Dr. John C. Wohlrabe, Jr. Dr. John C. Wohlrabe Jr. is serving as second vice-president, and member of the Praesidium, of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), a position to which he was elected to in 2010. He is the pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Geneseo, Ill. Previously, Wohlrabe served as third vice-president of the LCMS (2007-2010). He also was regional chaplain for Naval District Washington (2007 to 2009). He retired with the rank of captain in May 2009, having been an active duty U.S. Navy chaplain for 22 years. Prior to that, he was in the Naval Reserves and served as an enlisted sailor on active duty. His tours of duty in the Navy included the USS John F. Kennedy (1973 to 1976); various Naval Reserve units (1976 to 1987); Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FORTY (1987 to 1990); Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, Calif. (1990 to 1992); Naval Facility Brawdy, Wales, U. K. (1992 to 1995); Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill., (1995 to 1998); USS Blue Ridge and Commander SEVENTH Fleet (1998 to 2001); Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine (2001 to 2004); and First Naval Construction Division and Naval Construction Force (2005 to 2007). He has received numerous military awards. Also, Wohlrabe served as pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Fort Lupton, Colo. (1982 to 1984); guest instructor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (1984 to 1986); and assistant director of the Concordia Historical Institute in St. Louis (1986 to 1987). A native of Mankato, Minn., Wohlrabe received a bachelor's degree from Concordia College, Ann Arbor in 1978. He also received a Master of Divinity degree in 1981, Master of Sacred Theology degree in 1982, and Doctor of Theology degree in 1987, all from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He has published numerous articles for theological journals, church and military publications, and books including Ministry in Missouri (1992) and "Walther's Doctrine of the Ministry: A Distinctly Mediating Position," Soli Deo Gloria: Essays on C.F.W. Walther in Memory of August R. Suelflow (2000). Wohlrabe and his wife, Julie, live in Geneseo, Ill.

Rev. John Wohlrabe, second vice-president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, will be our synodical representative.

An article appeared recently in the Concordia Theological Quarterly titled "Needed: A Paradigm Shift in Missouri's Mission Outlook" by LC-MS Chaplain John C. Wohlrabe Jr., Commander, Chaplain Corps, United States Navy.Reading through his article I was quickly struck by the relevance of it to what is presented above. Commander Wohlrabe attended an annual Lutheran chaplains conference in 1992.Excerpts from his article are offered here. He writes: "Such conferences are conducted annually as a joint endeavor between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.Sponsorship of these conferences alternates between the two church bodies.John C. Wohlrabe Jr. Commander, Chaplain Corps United States Navy Commander Wohlrabe addresses numerous important issues here, and he provides much pertinent information.His reactions and conclusions are cerainly appropriate.More on the topic, Military Chaplaincy, will appear in a future column, but I think readers will readily see the connection with the previous five-part article. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.John 8:32 Start of the Article

Welcome our new pastor, Rev. Dr. John Wohlrabe! MORE PHOTOS!

By Chaplain (Capt.) John Wohlrabe In the Gospel of John (3:16), we are told that Jesus himself is God's expression of love for a fallen, broken world.