Stanley, Clifford Leland

(Mar. 16, 1902-Oct. 11, 1994). Theologian and professor. He was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Stanley received his B.A. in 1924 and his M.A. in 1925, both from the University of Virginia. He received his B.D. in 1928 from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Stanley was ordained deacon on June 5, 1928, and priest on Dec. 19, 1928. Stanley began his ordained ministry as rector of Trinity Church, Tyrone, Pennsylvania, 1928-1931. From 1931 until 1935, he was associate professor of the history of religions and philosophy at the Virginia Theological Seminary. He then studied at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and received his Th.D. in 1938. Stanley was rector of Christ Church, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 1939-1942, and rector of St. Peter's Church, St. Louis, Missouri, 1942-1946. He returned to Virginia Theological Seminary in 1946 as professor of theology and remained in that position until his retirement in 1970. A major essay he wrote, “The Church, in but not of the World,” was published in Christian Faith and Social Action, edited by John A. Hutchinson (1953). Stanley was a scholar of both Kierkegaard and Tillich. In 1978 he was theologian-in-residence at St. Bartholomew's Church, Corpus Christi, Texas. Stanley died in Stafford, Virginia.