Rev. Dr. John Hellwege, Jr.
Academic Dean
Ph.D., Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Research Interests
The Church and Nazism • North American Lutheranism • Theology and Philosophy in the 19th and 20th Centuries • Postmodernism • Neo-Marxism
John Hellwege has served as a Lutheran pastor in Nebraska and Missouri. He was Associate Professor of Theology and Dean of Student Life at Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton, AB for eight years as well has having taught as adjunct faculty for Concordia Nebraska, Concordia Wisconsin, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. As a specialist in Modern Christianity, focusing on the Kirchenkampf (the struggle for control of the churches in Nazi Germany) and postmodernism, he likes to refer to himself as “a historian of the depressing.” Yet his sure hope in Christ makes Dr. Hellwege excited to be building a stronger church that can better stand up to the challenges of the world by teaching at LCC. He is also a martial artist, having studied several arts and earned a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo. Dr. Hellwege and his wonderful wife, Denise, have four children and six grandchildren.
Courses Taught at LCC
- PHIL 200: Logic
- RHE 270: Oratorical Analysis and Delivery
Academic Publications and Presentations
Popular Publications and Media Appearances
Academic Publications and Presentations
- “What are they Thinking and How Do We Respond?: Understanding the Mind and Values of the Woke and Speaking to Those Affected by This Movement,” Lutheran Theological Review 36 (2024): 102-26. https://drive.google.com/file/d/11J8pZNFMENVYMgAIkdGvmdp_lvzynwmd/view?usp=drive_link
- “LGBTQ2+ Caring Conversations.” Keynote speaker for three sessions. 2024 British Columbia Church Workers Conference for Lutheran Church-Canada, Sorrento, BC September 30 – October 3, 2024.
- “’You Shall Be Like God’: Technology from Sub-creation to Displacing the Creator.” 34th Annual Theological Symposium, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. September 17, 2024. http://scholar.csl.edu/theo/2024/sectionals/9
- “The Social Justice/Woke Movement: Tearing Down with the Hope that Better Will Arise.” Presented to the LCMS, Missouri District Professional Church Worker’s Conference. Lake of the Ozarks, MO. October 10-12, 2023.
- “When Social Justice is Not Just: Ministering in the Context of a Social-Justice Society.” Presented to the Alberta Pastor’s Respite Retreat. January 31 – February 2, 2023.
- “The Two-Kingdoms: Good Doctrine or Theological Confusion – The Debate within Nazi Germany.” Presented to the Evangelical Theological Society 2022 Annual Meeting at Denver, CO.
- “The Nazification of Martin Luther.” Lutheran Theological Review 33 (2021): 46-64. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UM2oGHH0KvDDRG4_KK8OrUpmrRKUY0w-/view?usp=drive_link
- “Theological and Philosophical Trends in the 20th and 21st Centuries.” Presented at the 2019 Saskatchewan Church Workers Conference. October 21-23, 2019.
- “Christians and Caesar: Models and Challenges throughout History.” Presented at the Alberta-British Columbia Church Workers’ Conference. April 24, 2018.
- “The Nazification of Martin Luther.” Presented at the Canadian Centre for Scholarship and the Christian Faith Conference: “500 Years of Reformation.” March 25, 2017, at Concordia University of Edmonton.
- “American Lutherans and the Problem of Pre-World War II Germany,” Concordia Theological Quarterly 80, no. 3-4 (July/October 2016): 309-331. https://online.fliphtml5.com/xwbrji/gzww/#p=1
- “American Response to German Politics before WWII.” Plenary presented to the 38th Annual Symposium on the Lutheran Confessions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN.
- “Mission at Nuremberg: An American Army Chaplain and the Trial of the Nazis,” Concordia Journal, 44, no.4 (Fall 2015): 365-67.
- “The Lutheran Battle Over Just War after the Great War: How the Doctrine of Just War came to be debated within American Lutheran Circles following World War I.” Presented to the Evangelical Theological Society 2014 Annual Meeting at San Diego, CA.
- “Wilhelm Loehe: American Lutheranism’s Distant Father,” Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, 83, no. 1 (Spring 2010): 2-17.
- “Wilhelm Loehe: American Lutheranism’s Distant Father.”
- Presented to the Concordia Historical Institute 2009 Conference on Archives and History at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO.
- “What Was Going on over There? The Missouri Synod’s Struggle to Understand Pre-War Nazi Germany as Seen in Two Popular Publications,” Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, 80, no. 2 (Summer 2007): 103-31.
Popular Publications and Media Appearances
- “The Conditions in Germany Leading to Emigration.” 2025 Immigration History Conference, Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum, Altenburg, MO. October 23, 2025.
- “The Altenburg Debate.” 2025 Immigration History Conference, Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum, Altenburg, MO. October 25, 2025.
- “Nazism and Religion.” Presented at: Missouri LLL Men’s Retreat, Camp SEMO Wappapello, MO. October 26, 2024.
- October 26, 2024.“When Social Justice is Not Just: Bringing the Hope and Peace of Christ to Those Hurt by the Social Justice Movement.” Presented to the Making Disciples for Life Conference, St. Louis, MO. October 10-12, 2022.
- “Spiritual Warfare.” Quest presentation at Concordia Lutheran Seminary for laity and the Church at large. October 19, 26, November 2, 9 2021 Available online at https://www.youtube.com/user/ConcordiaLutheranSem/videos.
- “The Essential Service of the Church.” The Canadian Lutheran 36, no. 4 (July/August 2021):6-8. https://issuu.com/thecanadianlutheran/docs/cl3604-web
- “The Lutheran Liturgy.” Quest presentation at Concordia Lutheran Seminary for laity and the Church at large. January 28, February 4, 11, 18 2020 Available online at https://www.youtube.com/user/ConcordiaLutheranSem/videos.
- “Trust Not in Princes.” The Canadian Lutheran 33, no. 4 (July/August 2018): 9-10. https://issuu.com/thecanadianlutheran/docs/cl3304-web
- “Nazism and Religion.” Presented at: First Lutheran Church, Lloydminster, AB. June 1-3, 2018.
- “Nazism and Religion.” Quest presentation at Concordia Lutheran Seminary for laity and the Church at large. January 12, 19, 26, February 2, 2016, Available online at https://www.youtube.com/user/ConcordiaLutheranSem/videos.
- Contributing editor: The Lutheran Difference. Edited by Edward Engelbrecht. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub. House, 2010.
- “The World of the Reformation,” “Lutheranism after Luther,” and “Changes and Challenges to Lutheranism.” in Lutheranism 101. Edited by Scot A. Kinnaman. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub. House, 2010.
- “The Life of C.F.W. Walther.” in Walther, C. F. W., Christian C. Tiews, Charles P. Schaum, John P. Hellwege, and Thomas Manteufel. Law & Gospel: How to Read and Apply the Bible. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub. House, 2010.
- “Nazism and Religion.” Presented at: St. Paul’s Evangelical Church, Creve Coeur, MO. December 2009.
Education
Ph.D. | Concordia Seminary | Historical Theology: The Modern World | 2009
S.T.M. | Concordia Seminary | Major: Historical Theology; Minor: Systematic Theology | 2000
M.Div. | Concordia Seminary | 1999
B.A. | Concordia College, Seward, NE | Theology | 1993
Rev. Dr. John Hellwege, Jr. in LCC Media
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