Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, announces that Jeffrey A. Oschwald has accepted the call extended to him to serve as associate professor of exegetical theology. Specializing in New Testament studies and "patristics," the study of the Christian church's earliest theologians and leaders, he will begin his new responsibilities in July.

Oschwald is currently serving as associate professor of New Testament and early church history at China Lutheran Seminary in Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C., a missionary position of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod which he has held since 1994. Oschwald speaks fluent Chinese, and many of his courses are taught in the Mandarin Chinese language.

Professor Oschwald continues a tradition of mission emphasis throughout the Concordia Seminary faculty. "Rather than designate a specific mission department within the Seminary faculty, we prefer to have a mission emphasis which permeates all subject areas and faculty departments," commented Dr. Andrew Bartelt, vice president for academic affairs at Concordia Seminary. "Professor Oschwald possesses the combination of academic expertise, missionary background and international teaching experience that makes him a very valuable addition to our faculty."

Oschwald received his baccalaureate degree in 1979 from Concordia College (now University) in Ann Arbor, Mich. In 1983, he received the M.Div. degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Notre Dame in 1987 and 1993 respectively.

Oschwald served as pastor of New Hope Lutheran Church in Ossian, Ind., from 1988 to 1991.

The addition of Oschwald brings the Concordia Seminary faculty to 41 full-time professors. More than 80% of the faculty members have earned terminal academic degrees in their areas of instruction, and the faculty members average more than nine years of pastoral ministry experience prior to their teaching responsibilities at Concordia Seminary. The faculty is recognized throughout the world for its combination of theological scholarship and inspiring classroom instruction. Its members have authored dozens of books and journal articles in recent years, addressing a wide array of subjects. In addition, they are in demand as speakers at conferences and conventions throughout the world.

Additional information concerning the Concordia Seminary faculty is available on the Seminary's Web site at www.csl.edu/Faculty.htm. A "Speakers Directory" listing individual faculty members and subjects they regularly address as conference and convention speakers is available at www.csl.edu/speakers.htm.

For more information, contact, Seminary Relations, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105; 314.505.7370; semrelations@csl.edu.