CLTS welcomes new professors

Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau

Rev. Esko Murto

ST. CATHARINES – Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) has announced that Rev. Esko Murto and Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau have both accepted calls to serve as professors of theology.

Rev. Esko Murto, STM, has been called to serve as Assistant Professor of Theology with a specialization in Systematics while Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau has been called to serve as Assistant Professor of Theology. The calls came following interviews November 2 with the CLTS President, Board of Regents, and the electors of Lutheran Church–Canada. Rev. Murto announced his acceptance of the call November 21, and Dr. Ristau announced his acceptance November 28.

Rev. Murto is a native of Orivesi, Finland, and served as pastor of two congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (2009-15). Since 2015, Rev. Murto has been a visiting professor at Concordia, St. Catharines. He holds an MTh from the University of Helsinki and an STM from Concordia Theological Seminary (Ft. Wayne, Indiana).

Dr Ristau is a native of Kitchener, Ontario. He served as pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church, Montreal (2001-06). Since 2006 he has been a chaplain in the Canadian Forces and now holds the rank of major. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies from McGill University.

Rev. Murto will officially take up his post on July 1, 2017, while Dr. Ristau will begin in August 2017. Installation dates for both have yet to be set.

With these two calls, the seminary will restore its faculty to its normal complement of four full-time men.

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