Karl L. Barth

For the Swiss protestant theologian, see Karl Barth.

Karl L. Barth (November 7, 1924 – February 16, 2020) was the eighth president of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1982 to 1992.[1][2]

Barth was born in Wisconsin on November 7, 1924.[3] His father, G. Christian Barth, was a president of Concordia College in Wisconsin and his brother, W.L. Barth, also became a Lutheran minister.[4][5][6]

He graduated from Concordia College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1943 and earned a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1947.[1] He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by Concordia Theological Seminary in 1975.[3]

He served as a pastor in Louisiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.[7][5] He was president of the South Wisconsin District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) from 1970 to 1982.[1]

He became president of Concordia Seminary in 1981.[8] He oversaw celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the seminary.[3] In 1986, he predicted that a pastor shortage would become a problem for LCMS churches.[9]

Barth was married and had five children. He died on February 16, 2020, and was buried in Wisconsin Memorial Park in Brookfield, Wisconsin.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d "Obituary: Rev. Dr. Karl Barth, president emeritus of both Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and the South Wisconsin District". Reporter. February 20, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  2. ^ "St. Paul Lutherans plan special service". The Columbia Star. October 19, 1989. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Seminary President Emeritus Barth enters rest". Concordia Seminary. February 19, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  4. ^ "Rev. W.L. Barth accepts call here". The Indianapolis Star. September 14, 1940. p. 8. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Dr. Karl Barth Obituary (2020) - Wauwatosa, WI - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel". Legacy.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. ^ Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly. Concordia Historical Institute. 2006.
  7. ^ "Concordia Seminary president is inaugurated before 1,000". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 20, 1982. p. 33. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  8. ^ "Changing times at Concordia". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. July 30, 1989. p. 21. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  9. ^ Schaeffer, Pamela (October 29, 1986). "Lutherans anticipate pastor shortage". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 11. Retrieved March 29, 2023.