I was baptized August 4th, 1991 at First Lutheran Church, Lloydminster. On June 14th, 2020 I was ordained to the Holy Ministry at my home congregation, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Warman.

I can trace my theological descent from both sides of Seminex. Something of a minimalist, I would describe myself as “Low Church” in principle but “High Church” in preference (though such divisions have been pilfered from heterodox bodies). Human traditions have their place: directly below the sole binding authority of Holy Scripture in its canonical form. When it comes to the public reading of Scripture, more is better. The Lutheran Confessions define true Gottesdienst (“service rendered to God”) as nothing more and nothing less than “the exercise of faith struggling against despair.” (Treatise, par. 44) Our Lord instituted two Sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Confession is also a Sacrament. Ordination is a Means of Grace – though, not for the minister, but for everyone whom he serves. The Church is not a democracy, but a Monarchy. Pastors are spiritual Fathers, not businessmen or lackeys. Faith is not a decision or work produced by humans; it is “the gift of God, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8). “Sins are truly venial when they are feared to be mortal; sins are mortal when they are thought to be venial.” (Martin Luther, Heidelberg Theses of 1518) Communion fellowship is not an inalienable right: it is barred to those living in unrepentant sins or under a heterodox confession of faith, but offered to those who desire to amend their lives with the help of Christ Jesus. When our Lord instituted the Sacrament, He “gave thanks”. So should we (starting with the Jewish formula, “Blessed are You, O Lord, King of all creation…” or such like words). The Small and Large Catechisms of Bl. Dr. Martin Luther are what other books have claimed to be: “mere” Christianity.

Trinity Western University is my alma mater, where I majored in World Languages and Cultures and minored in English and Theatre. While learning Hebrew from Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, I was led to apply for the Masters of Divinity programme. I was honoured to be part of a graduating class of six in 2020. Suzanne Sauer and I were married a year later on the Victoria Day Weekend (May 22nd, 2021).

Besides theology, my passions are for music, hiking, photography, writing poetry and short fiction, and literature (with a particular taste for Russian literature).