Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. speaks at 2014 Annual Reformation Service in Sacramento

Rev. Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr., President of Concordia Theological Seminary and Professor of American Christianity and American Lutheranism served as the Speaker for the 69th Annual Reformation Service sponsored by the International Lutheran Laymen’s League, CNH District, Zones 4 & 19.

 Dr. Rast joined the Department of Historical Theology of Concordia Theological Seminary in the fall of 1996 after serving as pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church, Madison, Tennessee (1992-96). He received his B.A. from Concordia College, River Forest, Illinois (1986), and his M.Div. (1990) and S.T.M. (1995) from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. In 2003, he earned his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. Rast is a member of the Board of Directors for the journal Lutheran Quarterly and of the editorial committee of the Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly. He is a faculty representative on the LCMS’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations (2006-present ) and is the Chairman of that commission (2010-present ).

The well attended service was held at Town and Country Lutheran Church in Sacramento, California.  To view a video of Dr. Rast's message, click here.  For further information about this service as well as some of the history of the Sacramento area celebrations written by Bruce Grinager, click here.