Meet Our Pastor

Rev. Dr. Karl E. McDonald

Karl is a follower of Jesus Christ. He was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he spent his formative years. He was baptized, confirmed and ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in a small church near Greenville – the Oak Grove Presbyterian Church. In his early years his mother became his first Sunday School teacher and his father served as church elder and Sunday School superintendent. Blessed through the years with the encouragement and prayers of many wonderful Christian people, Karl answered God’s call and was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on July 30, 1983. Doubly blessed with a supportive wife and family who participate in ministry with him, he lives in the grateful realization of God’s countless blessings and God’s infinite grace.

Educational Background
McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL, 1997-2002. Doctor of Ministry.
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ, 1980-1983. Master of Divinity.
Messiah College, Grantham, PA, 1975-1979. Bachelor of Arts, Behavioral Sciences.

Life in Ministry
Ken Mawr United Presbyterian, McKees Rocks, PA, 1993-Present. Pastor/Head of Staff.
Hanover Presbyterian Church, Clinton, PA, 1983-1993. Pastor.
First Presbyterian Church, Metuchen, NJ, 1981-1983. Student Assistant Pastor.
Calvary Presbyterian Church, Riverton, NJ, 1980-1981. Student Assistant/Youth Director.
Harris Street United Methodist, Harrisburg, PA, 1978-1980. Youth Director.

Public and Private Life
Karl has served at various levels of the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 2010 he served as Moderator of Pittsburgh Presbytery and on the Administrative Commission for Transformation. Previously he served four terms on the Committee on Preparation for Ministry and he served as a commissioner from Pittsburgh to the General Assembly in Minneapolis, MN in July of 2010. He has also served on several Investigating Committees and Administrative Commissions in Pittsburgh. In January 2008 he spent 17 days immersed in the church and culture of Egypt on a study trip that was organized by Dr. Kenneth Bailey and the Westminster College chaplain’s office.

Locally Pastor Karl heads the Montour Association of Churches (an ecumenical group of pastors and leaders) and in the past eighteen years he has supervised students in field education from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In 2004 and 2009 he co-instructed the one hour required course for students in field education at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Karl’s outside interests include traveling, tennis,throwing Frisbee, watching Steelers football and Pirates baseball. He is married to Jayne Graham McDonald, a music teacher, so music is a central part of their lives. He and Jayne enjoy spending time with their two sons, Christopher, who is married to Stacey, and lives in Philadelphia; and Jeremy, who lives in Kennedy Township.