Dr. Jon Diefenthaler is an adjunct faculty member at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where he teaches courses in American Church History.  He is an ordained LCMS pastor.  He received an M.A. in American History from Washington University, St. Louis, and a Ph.D. in American Religious History from the University of Iowa, where he studied under Sidney Mead.  In addition to seminary teaching, his career includes parish pastorates in Virginia and Maryland, as well President of the Southeastern District–LCMS.  Among his other current responsibilities are Church-Relations Advisor for Lutheran World Relief, Concordia College–New York Board of Regents, and Wheat Ridge Ministries Board of Directors.  He and his wife Vivi reside in Columbia, Maryland, and their family consists of six children and twelve grandchildren.