Harvie M. Conn

Harvie Maitland Conn (April 7, 1933 – August 28, 1999) was a Canadian-American Presbyterian minister, missionary, and professor of missions at Westminster Theological Seminary. He was a leading figure in urban missiology, integrating cultural analysis and Reformed theology to advance urban evangelism.

Early life and education

Harvie Conn was born on April 7, 1933 in Regina, Saskatchewan to Irish immigrant parents. His family later moved to California, where Conn was converted to Christianity as a teenager at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. Despite early skepticism from church teachers about his future, Conn pursued higher education, attending Calvin College in Michigan in the early 1950s, where he was deeply influenced by the Dutch Reformed tradition.

After completing his B.A. at Calvin College, Conn earned his Bachelor of Divinity (B.D., 1957) and Master of Theology (Th.M., 1958) from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He also pursued doctoral studies in philosophy for three years at Temple University, although he did not complete the degree. Later, he received an honorary Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.) from Geneva College in 1976.

Career and ministry Conn was ordained as a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) in 1957. In 1960, he and his family were sent to South Korea as missionaries under the auspices of the OPC. Over 12 years, Conn engaged in theological education at Chongshin Theological Seminary in Seoul, evangelistic outreach, and broadcasting. He held Bible studies among marginalized groups, including brothel workers and impoverished street children—experiences that profoundly shaped his missiological outlook.

Conn’s vision for urban theology was shaped by a conviction that the city is central to God’s redemptive purposes. He famously argued, “We no longer live in a global village, but a global city.” He called for theological education that was not just about the city, but in the city — blending academic study with lived experience.

D. G. Hart argues that Tim Keller's views about "word and deed ministries" are influenced by Conn's "theory and practice of urban missions and ministry." Tim Keller also cites Conn as saying that Jonah 2:9 is the central verse in the whole Bible: 'Salvation is of the LORD'.

Select publications

Contemporary World Theology: A Layman's Guidebook. (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1974). Bible Studies on World Evangelization and the Simple Lifestyle. (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1981). Evangelism: Doing Justice and Preaching Grace (P&R Publishing, 1982). Reaching the Unreached: The Old-New Challenge. (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1984). Eternal Word and Changing Worlds: Theology, Anthropology, and Mission in Trialogue. (P&R Publishing, 1984). A Clarified Vision for Urban Mission: Dispelling the Urban Stereotypes. (Ministry Resources Library, 1987). The American City and the Evangelical Church: A Historical Overview. (Baker Books, 1994). Planting and Growing Urban Churches: From Dream to Reality. (Baker Books, 1997). Urban Ministry: The Kingdom, the City, and the People of God. (InterVarsity Press, 2001). (co-authored with Manuel Ortiz)