Dr. Jon S. Bruss Called as Seventeenth President of CTSFW
FORT WAYNE, Ind., May 18, 2024 — The Board of Regents of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), has called Dr. Jon S. Bruss, associate professor of systematic theology, to serve as the Seminary’s seventeenth president after his unanimous election by the designated electors.
Bruss will succeed Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr., who announced last fall that he would retire from the presidency at the end of the 2023–2024 academic year and return full-time to his role as professor of historical theology at CTSFW. Bruss’s installation will take place during the opening service of the academic year on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Bruss will make the transition to his new role over the next few months.
CTSFW President-Elect Dr. Jon S. Bruss
Dr. Scott Murray, chairman of the CTSFW Board of Regents, announced the call shortly after the election today in a livestreamed prayer service in Kramer Chapel.
"As the board chair, I can say that we have elected a faithful candidate who will lead the Seminary into the future that God has mapped out for it," said Murray. "Dr. Bruss comes with superb gifts and experience for this leadership challenge. The electors found that the men on the slate of candidates were unparalleled in their quality, capacity and gifts, making the choice of the electors exciting and inspiring. The board pledges its full support to Dr. Bruss, and we ask for the prayers of the church that Concordia Theological Seminary would continue to be your Christ-centered seminary that teaches the faithful, reaches the lost, and cares for all."
Per the bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), the president-elect has fifteen days to respond to the call. Bruss accepted immediately.
"I'm both humbled and deeply honored by the electors' action today," said Bruss. "After nearly six months of prayerful consideration as a nominee, and with the wise counsel of fellow Christians and brother pastors, I'm moved to accept this call and hereby do. God grant me a mouth and wisdom! I ask for your prayers for me, my family, and above all, our seminary, which has been and remains a singularly effective instrument for forming faithful servants of Christ and His church. Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word!"
Newly elected president Dr. Jon S. Bruss is congratulated by members of the Board of Regents.
Bruss joined the CTSFW faculty in 2022 with extensive experience in higher education and pastoral ministry. He earned his MDiv in 1995 from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (Evangelical Lutheran Synod) in Mankato, Minnesota. From 1991 through 2002, Bruss taught languages, ancient history, and world literature at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, during which time he pursued an MA and PhD in classics at the University of Minnesota.
After completing his PhD in 2001, Bruss taught classics at his undergraduate alma mater, St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, then taught at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He colloquized into the LCMS in 2006. In 2013, he took a pastoral call to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas, where he served as assistant pastor (2013–2015), then senior pastor (2015–2022) until his call to join the faculty at CTSFW.
Bruss’s many scholarly contributions include co-editing Brill’s Companion to Hellenistic Epigram (Brill, 2007) and translating various works of Martin Luther, including sermons and the Annotationes in Matthaeum, for Luther’s Works (CPH). From 2019 to 2022, Bruss served on the Board of Directors of the Concordia University System (CUS) as well as the synod’s 2019 Resolution 7-03 Task Force, which was charged with proposing a new governance plan for the CUS.
He and his wife, Kristine, CTSFW's chief communications officer, have one daughter, Ingrid, who is engaged to be married this summer to Peter Funk.
Dr. Jon S. Bruss with his wife, Kristine.
"The Lord ascended and gave gifts to men, apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers. The Lord continues to give his gifts. Today that gift is Rev. Dr. Jon Bruss," said LCMS President Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, who gave a short homily at the prayer service. "This seminary has a venerable past, and a bright future. Thanks be to God."
Outgoing President Rast also expressed confidence in his successor. "Dr. Bruss has been a wonderful addition to our faculty, and I am delighted that he will follow me as president of CTSFW. I have every confidence in his ability to lead our seminary through the joys and challenges of the coming years. As I return to full-time service on the faculty, I look forward to serving alongside Dr. Bruss and seeing all that our Lord will continue to do in and through this seminary."
Those wishing to view today’s prayer service announcing the results of the election may do so on YouTube, Facebook, or the CTSFW daily chapel page.
Founded in 1846, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, forms servants of Jesus Christ in a vibrant, Christ-centered theological community that engages and resources the church and the world, domestically and internationally, with distinctively Lutheran teaching, practice, and worship. To learn more, visit ctsfw.edu.
