Rev. David Stechholz

The Rev. David Paul Stechholz was born in 1948 in Silver Creek, New York and baptized in the name of the Triune God in May, 1948 by his father. He was confirmed in June, 1962 at his home church, St, Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mendon, New York, near Rochester. His grandfather and great-grandfather were also Lutheran pastors.

Pastor Stechholz, as he prefers to be called, graduated from Valparaiso University with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Music and Geography, and from American University in Washington, D.C. with an M.A. in International Relations. He worked both for the Environmental Protection Agency and as a Minister of Music at Lutheran Church of St. Andrew in Silver Spring, Maryland, and did further course work in music before enrolling at the Seminary. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1978 with a M.Div. in Historical Theology. He also completed most but not all of the courses toward a doctorate in Systematic Theology at Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Pastor Stechholz and Janet were married at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois. They have been blessed with three wonderful, deeply-committed Christian children.

Pastor Stechholz served as pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Oakmont, PA, Messiah Lutheran Church, Danville, CA, and West Portal Evangelical Lutheran Church & School, San Francisco, and was elected President and Bishop of the English District in June 2007.