Richard A. Kauffman grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He has degrees from Hesston and Goshen colleges and graduate degrees from Eastern Baptist (now Palmer) Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Temple University. 

Currently senior editor and book review editor for The Christian Century magazine, he has also served as an editor at Mennonite Publishing House and Christianity Today and is senior editor of Leader magazine. Additionally, he was administrative vice president and instructor in theology at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. He has been a conference youth pastor and has pastored several Mennonite congregations in New Jersey and Ohio. 

Kauffman and his wife Suzanne have two adult children and three grandchildren. They’re members of Lombard (Ill.) Mennonite Church. Suzanne is co-manager of a Ten Thousand Village store in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where they live.