of Chicago to receive a Ph.D. degree in 1956, majoring in American and church history.

He was then called to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Elk Grove Village, a suburb of Chicago. This congregation under his leadership as told in Time Magazine soon became the fastest growing congregation in the Missouri Synod. He became a prolific writer of books, and short articles for religious periodicals and magazines so that soon he drew the attention of Time Magazine and was often referred to in its "Religious" Columns.

In 1963, he was offered an Associate Professorship in the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. He received a divine call to the campus from the English District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, and received a peaceful release from congregational duties from the church of the Holy Spirit to accept the position offered him by the University of Chicago.

He attends church conventions, preaches frequently in Lutheran Churches, and reports progress of his work to Synod officials.

His work in the University class room, lecturing to graduate students and counseling them on study and research in religion takes up much of his five day week.

Nevertheless, he still finds time — in his endless energy — to continue his work as author of numerous books — some written for reading at the layman level and some at theologian or pastoral level. Among his books for lay reading are: "The Hidden Discipline," "Baptism," "Second Chance for American Protestants," "A Short History of Christianity," and more to come.

He is also co-editor of "Church History," official journal of the American Society of Church History; and on the editorial staff of the "Pulpit" and other journals. He is also author of a column for the National Catholic Reporter.

He frequently appears on Nationwide television programs. Not long ago he appeared on a Sunday broadcast on a religious forum along with a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi.

Life Magazine rates Dr. Marty as "a theologian of note in the United States" and along with Lutheran theologian, Yale's Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan, as one of the country's "Red Hot one hundred" men under forty in America in various philosophic, scientific, and other occupational fields.

Some of our folks may wonder — how far can one go and still retain a strong belief in God according to our Lutheran teaching?

Dr. Marty still confesses and subscribes to sound Christian doctrine as we have learned and believe. He says that when he speaks in the class room or writes for publication, no one asks him to "dilute or muffle his confession." We believe that he will always be that way and pray for Divine guidance for this man in his present work, he has a greater opportunity to teach divine truths of Scripture and to reach more people than could be done serving as pastor in one congregation.

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