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We are pleased to welcome Brother Chris Markert to the staff of the SWT Synod as Bishop’s Associate and Director of Evangelical Mission, effective October 21, 2024.
Chris was born and raised in Houston, Texas. After high school, he attended Concordia University in Austin, Texas, majoring in Hispanic Studies and English. While in college Chris worked for what was then Lutheran Outdoor and Retreat Ministries of the Southwest (LORMS). He worked at Camp Chrysalis, Camp Lutherhill, and as part of travel teams across Texas.
After college, Chris ended up in Berkeley, California where he attended Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Upon graduation, his first call as pastor was at Prince of Peace in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2003, Chris was sent to serve as the redevelopment pastor for House of Prayer, a tiny, struggling congregation on the West Bank of New Orleans. During the summer of 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit, causing Chris to lose everything in the storm. Chris evacuated to Houston where he ended up relocating and rebuilding his life after Katrina.
In 2007, Chris was called to be the mission developer for a new congregation called Celebration in Cypress, Texas. He served Celebration for nine years until in 2015, he was invited to serve on the Gulf Coast Synod staff as Bishop’s Associate for Mission/DEM. In 2023, Chris went to help establish a fully bilingual Parallel New Start in Houston, born out of a dying congregation.
Chris has family roots in Lee County, and when he was growing up, he used to go to Lincoln, Texas each year for his family reunion, followed by the Dime Box Street Dance. His stepfather hails from Weimar, Texas and his mother is originally from Chappell Hill, Texas.
In his spare time Chris likes to go camping (only in the fall and winter!), take road trips, and is an avid Disney World fan. He is the founder and a life-professed sibling of the Order of Lutheran Franciscans. You might also catch him occasionally playing trivia at a local pub or coffee shop.
Chris is excited to join the Southwestern Texas Synod in growing communities of disciples that are living out the gospel of Jesus and we are grateful to welcome him!
Bishop Sue Briner
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