Dr. Gifford A. Grobien

Rev. Dr. Gifford Grobien is The David P. Scaer Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, assistant provost, and director of the Doctor of Ministry program. He has served on the faculty since 2012. His research interests include sanctification, spirituality, natural law, virtue, and some topics in sacramental and liturgical studies. He typically teaches courses in theological ethics, the Lutheran Confessions, and dogmatic.

Publications include Christian Character Formation: Lutheran Studies of the Law, Anthropology, Worship, and Virtue (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019); “Spirituales Motus: Sanctification and Spiritual Movements in Believers” (CTQ, 2023); “Wisdom as the Scriptural Conception of Natural Law” (CTQ, 2019); and The Ethics of Sex: From Taboo to Delight (CPH, 2017).

Prior to serving at CTSFW, he was a postdoctoral teaching scholar in the Department of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, where he also earned his PhD in moral theology in 2011. While studying at Notre Dame, Dr. Grobien served as assistant pastor of Emmaus Evangelical Lutheran Church, South Bend, Indiana, from 2006–2012. He earned his MDiv in exegetical theology from CTSFW in 2005. Prior to attending seminary, he was a surface warfare officer in the US Navy (1995–2000).

Dr. Grobien earned his BS in foreign service from Georgetown University in 1995, where he first met Regina, originally from Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. They were married in December 1995 and have eight children and seven grandchildren. He enjoys playing, coaching, and officiating sports, especially soccer and baseball/softball. He also enjoys assisting Regina in homeschooling their children and traveling with his family. He is originally from San Pedro, California.