Pittsburgh Theological Seminary president the Rev. Dr. William J. Carl III has accepted a new call as pastor of Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Ala. He will serve as the seventh pastor of the 2,300 member church. Carl begins fulltime in July and until then will preach one Sunday each month.
“I’ve seen myself at Pittsburgh Seminary as pastor to the community,” Carl said. “A little over a year ago, as part of healthy succession planning having completed my goals, I sensed my call was coming to an end. Almost immediately I began to realize God was calling me back to the parish. It is this ongoing rhythm from classroom to sanctuary that has marked both my ministry and my life.”
Independent PC is the largest Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation in Alabama and celebrates 100 years of ministry in 2015. When introduced to the congregation, Carl said, “Together, with God's help, we will lead this church into a second century of service to this community and to the glory of God's kingdom throughout the world.”
Before coming to the Seminary in 2005, Carl served for 22 years as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. He received degrees from University of Tulsa (B.A.), Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and University of Pittsburgh (Ph.D.). He has written eight books and more than 75 scholarly articles and reviews. Carl also lectures on the brain at medical schools and conferences and serves as an ethics consultant to corporations.