Thurman was a prolific author, writing twenty books on theology, religion, and philosophy. Thurman was also active and well known in the Boston community, where he influenced many leaders.Īfter leaving Boston University in 1965, Thurman continued his ministry as chairman of the board and director of the Howard Thurman Educational Trust in San Francisco until his death in 1981.
In addition, he served on the faculty of Boston University School of Theology. He was the first black dean of a chapel at a majority-white university or college in the United States. Thurman was invited to Boston University in 1953, where he became the dean of Marsh Chapel (1953–1965). The church helped create a new community for many in San Francisco. Many of their congregants were African Americans who had migrated to San Francisco from Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas for jobs in the defense industry. He served as co-pastor with a white minister, Alfred Fisk. In 1944, Thurman left his tenured position at Howard to help the Fellowship of Reconciliation establish the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples also known as The Fellowship Church in San Francisco. When Thurman asked Gandhi what message he should take back to the United States, Gandhi said he regretted not having made nonviolence more visible as a practice worldwide and remarked "It may be through the Negroes that the unadulterated message of nonviolence will be delivered to the world.". Training for satyagraha was discussed, its difficulties in the extreme addressed. At Bardoli they spoke with Mahatma Gandhi, who asked "persistent, pragmatic questions" about the Black American community and its struggles. In 1935-36 he led a six-month delegation of African-Americans invited to India for meetings. Thurman traveled broadly, heading Christian missions and meeting with world figures.
He also served on the faculty of the Howard University School of Divinity. Thurman was selected as the first dean of Rankin Chapel at Howard University in the District of Columbia in 1932. Detail from a stained glass window featuring Howard Thurman at Howard University's Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel
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