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About
The Rev. Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa is third vice-president and a member of the Praesidium of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). He was elected third vice-president in 2026 and represents the church’s West-Southwest Region.Espinosa has served as a pastor in the LCMS for 35 years. He currently serves the saints at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church of Irvine, Calif. and has been their pastor since 2011. He previously served Living Word Lutheran Church in The Woodlands, Texas from 2002–2010. Prior to that Espinosa served Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Laguna Beach, Calif. from 1996–2002 and St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Covina, Calif. from 1991–1996.
Espinosa has served the LCMS Board for National Mission (BNM) since 2014, including as the chair of the board from 2023–2026. He has served as adjunct professor of theology at Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, Calif., for undergraduate and graduate courses for 18 years and served for several years as an instructor of theology at Concordia Lutheran High School, Tomball, Texas, in apologetics and ethics for seniors. Espinosa has had over 50 interviews with Issues, Etc., Faith Radio, and Concordia Publishing House podcasts.
Espinosa earned his M.Div. in 1991 at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; his M.A. in Christian Apologetics in 2001 at Biola University, La Mirada, Calif.; and his Ph.D. in Theology in 2009 at the University of Birmingham, England. He is the author of the “Faith and Culture” trilogy published by Concordia Publishing House, and his latest release is Contending for Christ Through the Creed: Apologetics for Loving Answers on the Christian Faith (Wipf & Stock, 2025). He has also authored Men in Christ: Fighting for Family, Church, and Country, set to be released by CPH in January 2027. Espinosa contributed to The Lutheran Study Bible (2009) as a member of the study notes team and wrote two chapters for The Lutheran Difference (2010, “God the Son” and “Creation”). His many other publications include the CTCR's Confession and Absolution (2018); his contribution to C.F.W. Walther: Churchman and Theologian (CPH, 2011) with the essay, “C.F.W. Walther on Sanctification”; and a chapter in the textbook Nursing and Ministry (Jones & Bartlett, 2019) entitled “Nursing as Ministry for Diverse Populations and Faiths.”
Espinosa and his wife, Traci, have many children, in-law children and grandchildren including the Rev. A.J. Espinosa (S.T.M.) and the Rev. Simon Volkmar, who serves the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK) in Germany.