Egger called as 11th Concordia Seminary president

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis has extended a call to Dr. Thomas J. Egger, the Gustav and Sophie Butterbach Professor of Exegetical Theology and chairman of the Department of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, to serve as the 11th president in the school’s 182-year history.

The call was extended Saturday after a unanimous vote on the first ballot by the electors, and following interviews with the final slate of two candidates. Egger was originally nominated for the presidency by all three sources that Synod Bylaws allow to submit nominations:  the faculty of Concordia Seminary, the Board of Regents of Conco succeed President Emeritus Dr. Dale A. Meyer, who retired June 30, 2020.  Dr. Daniel Preus has been serving as interim president of the Seminary since July 1. Egger will give his decision in 15 days.

“It is a great honor to be asked to serve and to lead this Seminary that I love,” Egger said. “Concordia is an institution with a rich past and a strong present, and a future that will unfold under our Lord’s provision and grace.”

An associate professor since 2005, Egger, earned his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) at Concordia Seminary (1997), and received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English and German from Central College in Pella, Iowa (1993). He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) at Concordia Seminary in 2019. His dissertation focused on the phrase “visiting iniquity of fathers upon sons” from the book of Exodus.Before being called to Concordia Seminary, Egger served as pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Storm Lake, Iowa (2000–05).