Rev. Dr. Leopoldo A. Sanchez

Dr. Leopoldo A. Sánchez M. is the Werner R.H. Krause and Elizabeth Ringger Krause Professor of Hispanic Ministries and professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He served as director of the Center for Hispanic Studies (2006-24) and 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). He also holds a Máster en Música Hispana from Universidad de Valladolid, Spain (2026).

Sánchez’s published work includes “The Other Lutherans: Voices from the Global South” (Bloomsbury, 2025), which he co-edited with Samuel Deressa and Marcell Silva Steuernagel; “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 Spirit Christology 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 “Lutheran identity for Nuestras 95 tesis: A quinientos años de la Reforma” (Abingdon Press/AETH, 2016). He also published “Theologian by Day, Double Bass Player by Night: Toward a Christological Aesthetic for the Use of Instrumental Music in Worship” for “Worship Through Latinx Eyes” (Wipf & Stock, 2026). 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, vocation, theology of migration, issues in Hispanic ministry (especially the intersection of theology and culture), musicology (ethnomusicology) and theology, 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 Laidlaw College (New Zealand), the Mekane Yesus Seminary (Ethiopia), and the Meachum School of Haymanot (U.S.).

Sánchez regularly preaches for “Para El Camino,” a Spanish-language program of Lutheran Hour Ministries. He also 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.

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, Vocation
Theology of migration
Hispanic ministry and mission (especially the intersection of theology and culture)
Musicology (ethnomusicology) and theology
Global South Christianity