Mark Bender

Dr. Mark Bender has served as the minister of music at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, Missouri, since 1991. Previously, he served as a minister of music at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Indianapolis, Indiana. A published composer of choral and organ music, Mark has been chairman of the Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and a member of the Liturgy Committee of the Lutheran Hymnal Project. He is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education—director of parish music and a master’s degree of church music from Concordia University Chicago. He has also been presented the honorary Christus Vivit award from Concordia Seminary and the honorary doctor of letters degree from Concordia University Chicago. Mark serves as an elected member of the board of directors of Concordia Publishing House. Mark and his wife, Ann (a piano teacher), are the parents of three daughters.