Church Staff
We are honored to serve St. James Lutheran Church.Â
Rev. John J. Bombaro, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor
As of August 2024, John J. Bombaro is Senior Pastor of St. James Lutheran Church. He also holds the rank of Commander in the United States Navy Reserves, serving the Armed Forces as an LCMS chaplain. His undergraduate training took place at Rutgers University and Columbia International University, with studies continuing at the University of Edinburgh (MTh), King’s College London (PhD), Concordia Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Westfield House, Cambridge (DTM). He has been a faculty member at Dickinson College, Messiah College, University of San Diego, Luther Academy (Rīga), and Charles University (Prague). Dr. Bombaro successfully planted St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church on Kaua’i and Blessed Sacrament Lutheran Church in Hayden, Idaho. From 2007-2018, he was Senior Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in San Diego, CA. The Bombaro family were missionaries in Europe with the LCMS’s Office of International Mission from 2020-2024. He is widely published and a frequent contributor to Issues, Etc. He and his wife, Melinda (Vidal) Bombaro, have four children and love Penn State football and the National Parks.
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8 AM - Noon, 1-5 PM
Summer Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
9 AM - Noon, 1-4 PM
The church office is located on the lower level of the parish center located at the corner of 9th Street and Cincinnati Street (door #6).