Gardner Calvin Taylor

Gardner Calvin Taylor

Senior Pastor Emeritus, Concord Baptist Church of Christ

The Reverend Gardner Calvin Taylor is senior pastor emeritus of the Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, N.Y. The “On Faith” panelist led the congregation from 1948 to 1990, as church membership grew by 9,000 and through a 1952 fire that necessitated a $1.7 million rebuilding effort. His role as pastor included oversight of the Concord Baptist Church Elementary School, Concord Nursing Home, Concord Clothing exchange, Concord Federal Credit Union, Concord Seniors Residence and Concord Baptist Christfund. Beyond Brooklyn, Taylor has taken the pulpit from London’s Westminster Hall to China to Copenhagen to Zambia. His publications include How Shall They Preach, The Scarlet Thread, Chariots Aflame and Wisdom. Among his awards and honorary degrees are doctorates from Oberlin College, Leland College, Wake Forest University and Howard University; a Star of Africa, conferred by Liberian President William Tubman; and the rank of Knight Commander, Order of African Redemption, conferred by President William Tolbert of Liberia. President Clinton awarded Taylor the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000. Born in Baton Rouge, La., he now resides in North Carolina. Close.

Gardner Calvin Taylor

Senior Pastor Emeritus, Concord Baptist Church of Christ

The Reverend Gardner Calvin Taylor is senior pastor emeritus of the Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, N.Y. The “On Faith” panelist led the congregation from 1948 to 1990, as church membership grew by 9,000 and through a 1952 fire that necessitated a $1.7 million rebuilding effort. more »

Main Page | Gardner Calvin Taylor Archives | On Faith Archives


Theology Archives



April 4, 2007 8:44 AM

On Depriving Christianity of the Resurrection

If the remains of Jesus had been definitively found, Christianity would be radically changed into an ethical system without salvific substance.

Continue »




May 27, 2007 8:51 AM

Man-Made Or Made For Man?

The systems of religion and explanations of religion are man-made, we being partners with God. The original energy and inspiration of religion are not man-made, but are “Givens”, like breathing and love of man for woman and woman for man.

Wherever human beings have appeared in the earth and throughout history, there is that sense of the “Other”. Many of us believe that “Other” is shaped like the mind and heart of Jesus of Nazareth – or better still His mind and heart are like that “Other” – God.




September 4, 2007 12:54 PM

No Faith Without a Doubt

The wide attention given to Mother Teresa’s doubt about God and Christ represents an almost universal struggle which goes on in most of us who are believers.

Faith and doubt are the two sides of the same religious experience. Even Jesus felt that abandonment on Calvary about the presence of God, though at the last He said that He was able to give Himself into the hands of God with a blessed finality.

Faith and doubt are the two sides of the same religious experience. An example might be a silver dollar held up to the light. Viewing the coin from its top, one sees brightness and clarity. The bottom side of the coin is in shadows, away from the light. But it is the same coin.

There would be no doubt if doubt did not have something which makes doubt possible. What makes doubt real is faith – the ultimate capacity of the human spirit.


Top Local Global

On Faith is an interactive conversation on religion moderated by Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn of The Washington Post. It is produced jointly by Newsweek and washingtonpost.com, as is PostGlobal, a conversation on international affairs. Please send your comments, questions and suggestions for On Faith to David Waters, its producer.