Resumé
Herbert E. Hoefer
Education
BA (Major: Philosophy) Concordia Sr. College , Ft. Wayne , IN , 1963
MDiv Concordia Seminary, St. Louis , MO , 1967
STM (Practical Theology ) Concordia Seminary, St. Louis , 1973
Ed.D. (Religious Education) Teachers College, Columbia University , NY , 1979
Dissertation
STM "Physics and Theology : a theological analysis of the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics"
Ed.D. "Religious Mysticism in Education with Special Reference to the Christian Ethical Mysticism of Albert Schweitzer"
Teaching Experience
1969-74 Concordia Teachers Training Institute, Ambur , India
1975-83 Gurukul Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai , India
1990-96 Adjunct teaching, Concordia College , St. Paul , MN
1997-present Prof. of Theology , Concordia University , Portland , OR
2004-present Chair in Missions, Concordia University-Portland
1997-current Annual guest professor, Concordia Seminary, Nagercoil , India
Professional Experience
Missionary to India , 1968-83
Jointly initiated schools for deaf, blind, and mentally handicapped
Director, Gurukul Theological College and Research Institute, 1975-78
Research Director, Gurukul Theological College and Research Institute, 1979-83
Socio-religious survey (interviews, statistical) of non-baptized believers in Christ
Trek to Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and interview with Dalai lama
Board of Directors of various educational institutions, India
Lectures and guest speaking, India and USA
Pastor, Luther Memorial Church , River Falls , WI , and campus pastor, 1984-97
Circuit Pastoral Counselor, 1994-97
Academy of Christian Stewardship, Director and Chairman, 1987-95
Synodical fundraising representative
Lions Club, Officer and President, 1985-97
River Falls , WI , city planning committees and school committees
Planning Committee member and Information Technology Colloquium Chair, Congress of the World Mission of the Church, St. Paul , MN , 1998
Association for Communal Harmony in Asia , Officer and President, 1998-present
LCMS Theological Consultant to India , 1997-present
LCMS Area Director for India and Sri Lanka, 1999-present
Mission Institute, Concordia University-Portland, Founder and Director, 1997-present
Rethinking Forum (outreach to caste Hindus), Founding Member and Chairman, 1999-present
Director for Outreach among Muslims, LCMS Board for Missions, 2004-present
Resident Theologian and Mission Consultant, LCMS Northwest Dt., 2004-present
Consulting Editor, Int'l. Journal of Frontier Missiology, 2007-
Other Training
Two 3-month courses of Clinical Pastoral Education
4-month course, Ecumenical Institute, Bossey , Switzerland
Certificate in Tamil language, Madurai University
Five base courses in Church Growth, Fuller Theological Seminary
Semester of spoken Spanish, Chicago City College
Training in strategic planning
Current Memberships
Ascension Lutheran Church , Portland
Association for Communal Harmony in Asia , Board of Directors
Lutheran Society for Missiology
Aloha Ke Akua Ministries, Advisory Board
People of the Book Lutheran Outreach, Board of Directors
Honors and Awards
"Distinguished Service Award," Concordia College , St. Paul , MN , 1984
"Lion of the Year," River Falls , WI , Lions Club, 1987
"Certificate of Recognition for Community Service," River Falls , WI , Chamber of Commerce, 1992
Publications
(For highlighted books and articles, section headings of the publication are provided.)
Books:
"Teacher as Parent," 1976 (reprinted 1978), Telugu and Malayalam translations, 1978, 180 pp
"Debate on Mission ," 1978, (editor plus 5 articles), 470 pp
"The Augsburg Confession and Ecumenism," 1980 (editor plus 2 articles), 131 pp.
"Gospel Preaching," 1981 (reprint 2001), 288 pp.
"Church-State-Society," 1982, 78 pp.
"Christian Art in India ," 1982 (editor plus 1 article), 188 pp.
"A Dialogue Begins: Lutheran-Orthodox dialogue in India ," 1982 (co-editor plus 1 article), 250 pp.
"Churchless Christianity," 1991, 304 pp. (reprint with 5 new articles, William Carey Lib. 2001, 350 pp.)
Articles:
"Believing, But Not Baptized," Lutheran Witness, March 1984, pp. 14-15
"On Pilgrimage to the Buddhists of Kashmir," Lutheran Witness, Aug. 1984, pp.6-8
"Where Christmas Means Evangelism," Lutheran Witness, Dec. 1984, p. 15
Sermon Series "Our Response to World Religions," Concordia Pulpit Resources, vol. 6-7
Midweek/Sunday Sermon Series "Lenten Customs," Concordia Pulpit Resources, vol. 7
Midweek Advent Sermon Series "John 3:16 ," Concordia Pulpit Resources, vol 10
"Two Festivals Called Christmas," Lutheran Witness, Dec. 1997, p. 23
"Follow-up Reflections on Churchless Christianity," Mission Frontiers, Mar-Ap 1999, pp.36-39
"The Burden of the Past," Mission Frontiers, Dec. 2000, pp. 28-31
"The Conversion Confusion," Int'l. Journal of Foreign Missions, Spring 2001, pp. 47-49
"Dependency or Interdependency," Missio Apostolica, May 2003, pp. 14-20
"A Lutheran Missiological Statement on Our Relation to the World's Religions," Missio Apostolica, May 2003, pp. 52-53
Book Reviews of "The Purpose-Driven Church" and "The Purpose-Driven Life" by Rick Warren - Missio Apostolica, Nov. 2004
"Why?: Spiritual Dimensions of the Tsunami Event," Missio Apostolica, May 2005
"Proclaiming a 'Theologyless' Christ," Int'l. Journal of Frontier Missions, July 2005, pp. 97-100
"Gospel Proclamation of the Ascended Lord," Missiology, Oct. 2005, pp. 435-49
"Conversations: Interview with Herbert Hoefer," Missiology, Oct. 2005, pp. 465-67
"Four Responses to Tennant," Int'l. Journal of Frontier Missions, July-Sept. 2006, pp. 125-26
"Church In Context," Evangelical Missions Quarterly, April 2007, pp. 200-08
"Theodicy in Action: Responding to Tragedy Missiologically," Missio Apostolica, May 2007
"Lutheran Seminaries and Lutheran Expansion: Church Planting - India," Missio Apostolica (Nov. 2007, pp. 88-90)
"Partnering with Mission Societies - India," Missio Apostolica (Nov. 2007, pp. 91-93)
"Sermon Series on Ten Commandments," Concordia Pulpit Resources (May-Aug, 2008, pp. 39-52)
"Muslim-Friendly Christian Worship," Evangelical Missions Quarterly (Jan. 2009)
Unpublished:
(For highlighted articles, full text is provided.)
"Pride vs. Fanaticism in Islam"
"Who Needs a Church Administration Anyway?"
"Be Better: A Confucian Approach to America 's Moral Impasse"
Ten-lesson Correspondence Course on Gospel of Matthew, for caste Hindus
Seven Lesson Correspondence Course on Gospel of Mark,. For Muslims
"Christian Witness through the 'Shahada'"
Presentations and Workshops
"Christian Approach to World Religions"
"Pride vs. Fanaticism in Islam"
"Christian Stewardship"
"Gospel Preaching"
"Issues of Faith and Science"
"Issues of Faith and Culture in Missions"
"Spiritual Renewal for Mission in the Congregation"