Richard Johnson, M.Div

Life in retirement continues to be swell. We've done a bit of traveling, including a lovely trip to Scandinavia last year to visit ancestral homelands. We've now got four grandchildren, one born in each of four consecutive calendar years beginning in 2014. Luke's daughters are Laika and Maya, and they live in Houston; Johanna's kids are Grace and Isaac, and they are in Rochester NY. I continue to do some teaching for Fuller Seminary (church history), though that is slacking off a tad as Fuller closes its remote campuses and grows its online program. I continue to edit Forum Letter for the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau. Last year the ALPB published my book, "Changing World, Changeless Christ: The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, 1914-2014." It was a labor of love; it would be of interest to those who enjoy American church history (especially if they are Lutherans); it's really a history of 20th century American Lutheranism through a particular lens. No plans to write any more books any time soon, though I'm averaging a journal article every year or two as the spirit moves me. I'm very involved in our local Episcopal Church, whose young rector (everyone is young these days, right?) seems actually to appreciate my help. It is truly a blessing in retirement to find a parish where one can feel useful and well cared for spiritually. Some days my wife would love to move to be closer to one or the other set of grandkids, but so far we're anchored here to beautiful Grass Valley, CA.