At the opening service marking the beginning of the 160th academic year at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, three new professors were installed.

They are:

Rev. Dr. Joel P. Okamoto – installed as instructor in systematic theology. Since 1996, he served as assistant pastor of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in St. Louis. He received the B.S. degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the M.Div. degree (1993), the S.T.M. degree (1996) and the Th.D. degree (1997) from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He and his wife Ruth have two children – Jacob and Peter.

Rev. Larry W. Rockemann – installed as vice president for student life and assistant professor of practical theology. Since 1992, he has served as senior pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol, Conn. Prior to this, he served congregations in Illinois and Texas. He also served as campus pastor at Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. He received the B.A. degree from Concordia College, Seward, Neb., and the M.Div. degree (1978) from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Prior to enrolling at the Seminary, he served as assistant dean of students at Concordia Lab School, Seward. He and his wife Jean have two children – Joel and Leah.

Rev. William W. Schumacher – installed as mission assistant professor of historical theology and assistant to the director of resident field education for cross-cultural experiences, an administrative position he held since 1996. From 1985-95, he served as a missionary in the Republic of Botswana, Africa. He received the B.A. degree (1981) from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa; the M.Div. degree (1985) and the S.T.M. degree (1996) from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He and his wife Tamara have three children – Gareth, Julia and Arwyn.

With the addition of Rev. Schumacher to the faculty, Concordia Seminary has now achieved the goal of having at least one mission professor in each of the four departments of theology.