Official nominee source text
- Section
- West-Southwest Region Regional Vice-President
- Office/position
- West-Southwest Region Regional Vice-President
- Candidate category
- ordained or commissioned
- Source page
- p. 38
- Also candidate for
- First Vice-President
Formatted from official nominee source text for readability.
Basic Details
- Name
- Alfonso O. Espinosa
- Locale
- Lak e Forest, CA
- Congregation
- St Paul’ s, Irvine, CA (PSW)
- Birth Year
- 1965
- Birthplace
- Delano, CA
- Wife’s Maiden Name
- Mar tin
- Number of Children
- 8
- College
- Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, CA (1987)
- Seminary
- Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN (1991)
- Other Degrees
- MA in Christian Apologetics, Biola University, La Mirada, CA (2001); PhD in Theology, University of Birmingham, England (2009)
- Member of Synod Congregations (years)
- 43
- Rostered Member of Synod (years)
- 35
- Year of Ordination
- 1991
Service History
Pastorates
| Congregation | Years |
|---|---|
| St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Covina, CA | 1991–1996 |
| St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Laguna Beach, CA | 1996–2002 |
| Living Word Lutheran Church, The Woodlands, TX | 2002–2010 |
| St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine, Irvine, CA | 2011–2026 |
- Congregation
- St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Covina, CA
- Years
- 1991–1996
- Congregation
- St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Laguna Beach, CA
- Years
- 1996–2002
- Congregation
- Living Word Lutheran Church, The Woodlands, TX
- Years
- 2002–2010
- Congregation
- St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine, Irvine, CA
- Years
- 2011–2026
Synod Offices
| Position | Years |
|---|---|
| Chair, Board for National Mission | 2014–present |
| Doctrinal Re view | 2019–2026 |
- Position
- Chair, Board for National Mission
- Years
- 2014–present
- Position
- Doctrinal Re view
- Years
- 2019–2026
Other Significant Service or Experience
| Type of Service | Years |
|---|---|
| Adjunct Professor of Theology, Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, CA | 1996–2002, |
| 2009–2021 Author/Writer | 1999–present |
- Type of Service
- Adjunct Professor of Theology, Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, CA
- Years
- 1996–2002,
- Type of Service
- 2009–2021 Author/Writer
- Years
- 1999–present
Synod Offices
| Position | Years |
|---|---|
| African Immigrant Task Force | 1996–2002 |
| Director of Ne w Mission Fields Development | 2004–2010 |
| Mission and Ministr y Facilitator, Texas District | 2015–2022 |
- Position
- African Immigrant Task Force
- Years
- 1996–2002
- Position
- Director of Ne w Mission Fields Development
- Years
- 2004–2010
- Position
- Mission and Ministr y Facilitator, Texas District
- Years
- 2015–2022
District Offices
| Position | Years |
|---|---|
| Missionary | 1995–2001 |
- Position
- Missionary
- Years
- 1995–2001
Other Significant Service or Experience
| Type of Service | Years |
|---|---|
| Director of Ministry Programs, The Lutheran Foundation of Fort Wayne, IN | 2011–2015 |
- Type of Service
- Director of Ministry Programs, The Lutheran Foundation of Fort Wayne, IN
- Years
- 2011–2015
Pastorates
| Congregation | Years |
|---|---|
| Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pontiac, IL | 1988–1991 |
| Immanuel Lutheran Church, Augsburg, IL | 1994–1997 |
| Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gresham, OR | 1997–present |
- Congregation
- Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, Pontiac, IL
- Years
- 1988–1991
- Congregation
- Immanuel Lutheran Church, Augsburg, IL
- Years
- 1994–1997
- Congregation
- Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gresham, OR
- Years
- 1997–present
Synod Offices
| Position | Years |
|---|---|
| Commission on Doctrinal Review | 2019–present |
- Position
- Commission on Doctrinal Review
- Years
- 2019–present
District Offices
| Position | Years |
|---|---|
| Circuit Visitor, Mt. Hood Circuit, Oregon District | 2003–2018 |
| Oregon Region-Vice President and Second Vice-President, Northwest District | 2018–2024 |
| First Vice-President, Northwest District | 2024–present |
- Position
- Circuit Visitor, Mt. Hood Circuit, Oregon District
- Years
- 2003–2018
- Position
- Oregon Region-Vice President and Second Vice-President, Northwest District
- Years
- 2018–2024
- Position
- First Vice-President, Northwest District
- Years
- 2024–present
Other Significant Service or Experience
| Type of Service | Years |
|---|---|
| Graduate Fellow Concordia Mission Institute | 1993 |
- Type of Service
- Graduate Fellow Concordia Mission Institute
- Years
- 1993
Personal Statement
My published books (CPH faith and culture trilogy), works of Christian apologetics (Wipf & Stock), and service on the Board for National Mission (especially with LCMS Family Ministry) demonstrate my passion for equipping the church to reach our culture with the saving Gospel. We must be as St. Paul, becoming all things to all people, that by all means we might save some (1 Cor. 9:22). For this to happen, our ordained and commissioned servants need us to invest heavily in their holistic health for joy to fill our hearts as all of us love the truth as well as the people we serve.
Also candidate for
First Vice-President
Personal Statement
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is blessed to have unity on the doctrine of Scripture and an unwavering commitment to the Lutheran Confessions. I support the Synod Constitution as it supports the engagement of the diversity of gifts with which the Lord has blessed the church in mission and ministry. The church is also united in its commitment to the missio Dei. I am also deeply committed to making Christ known to all nations. In a country where many ethnicities have converged, a diverse and culturally relevant approach to mission and ministry is important. We have to speak the languages of the people we serve. I will oppose anything that undermines this unity.
Although I am very content to serve our Lord as I am currently, I am humbled to have been nominated for these offices. In whatever way my experience as a pastor both in the Midwest (Northern Illinois District and Central Illinois District) and in the Northwest District might serve our Lord’s church, I am at His and her service.
Of course, challenges lie ahead, but we have a Lord who remains faithful. As a longtime vicarage supervisor, I am particularly encouraged by the zeal I see in our younger pastors and young people in general. They love our theology and desire to serve and spread the Good News of Jesus. May they inspire us to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints and snatch others from the fire and save them (Jude 3 and 23).
Also candidate for
First Vice-President
Vice-President: West-Southwest Region | 39
