 He also spent sabbatical years at Harvard (1972–73), Strasbourg (1979–80), and St. John's University Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, Collegeville, Minnesota (1988).Forde was a pastor in the American Lutheran Church and was a rostered pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America after its founding.Forde's teaching career began at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., where he was instructor in religion in 1955-56.