Dr. Catherine G. González
Dr. Catherine G. González
Catherine Gunsalus González was born on May 20, 1934, into a family that has rich ties to the history of the United States. In fact, the upstate-New-York farm, just outside of Binghamton, that her family has owned for several generations–and where her mother was born–was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Her family moved to suburban New York City in 1943 but spent most summers on that farm, a place that holds fond memories for Catherine. She was educated in New York public schools and attended Beaver College (now Arcadia University), graduating with a B.A. in history and government, after forsaking a major in home economics. Catherine attended Boston University where she received both her seminary and doctoral degrees in theology. After graduation in 1965, she taught at West Virginia Wesleyan College and that same year was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament by the United Presbyterian Church. In 1970, Catherine began teaching at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where she was the first female faculty member. When she joined the faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary as professor of church history in January 1974, she was again the first female faculty member. The move to Atlanta, Georgia and Columbia Theological Seminary came about because Catherine married Justo L. González, who was then teaching at Emory University, three miles from Columbia. Catherine paved the way for several other female faculty members who came in her wake. She retired in 2002 from Columbia as Professor Emerita but continued teaching courses at the seminary for several years.
Marrying Justo was an education in and of itself. Never having been to Latin America, Catherine’s rapid immersion in issues surrounding Hispanic theological education began on their honeymoon---and continued with Justo’s lecturing in various places or gathering data for reports on theological education opportunities. Especially in the ‘80s and ‘90s they often lectured together, combining Bible studies with the concerns about gender and racial equality. Catherine would lecture on issues of racial equality; Justo would tackle issues of gender equality. This division represents the sharing of concerns and support of each other’s interests that have long characterized their 50+ years of married life.
As they moved into “retirement,” their extensive travel schedules increased, parallelling Catherine’s increasing interest in the historic Hispanic churches in this country and the rapidly developing immigrant churches.
Post-pandemic, mobility issues have limited Catherine’s travel, but she still finds time to continue her work in theology and history and to indulge her passions for cooking and nutrition as well as reading mystery stories and cheering for the Atlanta Braves.
- Email: jcgcenter@aeth.org