Background
Benze, Charles Theodore was born on September 19, 1865 in Warren, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Adolph Leopold and Elizabeth C. (Kiehl) Benze.
Benze, Charles Theodore was born on September 19, 1865 in Warren, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Adolph Leopold and Elizabeth C. (Kiehl) Benze.
Graduate Erie (Pennsylvania) High School, 1883. Thiel College, Greenville, Pennsylvania, devoted special attention to philology. Bachelor of Divinity, Chicago Theological Seminary, 1897.
Doctor of Divinity, Muhlenberg College, 1909.
1 son, West(infrid) Theodore. Teacher of German, Erie public schools, 1883-1888. Teacher and chief of modern language department, Erie High School, 1888-1895.
Ordained Lutheran ministry, 1897.
Pastor. Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, 1897-1898, Saint Stephen’s Church, Erie, Pennsylvania, 1898-1908. Commissioner of General Council to Missions in India, 1908.
President Thiel College, Pennsylvania, 1909-1913. American Professor in divinity school, Kropp, Germany, 1913-1915.
Professor O. T. theology, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, August since 1915.
President Pittsburgh Synod, Lutheran Church, 1908, 1909. Director, president Board Foreign Missions, United Lutheran Church, 1918-1930. Commissioner National Lutheran Council, doing relief work in Russia and other countries, 1922-1924.
Member committee of reference and council General Conference Foreign Missions, 1929-1930.
Director Inner Mission Board, since 1930. Author: Pilgerlieder für Schule Haus, 1891.
The Confessional Principle and the Confessions of the Lutheran Church (with Theodore East. Schmauk), 1908. Regular contributor to Lutheran church and secular publications, especially on liturgical and mission problems.
Decoration of German Red Cross awarded by President Hindenburg, 1931.
Home: Philadelphia.
Member committee of reference and council General Conference Foreign Missions, 1929-1930.
Married Hermine Elizabeth Ohl, June 9, 1898.