Outstanding Leadership in Queens
2003 Honoree of the Queens Federation of Churches

The Reverend Dr. David H. Benke

The Rev. Dr. David H. Benke is a stalwart preacher and teacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His work in New York City to bring people together and to help heal the City's many wounds following the attack of 9/11 has not only earned him praise, but also blistering criticism from some of his co-religionists who object to his participation in the Yankee Stadium "Prayer for America" event. With great grace and courage, he is not only contesting the charges of heresy, unionism and syncretism filed against him – charges which threaten his position as a denominational leader and his clergy standing – but he is praying for his accusers as he continues to pray for and minister to the people of New York City.

David Benke was born in Milwaukee and baptized by his maternal grandfather. He was awarded the B.A. degree with highest honors from Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He and Judith were married in 1968.

After graduating from Concordia Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1972, he spent an additional year in Old Testament studies. He was ordained into the Holy Ministry in June 15, 1972, at his "home" church, Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in Milwaukee.

In 1973, the Benkes moved to New York, where David taught religion classes at Martin Luther High School in Maspeth. Judy began teaching at Queens Lutheran School. In 1975, he accepted the Call to serve as Pastor of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brooklyn. The ministry of pastor and people at St. Peter's has been richly blessed through the years, by God's grace. Mission outreach has produced members from fifteen different countries of origin, with Sunday worship in English and Spanish. St. Peter's Pre-School, established in 1975, has flourished under the direction of Judy Benke (ten years) and Dr. Benke. He has remained as pastor of St. Peter's. In 1983, New York Theological Seminary awarded him the Doctor of Ministry degree.

Dr. Benke was elected President of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in June 1991 and he has served in that capacity until the present. The district has grown in service through the addition of fifteen new preaching stations in the past year and a half, and was the region of the Missouri Synod with the most new mission starts in 2001, as well as being the District with the most gains in confirmed membership in that time frame.

Dr. Benke has led various civic events and offered a prayer at Yankee Stadium on September 23, 2001, following the World Trade Center Disaster. He is the co-chair of Lutheran Disaster Response of New York, an effort that is bringing comfort and renewal to New Yorkers from all walks of life following the disaster of September 11. He is currently serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York, while he is appealing his suspension from his duties as Atlantic District President LC-MS.