Gerald B. Kieschnick

Twelfth President of the Missouri Synod: 2001-2010

Born: 29 January 1943, Houston, Texas

Gerald Kieschnick attended Texas A&M University, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1964. He is a 1970 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Ill. (now at Fort Wayne, Ind.), where he obtained his B.Div. degree, and later, in 1977, he obtained his M.Div. degree at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. He received an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1996 from Concordia University, Austin, Texas.

After his ordination in 1970, Kieschnick served as pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Biloxi, Miss., until 1973; at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Beaumont, Texas, 1973-1981; and at Faith Lutheran Church, Georgetown, Texas, 1981-1986.

Kieschnick was director of development at Lutheran Foundation of Texas from 1986 to 1988 and then served as its executive director from 1988 to 1991. He was elected as president of the synod’s Texas District in 1991. He had also served that district as a circuit counselor from 1978 to 1981 and as director of public relations from 1977 to 1986.

From 1998 until his election as LCMS president, Kieschnick chaired the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations, as well as serving on the program committee of the LCMS Council of Presidents.

He was elected as president of the 2.6-million-member Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in July 2001 and installed into office on 8 September 2001.

During his presidency he served on the Board of Directors of the LCMS and was also chairman of The International Lutheran Council.

Kieschnick and his wife, Terry, have two grown children and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Texas. They have been blessed with a son, Andrew Kieschnick, and a daughter, Angela Keith. Angie and her husband, Todd, are the parents of Jerry and Terry’s two grandchildren, Kolby and Kayla.

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