Rev. Dr. Richard Serina
Associate Executive Director, LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations
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About
The Rev. Dr. Richard J. Serina Jr. is associate executive director of the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR). The 20-member commission assists the Synod and the Office of the President by issuing theological reports and opinions, engaging in theological conversations with other church bodies, and addressing new religious movements. As associate executive director, Serina works with the executive director in helping the CTCR carry out its duties, chiefly drafting and editing CTCR documents, participating in interchurch dialogues, maintaining the commission's theological library, and providing guidance in matters of theology and church relations to Synod members and agencies.Prior to joining the staff of the CTCR, Serina served for more than a decade as parish pastor in rural West Texas (Trinity, Albany, 2006-2010) and suburban New Jersey (Christ the King, Ringwood, 2015-2020), and he has taught at both Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia College New York, Bronxville, N.Y. He received his Ph.D. in Reformation Studies from Concordia Seminary and has published multiple books and essays dealing with the theology and history of the late Middle Ages and the Reformation. In his research with the CTCR, he is specially focused on how the church navigates the emerging theological, ecumenical, technological, political and ethical challenges of the present day.
Serina is married to Christina, and they have six children.