He came to PLTS from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where he was professor of New Testament since 2009. From 1996-2008 he was professor of New Testament at the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest in Austin, Texas where he also served as academic dean, and the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. He served as pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Manhattan, Kansas and as associate pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.