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My dear Dr. Tillich (Details anzeigen)^c:

Some of your former students have written to me to inform me that today is your birthday. While I have never had the privilege of studying under you directly, I am more than happy to be able to add my felicitations to theirs on this occasion.

Indeed, I take it as a very fine compliment that the nature of my writings is such that I am classified with those who have sat at your feet. As a matter of fact, your influence upon my thinking and writing has been very pronounced – – both through your books and articles, and through Niebuhr (Details anzeigen)^d and Clifford Stanley (Details anzeigen)^e.

When I was a student at the General Theological Seminary some ten or more years ago, I had the assignment to read a paper on the nature of the Church at an inter-seminary gathering at Union, with Pauck (Details anzeigen)^f presiding and with you as discussion leader. That was my first direct contact with you. It was rather an awesome occasion for a young seminarian, no matter how brash he might be.

With these words of explanation, may I once more join with those who have studied directly under you, and express my wishes for many very happy returns of this day. I look forward to learning much more from your continued leadership in the field of relevant Christianity.