The Rev. Richard Foss

Richard “Rick” Foss, the director of the coordination program for Lilly Endowment's National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders, served as the interim president of Luther Seminary from December 2012 – May 2014. He came to Luther Seminary as Director of Contextual Learning in 2008. Previously, he served as Bishop for the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a position he held since 1992.  Rick holds degrees from St. Olaf College (BA) and Luther Seminary (MDiv and MTh). Prior to serving as Bishop, he served for 21 years as the senior pastor in congregations in Minnesota, Washington and North Dakota. In 1995 he was named as one of three finalists for Presiding Bishop of the ELCA.