Pittsburgh Theological Seminary President the Rev. Dr. William J. Carl III has announced that he will retire in mid-2015. Carl has served the Seminary since 2005.

“During President Carl’s tenure as head of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, he led the Seminary into a successful capital campaign and reaccreditation, positioning PTS to thrive in a volatile economic environment. His contributions to the institution and the Church have been many,” said John S. Isherwood, chairman of the Board.

“It has been a joy and an honor to serve in a leadership position with Jack Isherwood as we have worked together with an outstanding Board and remarkably gifted professors, administrators, and staff,” said Dr. Carl. “I look forward to seeing what a new era at PTS will bring as we transition this next year into a time of new leadership.”

During Carl’s tenure, he:

  • Led the largest capital campaign in the Seminary's 220 year history, raising more than $20 million for student scholarships, faculty chairs, and campus improvements.
  • Oversaw the school’s successful renewal of decennial accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools and Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
  • Worked with the Board and leadership on a new strategic plan, mission/vision statement, seal, and brand.
  • Encouraged the first and only Doctor of Ministry focus on science and theology in North America, and the creation of additional sites for students studying in the Doctor of Ministry Program in Phoenix, Ariz.; Charleston, S.C.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Aberdeen and Edinburgh, Scotland.
  • Approved the Master of Divinity program with emphasis in Church Planting. Additionally started and funded the Church Planting Initiative.
  • Opened the Seminary’s main entrance to be more welcoming to visitors and our neighbors and renovated the Hicks Memorial Chapel sanctuary to make it a more flexible space with new liturgical furniture.
  • Approved the hiring of eight new faculty members and built a strong and active Board of Directors with meetings focused on strategic direction.
  • Strived to build upon the Seminary’s strong reputation across the nation and developed key relationships with international communities mostly in Russia and other parts of Asia.

Before coming to the Seminary, Carl served as pastor of the 1,700-member First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, for 22 years, and was associate professor of homiletics and worship at Union Seminary (Va.) for seven years before that. Carl earned degrees from the University of Tulsa, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the University of Pittsburgh where he also taught as an instructor. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1973. He has lectured at Oxford, Princeton, Boston University, the Moscow Theological Academy, the Kerala United Theological Seminary in India, and dozens of other divinity schools and conferences both here and abroad.

A search committee has been appointed to name the Seminary’s sixth president.

Gifts in honor of Carl’s tenure can be made to The Bill and Jane Carl Presidential Scholarship at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

Founded in 1794, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a graduate theological school of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Rooted in the Reformed tradition, the Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary President the Rev. Dr. William J. Carl III has announced that he will retire in mid-2015. Carl has served the Seminary since 2005.

“During President Carl’s tenure as head of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, he led the Seminary into a successful capital campaign and reaccreditation, positioning PTS to thrive in a volatile economic environment. His contributions to the institution and the Church have been many,” said John S. Isherwood, chairman of the Board.

“It has been a joy and an honor to serve in a leadership position with Jack Isherwood as we have worked together with an outstanding Board and remarkably gifted professors, administrators, and staff,” said Dr. Carl. “I look forward to seeing what a new era at PTS will bring as we transition this next year into a time of new leadership.”

During Carl’s tenure, he:

  • Led the largest capital campaign in the Seminary's 220 year history, raising more than $20 million for student scholarships, faculty chairs, and campus improvements.
  • Oversaw the school’s successful renewal of decennial accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools and Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
  • Worked with the Board and leadership on a new strategic plan, mission/vision statement, seal, and brand.
  • Encouraged the first and only Doctor of Ministry focus on science and theology in North America, and the creation of additional sites for students studying in the Doctor of Ministry Program in Phoenix, Ariz.; Charleston, S.C.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Aberdeen and Edinburgh, Scotland.
  • Approved the Master of Divinity program with emphasis in Church Planting. Additionally started and funded the Church Planting Initiative.
  • Opened the Seminary’s main entrance to be more welcoming to visitors and our neighbors and renovated the Hicks Memorial Chapel sanctuary to make it a more flexible space with new liturgical furniture.
  • Approved the hiring of eight new faculty members and built a strong and active Board of Directors with meetings focused on strategic direction.
  • Strived to build upon the Seminary’s strong reputation across the nation and developed key relationships with international communities mostly in Russia and other parts of Asia.

Before coming to the Seminary, Carl served as pastor of the 1,700-member First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, for 22 years, and was associate professor of homiletics and worship at Union Seminary (Va.) for seven years before that. Carl earned degrees from the University of Tulsa, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the University of Pittsburgh where he also taught as an instructor. He was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in 1973. He has lectured at Oxford, Princeton, Boston University, the Moscow Theological Academy, the Kerala United Theological Seminary in India, and dozens of other divinity schools and conferences both here and abroad.

A search committee has been appointed to name the Seminary’s sixth president.

Gifts in honor of Carl’s tenure can be made to The Bill and Jane Carl Presidential Scholarship at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

Founded in 1794, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a graduate theological school of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Rooted in the Reformed tradition, the Seminary is committed to the formation of women and men for theologically reflective ministry and to scholarship in service to the global Church of Jesus Christ.