Rev. Fr. Burnell F. Eckardt Jr., MDiv, STM, PhD, Editor-in-Chief

The Rev. Burnell F. Eckardt Jr. is Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kewanee, Illinois, and has been editor-in-chief since 1995. He holds a PhD in historical theology from Marquette University (1991), and an STM (1984) and an MDiv (1981) from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has occasionally served as an adjunct professor for that seminary since 1985, and has also served parishes in Virginia and Wisconsin. An author of several books and sometime composer of sacred music, he is also known locally as the man behind the piano in the community jazz band. A native of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Dr. Eckardt and his wife Carol have six sons, five daughters-in-law, and thirteen grandchildren.

Rev. Fr. Mark P. Braden, AA, BA, MS, MDiv, STM

The Rev. Mark P. Braden is Pastor of Zion Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Detroit. He holds both the MDiv and STM degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he is an adjunct faculty member, teaching online Biblical Greek. He teaches regularly throughout South and Central America, and is an adjunct faculty member and visiting professor in both Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, working also in the Bolivian and Colombian churches. He is an International Fellow for the Luther Academy, a presenter at theological conferences, and has taught at Concordia University, Ann Arbor. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Center Association, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Concordia University System. Fr. Braden and his wife Patty have one daughter, and enjoy traveling together when time allows. His degree in Culinary Arts allowed him to teach Haute Cuisine for several years, and to regularly enjoy food and wine.

Rev. Fr. Karl F. Fabrizius, MDiv, PhD

The Rev. Karl F. Fabrizius has been the Pastor of Our Father's Lutheran Church in Greenfield, Wisconsin, since 1984. He holds a PhD in historical theology from Marquette University (1994) and an MDiv (1984) from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has written a ten volume series of Bible Stories for Daily Prayer that is published by Concordia Catechetical Academy which is suitable for Lutheran schools, home schooling, and private devotions. He and his wife Darcy have been blessed with three sons, a daughter-in-law, and one grandson. When not caring for his flock, he is often found in his basement surrounded by wine racks and making yet more wine in abundance.

Rev. Fr. David H. Petersen, MDiv, STM, DMin

Widely regarded as the best looking of the Gottesdienst editors, the Rev. David H. Petersen has been the pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, since 2000 and has been a departmental editor since 2006. He holds a DMin (2018), STM (2012) and an MDiv (1996) from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. He served as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Fairgrove, Michigan, from 1996 until 2000. He is the author of two books of sermons available from Emmanuel Press in Fort Wayne. Fr. Petersen and his wife Jacqueline enjoy touring on a motorcycle, throwing darts, and various other low-brow activities. They have three children, two of whom are married, and six grandchildren. Their cat, Fritz, was named in honor of the Editor-in-Chief.

Rev. Fr. Larry L. Beane II, MDiv

The Rev. Larry Beane has been pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Gretna, Louisiana since 2005, and has served as an online editor since 2008 and departmental editor since 2010. He holds an MDiv (2004) from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has taught Apologetics, Economics, and Government at Wittenberg Academy since 2013. He has served as the chaplain of the David Crockett Volunteer Fire Company in Gretna since 2011, has served as a chaplain (with the grade of Captain) in the US Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol) since 2017, and is the current Louisiana Wing Chaplain for CAP. He was privileged to teach at Lutheran seminars in Siberia in 2011 and 2015. He lives in a historic shotgun house with his wife Grace, and several feline friends. He is the father of the sainted Leonidas. He loves living in South Louisiana, is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and rides motorcycles.

Rev. Fr. D. Richard Stuckwisch Jr., PhD

The Rev. Dr. D. Richard Stuckwisch is President of the Indiana District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He continues to serve Emmaus Lutheran Church in South Bend, Indiana, where was ordained in May 1996.  A graduate of Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska (BA, 1988), Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana (MDiv, 1993; STM, 2003), and the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana (MA, 1996; PhD, 2003), he served on the Lutheran Service Book project from 1998 to 2006, and on the Indiana District Worship Committee from 2003 to 2012. He and his wife LaRena were married in 1985 and have been blessed with ten children, three of them now married, and seven grandchildren so far.  He especially enjoys reading aloud to his children, listening to a wide variety of music, and visiting his grandchildren whenever he is able.

Rev. Fr. Jason Braaten, MDiv

The Rev. Jason M. Braaten is Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tuscola, Illinois. He is a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary (MDiv, 2006) and Concordia University Chicago (BA, 2000). He has served as Logic instructor for Wittenberg Academy since 2011. Fr. Braaten also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund of the LCMS. Prior to his service at Immanuel, he was a Major Gifts Fundraiser for Concordia Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Lauren, have five children. He enjoys dabbling in many things, but is a master of none of them.

Rev. Fr. John R. Stephenson, PhD

Dr. Stephenson is Professor of Historical Theology, Registrar, and Director of Library at Concordia Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario. He received degrees from the universities of Oxford (MA 1974), Cambridge (GDipTh 1975), and Durham (PhD 1983). He is the author of volumes 12 (Lord’s Supper) and 13 (Eschatology) of the Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics series, and translator of Wilhelm Löhe’s Aphorisms. He served Lutheran Church of the Escarpment, Lewiston, NY (1986–89); and at Concordia (1989– ). He is married, with three daughters.

Rev. Fr. John Bussman, MDiv

Fr. Bussman is the pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cullman, Alabama. He is a 2012 graduate of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and, with a B.A. from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, in 2007.

Rev. Fr. Anthony Dodgers, MDiv

Fr. Dodgers is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlotte, Iowa. He is a 2011 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, Chicago, which he received in 2007.

Rev. Fr. Travis Berg, MDiv

Fr. Berg is pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Latimer, IA. He is a 2013 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has served at St. Paul’s since then.

Rev. Fr. Stefan Gramenz, MDiv

Fr. Gramenz is pastor of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Christ the King in Pawling, NY. He is a 2018 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has served at Christ the King since then. He also serves as an assisting editor at The Lutheran Missal project.

Rev. Fr. Adam Koontz, PhD

Dr. Koontz is assistant professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. He is a 2014 graduate of the same institution, and received a PhD from Temple University in May 2020. He previously served as pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Rev. Fr. Evan Scamman, MDiv

Fr. Scamman is pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Greenwich, CT. He is a 2018 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He initially served a dual parish in Greenwich, until the two churches merged to form the present congregation of St. Paul. Fr. Scamman also serves as the chief editor for The Lutheran Missal.

Mrs. Grace Beane, AB, Business Manager

Miz Grace has served as our business manager since 2020. She keeps the chokehold going on the money side of things. She is the wife of Fr. Larry Beane and the mother of the sainted Leonidas, has been the church secretary of her parish, Salem Lutheran Church, Gretna, Louisiana since 2007, holds an AB in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College (1998), is chapter president of the local Delta Kappa Gamma chapter of women educators, and is a 1st Lieutenant in the US Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol). She reads a lot. When she is not reading, she is reading, taking care of cats, and reading.

Kantor Peter Eckardt, MDiv, Copy Editor

Kantor Eckardt is director of parish music at St. John Lutheran Church in Mattoon, Illinois. He is a 2014 M.Div. graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has served as associate pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and as copy editor for Concordia Theological Quarterly.