Changes

The movement influenced laymen as well as churchmen. Smith (2000) Smith shows how such businessmen as the department store innovator John Wanamaker, the factory owner and Toledo's mayor Samuel Jones, and the southern iron pipe maker John Eagan shaped their policies and practices to conform to their understanding of how Christianity should be expressed in their work.

The movement influenced laymen as well as churchmen. Smith (2000) Smith shows how such businessmen as the department store innovator John Wanamaker, the factory owner and Toledo's mayor Samuel Jones, and the southern iron pipe maker John Eagan shaped their policies and practices to conform to their understanding of how Christianity should be expressed in their work.

==South==

===South===

Religious leaders in the South were theologically conservative, but most denominations supported the Social Gospel. For example, the [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptists]] strongly supported some of the main Social Gospel campaigns, especially against liquor and saloons and sexual slavery. The spirit of today's campaigns against abortion very closely resemble the language and rhetoric and organizing techniques of the prohibition campaigns.  The Southern churches were also active opponents of prostitution, obscenity and gambling, and they aligned with like minded politicians like [[Alben Barkley]] of Kentucky (who later became Truman's vice president). Most of the state Baptist conventions had "Christian Life Commissions" that echoed the Social Gospel (they were especially active in Alabama and Virginia). The [[Southern Methodist Church]], then a separate denomination, was also active across the South in thses reform campaigns, as were the main African American denominations.

Religious leaders in the South were theologically conservative, but most denominations supported the Social Gospel. For example, the [[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptists]] strongly supported some of the main Social Gospel campaigns, especially against liquor and saloons and sexual slavery. The spirit of today's campaigns against abortion very closely resemble the language and rhetoric and organizing techniques of the prohibition campaigns.  The Southern churches were also active opponents of prostitution, obscenity and gambling, and they aligned with like minded politicians like [[Alben Barkley]] of Kentucky (who later became Truman's vice president). Most of the state Baptist conventions had "Christian Life Commissions" that echoed the Social Gospel (they were especially active in Alabama and Virginia). The [[Southern Methodist Church]], then a separate denomination, was also active across the South in thses reform campaigns, as were the main African American denominations.

Smith (2000) reveal how the more theologically conservative evangelicals' support for the "Men and Religion Forward" movement reveals the influence of Social Gospel in a group usually seen as emphasizing personal salvation and reformation of individual vices.

Smith (2000) reveal how the more theologically conservative evangelicals' support for the "Men and Religion Forward" movement reveals the influence of Social Gospel in a group usually seen as emphasizing personal salvation and reformation of individual vices.

==1930s==

===1930s===

In the United States prior to 1930, the Social Gospel was the religious wing of the [[progressive movement]]<ref>{{cite book |title=The War for Righteousness: Progressive Christianity, the Great War, and the Rise of the Messianic Nation|last1=Gamble|first1=Richard M.|date=2003|publisher=ISI Books}}</ref> which had the aim of combatting injustice, suffering and poverty in society.  During the [[New Deal]] of the 1930s Social Gospel themes could be seen in the work of [[Harry Hopkins]], [[Will Alexander]] and [[Mary McLeod Bethune]], who added a new concern with African Americans. After 1940, the movement withered, but was invigorated in the 1950s by black leaders like Baptist minister [[Martin Luther King]] and the civil rights movement. After 1980 it weakened again as a major force inside mainstream churches; indeed those churches were losing strength. Examples of its continued existence can still be found, notably the organization known as the "Call to Renewal" and local organizations like the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.

In the United States prior to 1930, the Social Gospel was the religious wing of the [[progressive movement]]<ref>{{cite book |title=The War for Righteousness: Progressive Christianity, the Great War, and the Rise of the Messianic Nation|last1=Gamble|first1=Richard M.|date=2003|publisher=ISI Books}}</ref> which had the aim of combatting injustice, suffering and poverty in society.  During the [[New Deal]] of the 1930s Social Gospel themes could be seen in the work of [[Harry Hopkins]], [[Will Alexander]] and [[Mary McLeod Bethune]], who added a new concern with African Americans. After 1940, the movement withered, but was invigorated in the 1950s by black leaders like Baptist minister [[Martin Luther King]] and the civil rights movement. After 1980 it weakened again as a major force inside mainstream churches; indeed those churches were losing strength. Examples of its continued existence can still be found, notably the organization known as the "Call to Renewal" and local organizations like the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy.

==Leaders==

===Leaders===

Prominent leaders in the U.S. included [[Walter Rauschenbusch]], [[Washington Gladden]], [[Josiah Strong]], [[William Dwight Porter Bliss|W. D. P. Bliss]], Irwin St. John Tucker, J. Stitt Wilson, Franklin S. Spalding, George Washington Woodbey, and Bouck White.  Economist [[Richard Ely]] played a major role, as did [[John R. Mott]] and other leaders of the [[YMCA]].  Most Protestant missionaries supoorted the movement as well.

Prominent leaders in the U.S. included [[Walter Rauschenbusch]], [[Washington Gladden]], [[Josiah Strong]], [[William Dwight Porter Bliss|W. D. P. Bliss]], Irwin St. John Tucker, J. Stitt Wilson, Franklin S. Spalding, George Washington Woodbey, and Bouck White.  Economist [[Richard Ely]] played a major role, as did [[John R. Mott]] and other leaders of the [[YMCA]].  Most Protestant missionaries supoorted the movement as well.