Rev. Karl Kopp
February 12, 1934 - October 4, 2005

Rev. Karl Kopp revitalized the flagship of the First Church of Divine Science in Denver when he became the church minister in 1984, filling once-vacant pews with congregants who came for the poetry readings, concerts, art shows, performances and lectures, and returned for the Sunday sermons.

Karl married his wife, Jane, in 1979. Shortly after he and Jane married they moved to New Mexico and started Red Earth Press, which published anthologies of poetry, short stories, and essays.  

Soon thereafter Karl and Jane moved to Denver. They became interested in the First Church of Divine Science after taking a meditation class taught by a church member.

Both Karl and Jane became Divine Science ministers and firm adherents of the Divine Science tenet that daily prayer and practice in discerning God in life, love and substance "results in man's right attitude toward negative thinking," as the church founders put it.

Rev. Kopp drew newcomers to his church by staging popular poetry workshops, lectures and plays. Speakers included Jungian Marian Woodman, and controversial former Dominican priest Matthew Fox.

Karl was the author of several poetry books and a dozen plays including Infernal Witness, a dramatic biography of poet William Blake (one of his favorites, along with William Carlos Williams) which was produced at the Bug Theater in Denver in 2001. Some writing seminars at the church and elsewhere featured Karl.  Karl was among the playwrights featured at the 2004 Arvada Center's Playwrights Showcase.