Rev. Dr. Leopoldo A. Sanchez

Dr. Leopoldo A. Sánchez M. is the Werner R.H. Krause and Elizabeth Ringger Krause Professor of Hispanic Ministries, professor of Systematic Theology and director of the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He has been a faculty member since 2004.

He received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Concordia Seminary (2003) and his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. (1999). He holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in theology from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon (1995).

Sánchez’s published work includes T&T Clark Introduction to Spirit Christology (T&T Clark, 2021); Sculptor Spirit: Models of Sanctification from Spirit Christology (IVP Academic, 2019); Receiver, Bearer, and Giver of God’s Spirit: Jesus’ Life in the Spirit as a Lens for Theology and Life (Pickwick Publications, 2015); Immigrant Neighbors among Us: Immigration across Theological Traditions (Pickwick Publications, 2015), which he co-edited with M. Daniel Carroll R.; Escatología: La esperanza cristiana (Concordia Publishing House, 2020); Teología de la santificación: La espiritualidad del cristiano (Concordia Publishing House, 2013); and Pneumatología: El espíritu santo y la espiritualidad de la iglesia (Concordia Publishing House, 2005). He has written numerous articles for books and journals, including essays on theologies of migration for Migration, Transnationalism, and Faith in Missiological Perspective: Los Angeles as a Global Crossroads (Lexington Books, 2022), Global Migration and Christian Faith: Implications for Identity and Mission (Cascade Books, 2021), and On Secular Governance: Lutheran Perspectives on Contemporary Legal Issues (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2016); and on pneumatology for the T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Christian Theology (T&T Clark, forthcoming), Anstoß des Kreuzes. Kreuzestheologische Aufbrüche im 20. und 21. (Evangelische Verlagsanstalt Leipzig, 2021), and Third Article Theology: A Pneumatological Dogmatics (Fortress Press, 2016); and on Lutheran identity for Nuestras 95 tesis: A quinientos años de la Reforma (Abingdon Press/AETH, 2016). He regularly writes short pieces and blogs for Christianity Today, Wabash Center, HTI Open Plaza and Concordia Theology.

As a doctoral student, he was the recipient of a three-year grant from the Hispanic Theological Initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts. In 2016, he was awarded a sabbatical grant from the prestigious Louisville Institute in Louisville, Ky. That same year, he also received the Associated Church Press Award of Excellence in the “Theological or Scholarly Article” category for his 2015 Concordia Journal article “Can Anything Good Come Out of _______? Come and See!” His primary research interests are pneumatology (Holy Spirit), Spirit Christology, Trinitarian theology, sanctification, theology of migration, issues in Hispanic ministry (especially the intersection of theology and culture) and Global South Christianity.

Sánchez teaches regularly in the United States and abroad. He has delivered courses, workshops, and lectures in New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Uganda, Ethiopia, Brazil, Cuba, India, Ghana, Chile, Panama, Argentina and Venezuela. He has served as a guest lecturer for the Mekane Yesus Seminary and the Meachum School of Haymanot. Sánchez has also participated in and led various colloquies and discussions on pedagogy through the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion in Crawfordsville, Ind., and is an advisory board member of the Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in Grand Rapids, Mich. He serves as a mentor for Latin American and U.S. Hispanic doctoral students through the Hispanic Theological Initiative Consortium in Princeton, N.J., and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Hispanic/Latino Theology.

Sánchez served as the main drafter for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Commission on Theology and Church Relations report Immigrants among Us: A Lutheran Framework for Addressing Immigration Issues (2012). He served as president of the LCMS’ Fifth National Hispanic Convention (2012–15), the Hispanic Convention’s vice president in the previous triennium (2009–12), and chairman of Lutherans in Medical Missions (2012–16), an LCMS Recognized Service Organization. He also has served organizations such as the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Lutheran Hour Ministries, and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service as a theological consultant for various projects.

In the community, Sánchez is principal double bass player with the St. Louis Civic Orchestra and an ensemble player with Di Kamer Kapelye. He also enjoys swimming and international cooking. Sánchez and his wife Tracy have two children, Lucas and Ana.

Interests:

Pneumatology (Holy Spirit)
Spirit Christology
Trinitarian theology
Sanctification
Theology of migration
Hispanic ministry (especially the intersection of theology and culture)
Issues in Hispanic ministries (especially immigration and the intersection of theology and culture)
Global South Christianity