Biography

Dirk G. Lange, Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, has been elected deputy general secretary for ecumenical relations of the Lutheran World Federation for a 5-year term starting February 1, 2020. Dr. Lange has relocated to Geneva Switzerland for this term but will be returning to the seminary campus twice annually to teach worship courses as intensives.

Rev. Prof. Dr. Dirk G. Lange (born in Winnipeg, Canada) is Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations at the Lutheran World Federation and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Christian Mission and Professor of Worship at Luther Seminary (USA). He graduated from Emory University with a PhD in theological studies. His ministerial experience has covered a wide spectrum of activities, but all under one umbrella: liturgy and reconciliation in the lives of people. He has written extensively on topics in liturgical theology and ecumenism. His book Trauma Recalled is on Luther’s sacramental theology. His second book focuses on Luther’s theology of prayer: Today, Everything is Different: An Adventure in Prayer and Action. Prof. Lange was the North American Lutheran representative on the Fifth Phase of the International Joint Lutheran-Catholic Dialogue Commission. He is the primary author of The Common Prayer for the Joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the 500 Years of Reformation and was the Project Officer for this commemorative liturgy celebrated on October 31, 2016 with Pope Francis and leaders of the Lutheran World Federation. Prof. Lange is an ordained ELCA pastor and has served parishes in Atlanta (GA) and Philadelphia (PA).