Rev. Dr. Joel P. Okamoto

Dr. Joel P. Okamoto is the Waldemar and Mary Griesbach Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He has been a faculty member since 1998.

Before joining the Seminary, Okamoto served as assistant pastor at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Mo. (1996–98).

He received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) and Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) from Concordia Seminary (1993, 1996, 1997). He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. (1982).

His published work includes “Science, Technology, and the American Mind” in “The American Mind Meets the Mind of Christ” (Concordia Seminary Press, 2010) and “‘In ______ We Trust’: Filling in the Blank—American Religion and Biblical Christianity” in “The Anonymous God: The Church Confronts Civil Religion and American Society” (Concordia Publishing House, 2004). His journal articles include “Evangelism in an Age of Normal Nihilism” in “Missio Apostolica” (now “Lutheran Mission Matters”) and “Attacks on the Christian Faith: Who? What? Why?” in “Issues in Christian Education.” He also is book review editor for “Lutheran Mission Matters.”

Okamoto served as chairman of the curriculum review committee as the Seminary revised its M.Div. curriculum and converted from academic quarters to semesters in 2017.

Among his research interests are the concept of truth for Christian life and witness, a contemporary account of the theology of Luther and Lutheranism, and an account of systematic theology for our post-Christian times.

He and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of three sons, Jacob, Peter and Thomas.

Interests:

The concept of truth for Christian life and witness
A contemporary account of the theology of Luther and Lutheranism
An account of systematic theology for our post-Christian times