Family Background

I  was born in 1948 in the state of Georgia, the first child of Carl and Clyde Laney. When I was
two years old our family moved west and I grew up in Eugene, Oregon. It was as the University of
Oregon that I met the love of my life, Nancy Lilly.  We were married in 1971 and have four grown
children, John, Elisabeth, Laura and David.  

Spiritual Background

I was raised in a Christian home and expressed my faith in Jesus as a child while attending First
Baptist Church of Eugene. But it was not until my student days at the University of Oregon that I
entered into a more personal with God. This was due in large part to the influence a fraternity
brother, Bill Hansell, who was active with the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. It was the
late sixties and a time of radical student activism which included protest marches,
demonstrations  and sit-ins.  Everyone was seeking a worthy cause to which to devote their
lives.  After much thought and reflection I concluded that the only cause worthy of a lifetime
commitment was helping others find peace with God through the Good News of the Bible. I
sensed God’s leading to Christian service during my junior year in college and enrolled at
Western Seminary in 1970 after graduating from the University of Oregon.   

Personal Interests

I enjoy outdoor activities including camping, hiking, fishing, skiing, gardening and canoeing.
On a Saturday afternoon you may find me in my garage working on my WWII military jeeps–a
1944 Ford and a 1942 Willys.   
                     
Educational Background

University of Oregon: B. S. in Public Administration, 1970      
Western Conservative Baptist Seminary: Master of Divinity, 1973; Master of Theology, 1974
Institute of Holy Land Studies, Summer 1973, May-June 1992, 1994
Dallas Theological Seminary: Doctorate of Theology, 1978
Sabbatical research and excavation in Israel, Summer 1994.

Ministry

I have been a Bible teacher at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon since 1977.  My teaching
has also taken me overseas where I have served as a visiting professor at seminaries in the
Philippines and the Netherlands. I have also served as interim-pastor of a number different
churches including a Bayview Baptist church on the island of Guam.      

I have been privileged to author a number of books, many of which are out of print, but can still
be found on Amazon.com or in used book stores. My articles have been published in theological
journals and Christian magazines. Some of them can be found on this web site.  

My travels have taken me to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. l have spent several
summers in Israel studying, teaching and participating in archaeological excavations. I enjoy
teaching the Bible classes and specialize in courses dealing with the historical, geographical and
cultural backgrounds of the Bible.  
Carl Laney
A Brief Introduction
Teaching the Gospel of John to a group
of Western Seminary students on a
backpacking trip in the Jefferson
Wilderness Area.
Driving my restored 1944 military
jeep in my WWII officer's uniform.
Enjoying the summit of Mt.
Adams with my daughter
Laura.
Seminary students by the Sea of
Galilee in May 2006.
My favorite fishing spot; Three
Finger Jack in the background.
My fish (on the right) is definitely bigger than Mike's!