among Christians. He served as Vice-Chairman and the Chairman of the Theological Commission of the World Council of Churches from the mid-1950s through the early 1960s. He lived most of his life in the United States, though from 1966 until his death he lived at King’s College at Cambridge University as an honorary member of the university.

William Norman Pittenger was born in Bogota, New Jersey on July 23, 1905, and was raised in Princeton, New Jersey. He attended Princeton University for a short time, but left without graduating because he wanted to try a career as a newspaper reporter in New York City. Not able to find satisfaction, he went to The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church of the USA, on Manhattan Island in New York. He started as a student and soon he became tutor. He was named an Instructor in Christian Apologetics in 1935 at the same Seminary, and was ordained a deacon in the Church in 1936, and a priest in 1937; he served as Instructor at the seminary until 1951, when he was elevated to the rank of Professor in the same department there, a position that he held until 1966.