Rev. Joshua Hayes will serve as the first dean of chapel at Luther Classical College in Casper, Wyoming, when classes commence on August 25, 2025. Hayes, who holds a master’s degree in classics, also will teach LCC’s summer Latin course starting in June. His duties will be split among conducting chapel services, teaching, and serving as assisting pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, which is hosting the college for its opening year.
“I’m excited for the appointment of Pastor Hayes to the faculty at LCC as dean of chapel, as well as his assisting me on occasion with my congregational duties,” says Rev. Jon Olson, head pastor at Trinity. “His commitment to confessional Lutheran theology, academic experience, and pastoral heart will be a great asset to us as we continue to build the Lutheran community in Casper.”
While chapel attendance is thin at most Christian colleges, LCC looks forward to full participation by faculty and students alike. “Chapel serves both spiritual and academic aims,” explains the academic catalog, “and at Luther Classical College the academic never can be separated from the spiritual.” Although students will not be graded on chapel attendance, they will be expected to connect what they hear in daily homilies, sing from the hymnal, and chant in the liturgy with what they discuss in courses across the academic disciplines. As dean of chapel, Pastor Hayes will organize periodic “Christian Culture” sessions in which a faculty member or guest presenter connects historic Christian teachings to contemporary life issues. “God’s Word is our lamp, our life, our unity—the very heart of our community,” notes the academic catalog.
All faculty at LCC must subscribe to a theological confession identifying Holy Scripture as the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the Book of Concord as the correct exposition of Holy Scripture. “We are Lutheran first, classical second, and everything else third,” says Dr. Ryan MacPherson, academic dean. “Pastor Hayes brings to LCC an impressive ability not only to understand the Latin grammar of Caesar and Cicero, but also to make it accessible to students. Above all, he comes as a herald of the Gospel of forgiveness in Christ Jesus our Savior.” After mastering secular Latin in year one, students will progress to Latin readings from Augustine and other church fathers in year two, together with a study of the Latin version of the Lutheran Confessions.
“By learning Latin students gain a front-row seat at the great conversation that has been happening for thousands of years,” explains Hayes. “Nearly all of Western thought and theology (and a great deal of our English language) comes to us from or through Latin. From Julius Caesar’s reshaping of the Roman world into which the Christ would be born to Luther’s posting of the 95 Theses, from Melanchthon’s Apology of the Augsburg Confession to the theological education of Walther and our forefathers, it all happened in Latin.”
“We have been richly blessed once again by our gracious Lord who continually gifts us with such outstanding faculty,” says Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau, LCC’s president. “We are delighted to welcome Pastor Hayes who has been loyally participating in the leadership of LCC and full-heartedly committed to its mission from its beginning. As dean of chapel, Pastor Hayes brings to the college a deep spiritual maturity, passion for preaching, and love for the Gospel and historic liturgy that is sure to be imitated by students for years to come.”
Pastor Hayes and his wife Diane have five children. He holds an M.Div. from Concordia Seminary–St. Louis and an M.A. in Classics from Washington University in St. Louis. He served as editor and translator for Johann Gerhard’s Theological Commonplaces (CPH) and is a contributing translator for the American edition of Luther’s Works. Since 2020, he has served as pastor at Saint John Lutheran Church in Palmer, Kansas.
“There is a time and season for everything. To that end, we rejoice with Pastor Josh Hayes and his family as they follow God’s call to Casper, Wyoming, and prepare to serve students at Luther Classical College,” says Rev. Justin Panzer, president of the Kansas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. “I give thanks to God for his faithful Word and Sacrament ministry at Saint John Lutheran. Rev. Hayes is a faithful preacher, teacher, and student of God’s Word. He will be greatly missed by his congregation, circuit, and district and will serve LCC with faithfulness and dignity. We pray that God will continue to grant him wisdom and strength as he prepares for his new vocation.”
Prior to being appointed as dean of chapel, Pastor Hayes served on the board of regents of Luther Classical College as well as the college’s Mission and Student Life Committee, which laid the groundwork for the hiring of Dr. William Lipke as director of admissions and Dr. Caleb Karges as dean of students. Dr. Lipke, who also coordinates the college’s parish music program, will work closely with Pastor Hayes in arranging for student musicians to contribute their talents in daily chapel services. “Lutherans sing Lutheran doctrine. No church has a richer history of putting the fullness of God’s Word into song than the Lutheran church,” says Hayes. At LCC, students will daily be “taught and made wise” (Colossians 3:16) through the great hymnody of Ambrose, Luther, Gerhardt, Bach, Walther, and above all, the Bible.
“Everyone loves a congregation that sings,” notes Hayes. “I rejoice that LCC will so faithfully shape the piety of these young men and women to be a blessing for their future families and congregations.”
