Born on August 28, 1956, and raised on
Long Island, Barnes attended
The King's College in
New York City, where he graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in history, in 1978. He went on to graduate from
Princeton Theological Seminary, in 1981, with a
Master of Divinity degree. Barnes then earned a
Doctor of Philosophy degree in the
history of Christianity from the
University of Chicago Divinity School, in 1992, In 1981, Barnes was ordained as a minister in the PC(USA), serving in PC(USA) congregations in
Colorado Springs,
Colorado, and
Madison,
Wisconsin. In 1993, he became senior pastor of
National Presbyterian Church in
Washington, DC, serving until 2002, when he accepted a teaching position at
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, in
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. One year later, while serving as Robert Meneilly Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Barnes accepted a call to
Shadyside Presbyterian Church as senior pastor. On October 8, 2012,
Princeton Theological Seminary announced that Barnes was selected to succeed the retiring
Iain Torrance as president. Barnes took up his duties as president on January 1, 2013, and was formally installed as president on October 23, 2013. He serves as president until January 2023, when he retired and received the title President Emeritus. While at Princeton Seminary, he also served as professor of pastoral ministry. On June 1, 2023, Barnes answered the call to serve as the Transitional Pastor and Head of Staff at the Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Barnes is married and has a daughter and two sons. ==Works==