Zion Lutheran Church

Our 22nd Pastor

Pastor
Reverend David Lofthus
 

Our 21st Pastor
Reverend Robert H. Belknap, J.D.

Bob was born in Germany, was baptized in the Evangelische Kirche in Herdecke, Germany. He graduated  in 1964 from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Accounting and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Marines.   He and Agnes married that same year and  they lived in Quantico, VA, Carlsbad, CA and Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where they served as youth advisors for St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.  Pastor was with the 1st Battalion 5th Marines in Vietnam and upon returning to CONUS was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Pastor was released from ACDU and commenced his studies in the Law at the University of Georgia and in June of 1970 graduated with a Juris Doctor degree.  While in Law School, Bob received various assignments to ACDU with the Marine Corps and commenced his Marine Reserve Career.  Colonel Belknap retired from the Marine Corps in 1995 as the Assistant Director, Reserve Affairs, Judge Advocate Division, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps.  His awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with Bronze Star, NDSM, Vietnam CG, RVN SVM with 4 bronze stars, OMCR Medal (with 5 bronze stars), PUC, MUC, Combat Action Ribbon, Reserve Medal and numerous Certificates of Commendations and other recognitions of outstanding service.  Bob practiced law with Texaco, the City of New Orleans, and was in private practice in New Orleans and in Slidell, LA.  He served on several occasions as Judge Ad Hoc in New Orleans and was an instructor for numerous continuing legal education courses.  He was an adjunct faculty member at Delgado Community College and Concordia University Wisconsin, New Orleans Center.

Pastor Bob began serving Zion Lutheran Church in Bogalusa, LA on May 1, 1998 while attending Concordia Seminary through the DELTO program and upon graduation in December of 2004, was ordained on January 16, 2005 and installed as the Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Bogalusa, where he continued to serve until his call to Zion, New Orleans. Pastor Belknap has been active in numerous civic, community and veterans organizations.  Pastor Bob and his wife Agnes have two children, and five grandchildren.