Hodges, George

(Oct. 6, 1856-May 27, 1919). A leading proponent of the opportunities for ministry in urban churches. He was born in Rome, New York. Hodges graduated from Hamilton College in 1877. He began his theological studies at St. Andrew's Divinity School, Syracuse, New York. He transferred to the Berkeley Divinity School, where he graduated in 1881. He was ordained deacon on June 5, 1881, and priest on June 4, 1882. Hodges was Stone Professor of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology and dean (1894-1919) at the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. His The Administration of an Institutional Church (1906) urged appropriate attention to the social, economic, and recreational needs as well as the spiritual needs of the members of a congregation. Hodges served as an assistant minister at Calvary Church, Pittsburgh, 1881-1887; associate minister, 1887-1889; and rector, 1889-1894. Under his leadership in Pittsburgh, members of Calvary Church worked effectively for social betterment and governmental reform. As dean of the Episcopal Theological School, he was the first to introduce into the curriculum of an Episcopal seminary courses in sociology taught by a sociology professor. He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts.