H. David Baer, associate professor of theology and philosophy and chairman of the Department of Theology, Philosophy, & Classical Languages, received his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in 1999, a master of theological studies from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 1992, and a bachelor of arts from Oberlin College in 1990.
Dr. Baer's dissertation, entitled "A Case Study in Social Ethics: The Hungarian Lutheran Church in Socialism, 1945-1989," focused on the experience of Hungarian Lutherans under communism. He has published articles on religion in Eastern Europe, is currently the book review editor for the journal Religion in Eastern Europe, and has attended a number of conferences in Eastern Europe.
In addition to Eastern Europe, he has research interest in the area of Christian ethics and "just war" theory and has published articles in journals such as Pro Ecclesia and the Journal of Religious Ethics.
At TLU, Dr. Baer teaches a variety of courses, including Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Theology, Christian Ethics, Ethics: Theory and Practice, Contemporary Moral Problems, and Bioethics (with Dr. Robert Jonas). He is married to Dr. Gyongyi Pisak, a Hungarian, and they have two children, Marci and Hannah.
Norman A. Beck, Poehlmann Professor of Theology and Classical Languages, has a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary, a bachelor of divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, a bachelor of arts from Capital University, and an honorary doctorate of divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary.
Dr. Beck is an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor, and he serves as the contract pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stockdale (Denhawken), Texas.
He is a Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Professor, active in Jewish-Christian-Islamic dialogue, the Jesus of history and early church development research, and the current political and religious situation in the Middle East.
In addition to journal articles, he is the author of Scripture Notes A, Scripture Notes B, and Scripture Notes C, published by CSS Publishing, Mature Christianity: The Recognition and Repudiation of the Anti-Jewish Polemic of the New Testament, published by Susquehanna University Press, Mature Christianity in the 21st Century, published by Crossroad (also published in Germany as Muendiges Christentum im 21. Jahrhundert by the Institut Kirche und Judentum), Anti-Roman Cryptograms in the New Testament, published by Peter Lang, and The New Testament: A New Translation and Redaction, published by Fairway Press. He has recently written a movie script, "Jesus, the Man," about the Jesus of history, and the manuscript of Blessed to be a Blessing to Each Other: Jews and Muslims as Children of Abraham in the Middle East.
Dr. Beck and his wife Esther have three adult children: Matthew, who works as a paramedic in California, David, who works at the mid-management level at the corporate offices of H.E.B. Stores in San Antonio and in partnership with his brother runs cattle, and Laura, who is a doctor of optometry in Austin. David and Laura are graduates of TLU. David and his wife Keli are the parents of a son, Dillon.
Jack D. Davidson, assistant professor of philosophy, received his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a masters and bachelors from the University of Washington. Prior to coming to TLU, Davidson held visiting positions at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Rice University.
Davidson’s interests in philosophy, and the history of philosophy, are quite broad. He is currently working on a book manuscript focusing on Gottfried Leibniz’s theory of freedom and moral responsibility. Past work includes papers on Aristotle, Descartes, Locke and Leibniz.
Davidson has two boys, Colin (aged 6) and Julian (aged 8), who keep him busy and out of trouble. Together they like hiking, exploring nature, swimming, and traveling.
Phil Ruge-Jones, associate professor of theology, has a bachelor of arts from Lawrence University, a master of divinity from Luther Theological Seminary, and a doctorate from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
Dr. Ruge-Jones is an ELCA pastor who experienced a two-year internship in Chile during his masters program and led a mission among Spanish speaking people in New York upon its completion. During the 1998-99 academic year, he was a visiting instructor of systematic theology at the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest in Austin. Dr. Ruge Jones' publication and teaching interests include systematic theology, Hispanic/Latino and other contextual theologies, and the Lutheran Reformation. He presides over The NOBS Seminar, an annual gathering of storytellers and scholars who look at the oral nature of biblical materials. The NOBS Seminar may be found at www.nobsseminar.org. He has two books that he has written about the theology of the cross. Cross in Tensions (Pickwick 2008) is for those with scholarly interest and The Word of the Cross in a World of Glory (Augsburg Fortress, 2008) addresses a general audience. More information on Ruge-Jones’ vocation and work can be found at web.mac.com/prugejones/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html.
His wife, Rev. Lori Ruge-Jones, is pastor of Living Word in Buda, TX. Together they learn biblical stories by heart for public proclamation of the Good News. They have led many workshops and training sessions in this art so that others also may announce the gospel in this way. He is currently learning the whole Gospel of Mark as part of this ministry.
He and his wife have two delightful children, Luisa and Lucas.
Carolyn Schneider, associate professor of theology, received her doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1999, after receiving her master of divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 1992, and her bachelor of arts from Concordia College, Bronxville, New York, in 1985.
Dr. Schneider was ordained as a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1996. Her dissertation, entitled "The Connection between Christ and Christians in Athanasius and Luther," reflects her interests in the history of Christian theology, especially in the early church and in the Lutheran Reformation.
She is especially interested in the type of Luther research that examines Martin Luther in his medieval context, as a person building upon theological ideas raised by others. One aspect of this approach is the scholarship of Finnish Luther researchers, which seeks to highlight themes in Martin Luther's theology (such as "union with Christ") that have been important to Eastern Orthodox Christians for centuries.
Because of her experience as the daughter of a missionary in the Philippines, one of Dr. Schneider's theological commitments is consideration of the church around the world, including the perspectives of Christians in various parts of the world and awareness of global issues, especially regarding the Middle East. Dr. Schneider also engages herself and her students in interfaith relationships and experiences of worship and conversation among people of varying world religions as well as varying Christian traditions. Theologically her concern is for situations of emptiness, defeat, injustice, and despair. The theme of how God is present in such situations emerges in her classes. In addition to teaching Introduction to Theology at TLU, she also teaches Religion in America, the Life and Writings of Martin Luther, Ancient and Medieval Christian History, Reformation and Modern Christian History, and Interpretation (with Dr. Phil Ruge-Jones).
Dr. Schneider is a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Alamo Heights, San Antonio. Her primary volunteer commitments are on the coordinating committee of the World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel - USA, and on the Southwestern Texas Synod's Task Force on the "Peace not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land" campaign of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Harry G. Foster, III, instructor in theology; B.S., Ohio State University; M.A., George Washington University; M. Div., Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. After retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel with 23 years of service in the U.S. Army that included two combat tours in Vietnam, and service as a Professor in the Department of Strategy at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Prof. Foster began a new career as an ordained pastor, serving congregations in Texas and in Arkansas. His specialization in Theology is Old Testament Studies, with practical experience in the Hazor Excavation in Israel.
Heather Hansen, instructor/ coordinator of Youth Ministry Concentration and Internship Program; B.S., Texas A & M University; M.A., Luther Seminary. Prof. Hansen has extensive experience in Youth Ministry leadership, having been the Director of Youth and Family Ministries at MacArthur Park Lutheran Church in San Antonio since 1996 and serving as a Youth Ministry coordinator for the SWT Synod of the ELCA since 2007. Prof. Hansen is also trained in Peer Ministry, Child in Our Hands, and Faith InKubators Head to the Heart Confirmation Curriculum.
William Russell, scholar in residence; B.A., University of Iowa; M.Div., Luther Theological Seminary; Ph.D., University of Iowa. A pastor of the ELCA, Dr. Russell has authored or edited seven books and published 47 articles and reviews in numerous journals. He has guest-lectured at universities in Europe, Africa, and the USA. His research area is the Reformation, Martin Luther, and the Lutheran confessional writings. As a Texas Lutheran University scholar in residence, Dr. Russell teaches courses in theology and church history.