Pastor Reckzin will examine the Augsburg Confession, Article XXI, On the Worship of Saints, tying in our conference themes.

Pastor Christopher S. “Topher” Doerr is the pastor of Garden Homes Lutheran Church. Before that he was at Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) as Broader Reach Editor until 2018 and the pastor of Grace in Waupun, WI, for 14 years prior. He grew up on the south side of Milwaukee, attending WELS grade schools and graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran High School in 1991. He has a Bachelor’s in Theater from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN, as well as Master of Divinity (2000) and Master of Sacred Theology (2013) degrees from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. For six years he served on the Board of Directors of Camp Phillip in Wautoma, WI, and another six on the Governing Board at Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac. He has helped to write many of the songs in the Camp Phillip songbook. Several of his translations of German theological essays have been published in Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly. He and his wife Carrie (nee Knickelbein) have seven children: six boys and a girl. He enjoys spending time with his family making music, getting beaten by them in board or card games, bike riding, and having various adventures.

The Rev. Dr. Paul Lehninger is Professor of Theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College, where he teaches dogmatics and New Testament. He is the chair of the School of Humanities and of the General Education Committee. He previously served as pastor of The Lutheran Church of the Abiding Word, Somers, WI (1984-90), Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Yuma, AZ (1979-84), and Igreja Lutherana Brasileira da Consolação, Gravataí, Brazil (1978-79). He received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin (1973), his M.Div. from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (1978), and his doctoral degree from Marquette University in 1999, writing on Luther and Theosis: Deification in the Theology of Martin Luther. He also attended Bethany Lutheran College for a year (1973-74) as part of the Mequon Program. He has served as a consultant for Luther Digest and is currently an editor for Logia.

Pastor Reckzin was born in Ottawa, Canada. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ottawa. In 1977 Pastor Reckzin enrolled in Northwestern Preparatory School in Watertown, WI to study for the pastoral ministry of the Lutheran Church.  He was graduated from Northwestern Prep in 1981 and then from Northwestern College in 1985. Pastor Reckzin then attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI from 1985-1989. He served his vicar (intern) year at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Adrian, MI.

During his first year of seminary, Pastor Reckzin met and dated Lisa Behlmer of Saint James, MN. Pastor and Lisa married in the summer of 1987.  During his senior year of seminary, the Lord blessed Pastor and Mrs. Reckzin with twin daughters.

Pastor Reckzin has served Atonement Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD and Peace Lutheran Church in Sun Prairie, WI.   He arrived at St. John’s in 2000. He enjoys preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, presiding at worship, teaching Bible classes, and face to face interaction with members of Saint John’s and visitors to Saint John’s. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cooking, music, language studies, and travel.

Dr. Joseph Jewell, currently a research scientist at the US Air Force Research Laboratory (speaking in his personal capacity only: the views presented are his and do not necessarily represent the views of Department of Defense or US Government), joins the faculty at Purdue University in Aeronautics and Astronautics this fall. He received his PhD in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology, and also took his BS in Aeronautics and Medieval History from Caltech before earning two master's degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan and the University of Oxford. He was a US Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow, a National Research Council Research Associate, and the most recent (possibly only) WELS/ELS affiliate to receive a Rhodes Scholarship, which allowed him to spend three years living, working, and studying in England.

Dr. Jewell has to date authored or co-authored 50 technical papers and presentations on
subjects within fluid mechanics ranging from bubble motion in water to hypersonic aerodynamics, spacecraft re-entry, and rocket propulsion, as well as a bestselling SAT study book ("Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT"). He subsequently co-founded a dotcom company in the test preparation field and was named one of America's "Top 25 Entrepreneurs Under 25" by Business Week in 2006.

Dr. Jewell has served as a district convention delegate in both the Arizona/California and Michigan districts, as well as an Elder, Sunday School teacher, and a congregational Treasurer, and has been twice nominated for Synod office. He was a featured speaker at the 2010 WELS National College Rally, where his presentation on "Faith and Reason in the Theology of Martin Luther" was given in three separate breakout sessions due to demand. He and his wife, Katie, have two sons.