Norman Vincent Peale was an American Protestant clergyman, and an author best known for popularizing the concept of positive thinking, especially through his best-selling book The Power of Positive Thinking (1952). He served as the pastor of Marble Collegiate Church, New York, from 1932, leading this Reformed Church in America congregation for more than a half century until his retirement in 1984. Alongside his pulpit ministry, he had an extensive career of writing and editing, and radio and television presentations. Despite arguing at times against involvement of clergy in politics, he nevertheless had some controversial affiliations with politically active organizations in the late 1930s, and engaged with national political candidates and their campaigns, having influence on some, including a personal friendship with President Richard Nixon.
Peale in 1966
Reformed Church in America
The Reformed Church in America (RCA) is a mainline Reformed Protestant denomination in Canada and the United States. It has about 84,957 members. From its beginning in 1628 until 1819, it was the North American branch of the Dutch Reformed Church.
Coat of arms of the Reformed Church in America
The First Reformed Church in Albany was founded in Albany, New York in 1642 to serve the patroonship of Rensselaerswyck; the current church was built in 1798.
Phebe Johnson Ditmis (January 4, 1824–December 27, 1866) was the wife of Reformed Church of Queens pastor George Onderdonk Ditmis (July 22,1818–February 1, 1896).
The Dimnent Chapel at Hope College in Holland, Michigan