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About
The Rev. Dr. Scott R. Murray is third vice-president and a member of the Praesidium of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). He was elected fifth vice-president in 2010, re-elected in 2013 as fourth vice-president, re-elected and ranked second vice-president in 2016, and re-elected and ranked third vice-president in 2019 and again in 2023.Murray represents the church's West-Southwest Region. He also currently serves as senior pastor of Memorial Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas, where he was called in 1996.
Previously, Murray served St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada (1983-1985), and Salem Lutheran Church, Gretna, La. (1985-1996). He also served on the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations — as a member from 1995 to 2001 and as vice-chairman from 1998 to 2001. In addition, he served on the board of the Lutheran Education Association of Houston (2001-2007); as an editorial associate for Logia, a journal of Lutheran theology; and was chairman of the Board of Directors of Luther Academy (2012-2015), an organization that promotes confessional Lutheran theology.
Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Murray graduated with a B.A. from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1980 and earned a Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1983. He also holds a master's degree from Loyola University and a Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Murray writes a devotion every weekday called “Memorial Moments,” which is based on the church fathers. He also is the author of Law, Life, and the Living God (Concordia Publishing House, 2001) and A Year with the Church Fathers (Concordia Publishing House, 2011). In addition, he has edited several books, including The Gates of Hell (Concordia Publishing House, 2018), and has written numerous journal articles.
Murray and his wife, Maryann, live in Houston. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.