The Rev. Dr. James R. Thomas, Pastor of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bronx, New York has accepted an appointment to the faculty of Southern Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina effective August 1, 2008. Dr. Thomas will serve as Associate Professor of Church and Mission and Director of African American Ministeries. He will also be coordinator of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Region IX African Descent strategy. Dr. Thomas is a 1970 graduate of Alabama Lutheran Academy and College.