George W. Hill

George W. Hill (December 13, 1916 – March 3, 2003) was an American Baptist pastor, a peace activist, and a leading liberal Protestant voice who played an important role in the founding of the United States Institute of Peace.

He was born in 1913 in Los Angeles, California. Hill attended the University of Southern California. He died in Claremont, California on March 3, 2003.

Early life and education Hill was born in Los Angeles and majored in banking and finance at the University of Southern California. Through this experience, he decided to enter the ministry and entered Colgate Rochester Divinity School, from which he graduated in 1940. Hill was ordained at Lake Avenue Baptist on May 14, 1940.

Pastoral positions

Hill's first church was Atwater Park Baptist Church in Pasadena where he served as pastor until 1943. He retired in 1986, but was called to serve as interim pastor, starting in 1988, at The Riverside Church in New York City, where he focused substantially on resolving fiscal issues at the church. He retired again from full-time ministry in 1989. In addition, Hill served on the board of the American Baptists.

Hill also had a regular television talk-show, The Pastor's Study. For example, in the 40s, he opposed Japanese internment camps. Hill was President of the Rochester Council of Churches during the Rochester 1964 race riot. Many clergy supported political organizing attempts by the Industrial Areas Foundation, Hill was given the American Baptist's Edwin T. Dahlberg Peace Award for this in 1985

When Hill moved to Washington, D.C. to pastor Calvary Baptist Church, he shifted somewhat to national politics. He came involved in, and eventually chairman, of the National Peace Academy Campaign, which resulted in the United States Institute of Peace.

After retiring, he was active in Pastors for Peace.