Herb Hoefer
Professor of Theology; Chair in Missions
Contact Information
Department of Theology
Concordia University
hhoefer@cu-portland.edu
http://faculty.cu-portland.edu/herbhoefer/
Education
Ed.D., Columbia University, 1978
S.T.M., Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, 1973
M.Div., Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, 1968
B.S., Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, IN, 1963
Background
Rev. Dr. Hoefer served as a missionary of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod from 1968-83. The first 7 years were in rural India, and the second 7 years were at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute in Chennai, first as Director and then as Research Director. From 1984-1997, he served as town-gown pastor in Wisconsin, and from 1997 as a professor of theological studies at Concordia.
Since 1997, Dr. Hoefer has served as theological advisor and Area Director for India and Sri Lanka for the LCMS Board for Mission Services. He returns to India for two months each year. He has started a Mission Institute on campus.
Dr. Hoefer has published/edited 7 books and written many articles, primarily on faith-culture issues in India. He was awarded Alumnus of the Year award from Concordia University-St. Paul, as well as several community awards from River Falls, WI, where he had served as a parish pastor.
Concordia University has added a new position of Chair in Missions from Jan. 2004. Dr. Hoefer is the first faculty in this position. The position is a joint endeavor between the university, the Northwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the LCMS Board for Missions. Dr. Hoefer will be teaching courses in missions at the university, serving the LCMS in the area of outreach among Muslims, and helping the Northwest District as "Resident Theologian" and mission trainer.