Kathy Louise Keller (born 1950) is an American author, lecturer, church founder, and Christian theologian from New York City who has appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list.[1] She was the wife of pastor Tim Keller (1950–2023) of New York's Redeemer Presbyterian Church, which the former couple then co-founded.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Kathy Keller (Kristy) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Mary Louise Stephens and Henry R. Kristy (Kristolich), a Westinghouse Electric Company executive and World War II pilot of Croatian descent.[3] Keller grew up in Monroeville, Pennsylvania with her four siblings.[4][5] When she was twelve years old, she corresponded with Oxford University theologian C. S. Lewis and their correspondence was later published.[6][7][8] She graduated from Gateway High School[9] and Community College of Allegheny County.[10] She then received a B.A. in English from Allegheny College in 1972[11] where she was active in campus ministry.[12]
Marriage to Tim Keller, career, and founding Redeemer
[edit]In 1975 she received a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) summa cum laude from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts which she attended with her future husband, Tim Keller.[13] They were first introduced through Kathy's sister, Susan, who was Bucknell classmate of Tim,[14] and they married shortly before graduation in January 1975 at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Monroeville.[15] The Kellers helped lead a Presbyterian church in Hopewell, Virginia before moving to Philadelphia where Kathy Keller served as an editor at Great Commission Publications, and her husband taught at Westminster Theological Seminary. In 1989 the Kellers founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregation, which became one of the most influential churches in America.[16] Besides being a co-founder, Kathy served in various roles at Redeemer including on the Communication Committee and assistant director of Communication and Media and the editor at Redeemer. She has three adult sons.[17]
Writings
[edit]Kathy Keller has authored numerous theological books, most importantly "Jesus, Justice and Gender Roles" and, with her husband, The Meaning of Marriage (2013), (a New York Times best seller[18][19]). She has also co-authored with her husband God's Wisdom for Navigating Life; and The Songs of Jesus and The Meaning of Marriage Devotional. Keller has also published many articles, including pieces in the New York Times[20] and has been featured in various media sources including Christianity Today[21] and ABC News Nightline.[22]
References
[edit]- ^ "Love and Relationships Books – Best Sellers – Books – Aug. 9, 2015 – The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ Rabon, Nicole (2020-03-12). "Tim and Kathy Keller on Birth, Marriage, Death, and the Coronavirus". FOX News Radio. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- ^ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)30 May 2005, Mon, Page 19 (accessible on newspapers.com)
- ^ The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 31 Jan 1975, Fri, pg. 10 (accessible on newspapers.com)
- ^ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)30 May 2005, Mon, Page 19 (accessible on newspapers.com)
- ^ "C.S. Lewis's Pen Pal, Kathy Keller". ChristianityToday.com. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- ^ Hall, Bob (2012-06-04), Kathy Kristy Keller on ABC News Nightline, retrieved 2023-05-12
- ^ C. S. Lewis' Letters to Children (Scribner: 1996)
- ^ Kathy Kristy, "Gateway Schools' Christmas Defended," The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) 20 Dec 1966, Tue, p. 20 (accessed on newspapers.com)
- ^ The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)23 Jun 1974, Sun, Page 78, accessible on newspapers.com
- ^ Allegheny Magazine, Spring 2013 https://issuu.com/alleghenycoll/docs/alleghenymagazine-spring2013/20
- ^ Scott Finley, "The Jesus Freaks: Doing God's thing," The Campus (Allegheny College), Apr. 16, 1971, Vol. 95 Num. 4 https://dspace.allegheny.edu/bitstream/handle/10456/31914/The_Campus_Apr_16_1971__Vol_95_Num_4_.pdf?sequence=1
- ^ "Author".
- ^ Timothy and Kathy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage (2011), p. 9
- ^ The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 31 Jan 1975, Fri, pg. 10 (accessible on newspapers.com)
- ^ Carnes, Tony (December 2004). "New York's New Hope". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- ^ "Author".
- ^ "Love and Relationships Books – Best Sellers – Books – Aug. 9, 2015 – the New York Times". The New York Times.
- ^ Allegheny Magazine, Spring 2013, page 19 https://issuu.com/alleghenycoll/docs/alleghenymagazine-spring2013/20
- ^ "Redeemer Church Rejects The 'Hard-Line' Label", The New York Times, www.nytimes.com › 1998/02/15, Feb 15, 1998
- ^ "C.S. Lewis's Pen Pal, Kathy Keller". ChristianityToday.com. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- ^ Hall, Bob (2012-06-04), Kathy Kristy Keller on ABC News Nightline, retrieved 2023-05-12