Culbertson was born in
Philadelphia on November 18, 1905, to William and Lydia (Roper) Culbertson. He graduated from the Reformed Episcopal Seminary, in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a diploma in 1927. After graduation, he was ordained to the diaconate of the
Reformed Episcopal Church and served as minister-in-charge of Grace Reformed Episcopal Church,
Collingdale, Pennsylvania. He was ordained a presbyter the following year. On March 16, 1929, Culbertson was joined in marriage to Catharine Gantz. In 1930, he accepted the call to serve as rector of St. John's-by-the-Sea Reformed Episcopal Church in
Ventnor City, New Jersey. He moved to the
Reformed Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Philadelphia in 1933. He received his
Bachelor of Science degree from
Temple University, in 1939, at which time the seminary exchanged his diploma for a
Bachelor of Divinity and conferred upon him an honorary
Doctor of Divinity. Culbertson was elected bishop of the
New York City and Philadelphia
Synod of his denomination in 1937 and served in that position until he assumed the duties as
dean of
Moody Bible Institute in
Chicago,
Illinois, in 1942.
Reformed Episcopal Seminary Culbertson never held a professorship in the seminary, but served as a lecturer for 12 years. In 1929, he began teaching preparatory
Greek and
Biblical theology. Later, he also taught
Biblical geography,
English Bible, and
Christian education.
Moody Bible Institute Culbertson first served M.B.I. as dean in 1942. Six years later, upon the death of
Will H. Houghton, the trustees elected him to be the school's next president. He was the second Reformed Episcopalian to hold this position. Under his administration the school's
curriculum was strengthened and a degree program was adopted. The day school
enrollment grew to over 1,000 students. Five major buildings were added to the Chicago
campus, as well.
Missionary technical courses, including
aviation and
radio, were also added to the curriculum. Culbertson served until 1971, when he was appointed the school's first
chancellor. He was also in high demand as a Bible conference speaker around the world. He served for a time as the president of the Accrediting Association of
Bible Colleges. Culbertson died on November 16, 1971, at the
Swedish Covenant Hospital in
Chicago, Illinois. His last words were reported to be "God ... God ... yes!" He was buried at Memory Gardens in
Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Warren W. Wiersbe wrote his biography,
William Culbertson: A Man of God, by
Moody Press. ==References==