Ron Sider

Professor of Theology and Culture at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Justified or not, Dr. Sider—teacher, preacher, writer, lecturer—is the most controversial liberal evangelical around, which automatically targets him as an "out-sider" (pun apologetically intended) amongst the conservative, dominant end of the evangelical spectrum. To many conservatives, Dr. Sider is only slightly right of Fidel Castro. Such views are due to Dr. Sider's seminal book, "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger," published in 1977. This book has since undergone three editions and continues to influence socially-conscious Christians. Dr. Sider has been the leading advocate in bringing social issues, especially poverty, to the evangelical discussion table. A man of principle, he strives to practice what he preaches—he made a conscious decision to live and raise his family in the inner-city section of Philadelphia. Over the years, Dr. Sider has written many books and articles calling for Christians to act for social justice. Professor of Theology and Culture at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, he founded Evangelicals for Social Action, which he serves as Executive Director. Dr. Sider studied at the University of Waterloo in Ontario and received his doctorate in history from Yale University, as well as an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School.