Seminary at Philadelphia. Emerging scholars and established scholars from around the world look to him for guidance, direction, and approval with regard to their own work. When I was younger, the giants in Reformation studies were people like Lou Spitz at Stanford, Jim Kittelson at Ohio State, and David Steinmetz at Duke— to name a few. Today, Bob Kolb stands alone as the giant in Reformation studies both here in the States as well as in Europe, South America, and Asia. He provides leadership and direction for the International Luther Conference and numerous other conferences, journals, and projects. In the process, Bob has not only exercised a strong influence upon the theological world outside our doors, he has enhanced the reputation and image of Concordia Seminary and the Missouri Synod around the world. Because of Bob, the Missouri Synod and Concordia Seminary are known as places where the “vigorous life of the mind” (to use Will Schumacher’s phrase) is alive and well. Because of Bob, Concordia Seminary is known as a place where the vigorous life of the mind is put into the service of the Gospel for the sake of the unity of church and the mission of the church within the wider world. Finally, Bob, I cannot thank you enough for all you’ve done for me. For your guidance and for your friendship. Bob epitomizes what it means to be a pastor, a theologian, a churchman, a scholar, a teacher, a colleague, a friend, and a loveable teddy bear! Bob, I look forward to our continued conversation and work together! Thomas E. Manteufel By Joel P. Okamoto We’ll begin by talking about “home.” Dr. Manteufel was born in 1942 in Truman, Minnesota, and to this day he considers Minnesota “home,” even though he has lived in St. Louis longer than in Minnesota. But Minnesota is “home” for Tom in another way. He was not only born and raised there, but he was born again through water and the Spirit and raised in the faith in Minnesota. As some of you know, I think it can be important and helpful to ask yourself about the church you call “home,” that is, the congregation that you think did the most to shape your sense of what a church should be and your understanding of what the pastoral ministry is all about. For Tom, the answer is simple: St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Truman. He was baptized and confirmed there, and he says that he has continued to return there over the years. Moreover, it was there that he first began consciously to consider being a pastor, when his own pastor saw that he had “religious inclinations,” as Tom put it, in catechism class. This led Tom to enter high school in St. Paul, Minnesota. After his first two years of college, also in St. Paul, he went to the senior college in Fort Wayne, then Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He received his M.Div. in 1968, and he stayed for another year to work toward the S.T.M. degree. He was ordained into the office of
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