The Rev. Walter R. Steele is a 1994 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  After serving three years at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Preston, Maryland, Pastor Steele was a chaplain in the United States Navy for eight years, three of which were spent in Okinawa, Japan. (Prior to seminary he served eight years as a Navy Surface Warfare Officer, completing his service as Director, U.S. Naval Gunnery School.) In 2003 he received his Th.M. degree in Pastoral Care and Psychology of Religion from Princeton Theological Seminary.  After serving Immanuel as vacancy pastor for a short period, he was installed as her ninth pastor April 17, 2005.  The degree of Master Of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.)  in Old Testament has been conferred upon him by Concordia Theological Seminary.  He and his wife Robyn are the parents of two grown children.  When he's not parsing Hebrew verbs, Pastor Steele lists running, home brewing, landscaping, and kayaking as some of his favorite hobbies. 

Curriculum vitae

Walter R Steele

Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church

Pensacola, Florida

ilcpastor@bellsouth.net

4952 Timber Ridge Dr.

Pace FL 32571

850-529-8075

Education:

S.T.M.,  Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne IN., 2008

            Major: Old Testament Exegesis & Theology; Minor: Liturgical Theology

Thesis: The Enjoyment Imperatives in Ecclesiastes as Expressions of Faith by Qoheleth

 Seminar: Naval War College, Fleet Seminar, Pensacola FL, 2004.

             Course: Strategy and Policy

 Th.M., Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton NJ, 2003.

            Major: Pastoral Care; Minor: Psychology of Religion

Research Paper: Freud, an Unsuspecting Ally of a Theologian of the Cross

 M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne IN, 1994.

            Major: Biblical Exegesis; Minor: Pastoral Ministry

            Award: St. Timothy Award for Exegetical Excellence, 1992.

 B.A., New Mexico State University, Las Cruces NM, 1978

            Major: Journalism and Mass Communications—TV and Radio Production.

Teaching Experience:

(in addition to parish studies and Navy Chaplain courses/ seminars taught)

Adjunct Faculty (Vicarage Supervisor), Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne IN, 2005-Present.

 P.R.E.P. “Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program” Presenter, (ongoing).

 Circuit Lecturer: Circuit 10, Southern District, Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, “Ecclesiastes for the Parish Pastor,” Sep 2007 - May 2008.

 Instructor/ Graduate Assistant, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne IN, Exegetical Department, 1994-1995.

 Articles:

“Preaching Old Testament Texts,” Concordia Pulpit Resources 18:2 (2008) 2.

  “Lutheran Theology: Liturgy and Theology,” Gottesdienst 7:1 (1999) 12-14.

 “One Flesh with Our Bridegroom,” Gottesdienst 6:4 (1998) 6-7.

 Books:

Lutheran Book of Prayer. Contributor. Concordia Publishing House: St. Louis, 2005.

Book Reviews:

 James Limberg, Encountering Ecclesiastes: A Book for our Time, in Logia 16:4 (2007).

 Other Significant Unpublished Work:

“Marriage, Divorce and Reconciliation: Where to Go after Abuse and Adultery,” 2003.

 “Health Care Decision-Making and Catechesis,” 2002.

Professional Development Training Courses Completed:

“Critical Incident Stress Management: Advanced,” 2004. (US Coast Guard [USCG])

 “The Chaplain and Moral and Ethical Advisor in and to the Military Institution,” 2004. (USCG)

 “Critical Incident Stress Management: Group Crisis Intervention,” 2004. (USCG)

 “Critical Incident Stress Management: Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support,” 2004. (USCG)

 “Religion and Statecraft,” 2001. (US Navy Chaplain Corps, PDTC)

 “Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy,” 2001 (Fleet & Family Support Center, Norfolk VA)

 “Suicidal Behavior in the Military,” 1999. (Menninger Clinic, Topeka KS)

 Certifications:

Critical Incident Stress Management Team Member: US Coast Guard, certified: 2004.

 P.R.E.P. “Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program” Presenter, certified: 1999.

 Languages:

 Biblical Hebrew: reading competency. (STM Exam completed)

Biblical Aramaic: reading competency.

Koine Greek: reading competency. (STM exam completed)

German: reading competency. (STM exam completed)

 S.T.M. Thesis Outline:

             I.     Introduction      

            II.    The Structure of Qoheleth’s Argument

III.  The Penultimate Nature of this World

                        A. Qoheleth’s Dependence on Genesis 2:4-4:26

                        B. The Doctrine of Original Sin in Ecclesiastes

                                    1. From the Standpoint of Creation

                                    2. From the Temporal Standpoint

                                    3. From the Eschatological Standpoint

                        C. The Resultant Effects of Original Sin in Ecclesiastes

                                    1. Temporal Results

                                    2. Eschatological Results

IV.  The Doctrine of Vocation in Ecclesiastes

                        A. God as Creator in Ecclesiastes

                        B. Qoheleth’s Doctrine of Vocation

V.   Qoheleth and the Doctrine of Justification by Grace through Faith

                        A. God as the Eschatological Judge in Ecclesiastes

                        B. Qoheleth’s Doctrine of Righteousness (Detailed Exegesis of 7:14-8:13)

                        C. The Meaning of “fearing God” in Ecclesiastes

                        D. Qoheleth’s Doctrine of Justification (Detailed Exegesis of 9:7-10)

VI.  The Enjoyment Imperatives in Light of Qoheleth’s Doctrine of Justification

                        A. The Argument posited for Irony, Sarcasm and Skepticism

                                    1. William H. U. Anderson

                                    2. James L. Crenshaw

                                    3. Martin A. Shields

                        B. The Argument of a Positive View of the Imperatives

                                    1. Choon-Leong Seow

                                    2. Eunny P. Lee

                        C. A Critique of Both Positions

D. Qoheleth’s Teaching that the Enjoyment of Vocation Is a Proper Expression of Faith (of the One that Has Been Justified by Grace through Faith)

            VII.  Concluding Remarks