Claude Welch
Encyclopedia
Claude Raymond Welch was a historical theologian specializing in Karl Barth
and nineteenth-century theology.
Welch's first memories were of Buck Creek, Iowa, where his father had been appointed minister of a very small church. The family moved to Fayette, Iowa
(population then was about 900) where his father was Professor of Bible Studies at Upper Iowa University
, at that time a very small school of about 300 students. Virgil taught Bible and spent some time traveling with Claude around the state recruiting students. Claude was unique in winning the top statewide student awards in five subjects while in high school.
with a B.A. in history, received his B.D. and M.Div. from Yale Divinity School
in 1945, and his Ph.D. from Yale in 1950. His doctoral dissertation was later published as In This Name: The Doctrine of the Trinity in Contemporary Theology (Scribners, 1952) and is considered to be a seminal 20th century work on the Trinity.
from 1947–1951 and Yale University Divinity School from 1951-1960. He served as Director of Graduate Studies in Religion at Yale from 1954-1955. From 1956 to 1957 he engaged in research on Karl Barth
at the University of Heidelberg on a Fulbright scholarship.
He was appointed Berg Professor of Religious Thought and Chairman of the Department of Religion at the University of Pennsylvania
in 1960. In 1964 Welch was appointed Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Another Fulbright was spent in Neuchâtel, Switzerland
, from 1964-1965 where he did work on the first volume of his survey of 19th century Protestant thought. In 1969, Welch was appointed the Director of the Study of Graduate Education in Religion by the American Council of Learned Societies
. He was elected President of the American Academy of Religion
in 1970. In the fall of 1971, he was appointed Dean and Professor of Historical Theology of the Graduate Theological Union
in Berkeley, California, and was appointed president of GTU the following year. He retired from teaching in 2006 when he moved to Illinois.
Welch's research interests focused primarily on modern theology and philosophy of religion, 18th to 20th centuries, and theology and natural science. He claims to have intended to become a systematic theologian
and spend more time on the 20th century, but maintained that one cannot do 20th century theology without understanding the 19th century first—and he was never able to leave the 19th.
Karl Barth
Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian whom critics hold to be among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas...
and nineteenth-century theology.
Early life
Welch was born to Virgil and Deone Welch. He had two brothers—Wesley and Robert (both deceased) and and a sister, Irene.Welch's first memories were of Buck Creek, Iowa, where his father had been appointed minister of a very small church. The family moved to Fayette, Iowa
Fayette, Iowa
Fayette is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,300. It was named after the Marquis de la Fayette, French hero of the American Revolutionary War. Fayette is the home of Upper Iowa University, a small private college...
(population then was about 900) where his father was Professor of Bible Studies at Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University
Established in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private institution of higher education with its residential campus located in northeast Iowa near the Volga River in the rural community of Fayette, where around 900 students are enrolled....
, at that time a very small school of about 300 students. Virgil taught Bible and spent some time traveling with Claude around the state recruiting students. Claude was unique in winning the top statewide student awards in five subjects while in high school.
Education
Welch graduated from Upper Iowa UniversityUpper Iowa University
Established in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private institution of higher education with its residential campus located in northeast Iowa near the Volga River in the rural community of Fayette, where around 900 students are enrolled....
with a B.A. in history, received his B.D. and M.Div. from Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
in 1945, and his Ph.D. from Yale in 1950. His doctoral dissertation was later published as In This Name: The Doctrine of the Trinity in Contemporary Theology (Scribners, 1952) and is considered to be a seminal 20th century work on the Trinity.
Career
Welch taught at PrincetonPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
from 1947–1951 and Yale University Divinity School from 1951-1960. He served as Director of Graduate Studies in Religion at Yale from 1954-1955. From 1956 to 1957 he engaged in research on Karl Barth
Karl Barth
Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian whom critics hold to be among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas...
at the University of Heidelberg on a Fulbright scholarship.
He was appointed Berg Professor of Religious Thought and Chairman of the Department of Religion at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1960. In 1964 Welch was appointed Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Another Fulbright was spent in Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, from 1964-1965 where he did work on the first volume of his survey of 19th century Protestant thought. In 1969, Welch was appointed the Director of the Study of Graduate Education in Religion by the American Council of Learned Societies
American Council of Learned Societies
The American Council of Learned Societies , founded in 1919, is a private nonprofit federation of seventy scholarly organizations.ACLS is best known as a funder of humanities research through fellowships and grants awards. ACLS Fellowships are designed to permit scholars holding the Ph.D...
. He was elected President of the American Academy of Religion
American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,...
in 1970. In the fall of 1971, he was appointed Dean and Professor of Historical Theology of the Graduate Theological Union
Graduate Theological Union
The Graduate Theological Union ' is a consortium of nine independent theological schools, and eleven centers and affiliates. Eight of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962. It maintains the Graduate Theological Union Library, one of the most...
in Berkeley, California, and was appointed president of GTU the following year. He retired from teaching in 2006 when he moved to Illinois.
Welch's research interests focused primarily on modern theology and philosophy of religion, 18th to 20th centuries, and theology and natural science. He claims to have intended to become a systematic theologian
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
and spend more time on the 20th century, but maintained that one cannot do 20th century theology without understanding the 19th century first—and he was never able to leave the 19th.
Publications
- Protestant Thought in the Nineteenth Century, 2 vols. (Yale, 1972, 1985)
- "Nineteenth Century: An Overview," in Oxford Companion to Christian Thought (Oxford, 2000)
- (with John Dillenberger) Protestant Christianity, Interpreted Through Its Development, 2nd edition (Macmillan, 1988)
- The Reality of the Church (Scribners, 1958)
- Graduate Education in Religion: A Critical Appraisal (Montana, 1971)
- In This Name: The Doctrine of the Trinity in Contemporary Theology (Scribners, 1952)
External links
- The Boom in Religion Studies
- http://www.scriptoriumdaily.com/2009/11/11/claude-welch-1922-2009/ Fred Sanders: Claude Welch, 1922–2009
- http://www.gtu.edu/news-events/gtu-news/claude-welch GTU: In Memoriam: Claude Welch