Joel Oesch

Biography

Joel Oesch, MDiv, holds a PhD from Concordia Seminary and is a graduate of Yale University. He is Director of the Graduate Programs in Theology. Professor Oesch served as Director of Christian Education for 10 years. His research interests are embodied theology, the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and contemporary culture. He’s served Concordia since 2012.

Education

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, PhD (2015)

Yale University, New Haven, CT, M.Div. (2009)

Concordia University Irvine CA, B.A. (1997)

Professional Experience

Director of Christian Education, St. Mark Lutheran, Kaneohe, HI (1997-2001)

Minister of Youth and Education, Bethany Lutheran, Austin, TX (2001-2006)

Executive Director, Crosswise Institute (2014-)

Professor of Theology, Concordia University Irvine (2012-)

Director of Graduate Studies, Concordia University Irvine (2012-)

Courses Taught

REL 375 The American Religious Landscape

THL 590 Guided Readings

THL 591 Colloquium

THL 595 & 596 Thesis I & II

Publications

“Working the Harvest in Digital Fields.” Missio Apostolica 21 (May 2013): 31-40.

More than a Pretty Face: Using Embodied Lutheran Theology to Evaluate Community Building in Online Social Networks. Wipf & Stock, 2017.

“Embodied Living in the Age of Excarnation.” Concordia Theological Journal 6, no.1 (Fall 2018): 55-74.

Crossing Wires: Making Sense of Technology, Transhumanism, and Christian Identity. Wipf & Stock, 2020.