Mark Tranvik is a parish pastor at heart. He spent almost ten years (1984-93) as a pastor at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. It was a rich experience, full of struggle and joy. While teaching about the Reformation or a theological topic, he pays attention to what is happening in the local churches. One of Tranvik’s favorite things to do is to visit congregations and lead adult forums. He does not want his scholarship to be disconnected from the “real world” of the parish.