Justin Eller

Thesis title: Nos acompañamos: A Critical and Constructive Examination of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Theology of Accompaniment

Biography

Background

The Rev. Justin Eller (he/him/él) is a PhD by distance student.

Justin has previously served as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)'s Regional Representative in South America, relating to the ELCA's companion Lutheran churches in Argentina-Uruguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. His ministry centered around accompaniment and interculturality. 

His first call was with the Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Boliviana (IELB) as a Pastoral Team Educator in the areas of Lutheran confessions, pastoral identity, liturgy, and contextual Lutheran identity with Bolivian pastors and lay leaders. He was also an instructor at the Instituto Superior Ecuménico Andino de Teología (ISEAT), teaching Church History, New Testament, Worship & Liturgy, and Biblical Greek.

Qualifications

BS (Biochemistry), MDiv (Theology)

 

Responsibilities & affiliations

American Academy of Religion, Member, 2024-present

International Transformative Learning Association, Member, 2025-present

Postgraduate teaching

  • Introduction to Interculturality, ELCA Southeastern Synod, Spring 2022 (co-taught with the Julie Crosby)
  • Spanish for Liturgy, ELCA Southeastern Synod, Spring 2022 (co-taught with Chelsea Lemcke)
  • Interculturality: Building Relationships, Becoming Engaged, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Lincoln, Nebraska, Summer 2017 (co-taught with Kari Eller)
  • Identidad Luterana Confesional, Instituto Superior Ecúmenico Andino de Teología, La Paz, Bolivia, Spring 2013
  • Griego 2, Instituto Superior Ecúmenico Andino de Teología, La Paz, Bolivia, Spring 2012
  • Griego 1, Instituto Superior Ecúmenico Andino de Teología, La Paz, Bolivia, Fall 2011
  • Culto y Liturgia, Instituto Superior Ecúmenico Andino de Teología, La Paz, Bolivia, Fall 2011, Fall 2010
  • Introducción al Nuevo Testamento, Instituto Superior Ecúmenico Andino de Teología, La Paz, Bolivia, Summer 2010
  • Historia de la Iglesia I, Instituto Superior Ecúmenico Andino de Teología, La Paz, Bolivia, Spring 2013, Spring 2012, Spring 2011, Spring 2010

Research summary

Justin tends to engage in teología en conjunto and de conjunto (communal theology) with research interests often found at the intersections of missiology, critical pedagogy, decolonizing-liberation theologies, interculturalidad, Lutheran contextual identity development (especially within the Latin American and Caribbean context), transformative learning, and practical theology.

Current research interests

Missiology, ecclesiology, transformative learning, decoloniality, interculturality, anti-imperial Christianity, Christian education, mission formation, biblical and confession hermeneutics from the Global South

Conference details

  • 15th International Congress for Luther Research, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark (Aug 2026).
  • SGSAH Scottish Universities Theology, Religion and Biblical Studies Postgraduate Workshop, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland (Jun 2025).
  • 15th Biennial International Transformative Learning Conference, University of Siena, Siena, Italy (Sep 2024).

Invited speaker

  • "Systematic Theology: Holy Spirit from experiences of Latin American Lutheran Churches." Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (Nov 2025).

Organiser

  • "Identidades luteranas y la evangelización desde las perspectivas de la diversidad sexual", Voces + Vidas + Visiones FORO 22: Perspectivas Luteranas Latinoamericanas, Sínodo del sureste de la ELCA (dic 2022).
  • "Identidades luteranas y la evangelización desde las perspectivas de la (in)migración", Voces + Vidas + Visiones FORO 22: Perspectivas Luteranas Latinoamericanas, Sínodo del sureste de la ELCA (sep 2022).
  • "Identidades luteranas y la evangelización desde las perspectivas de justicia de género", Voces + Vidas + Visiones FORO 22: Perspectivas Luteranas Latinoamericanas, Sínodo del sureste de la ELCA (jun 2022).
  • "Identidades luteranas y la evangelización desde las perspectivas latinoamericanas", Voces + Vidas + Visiones FORO 22: Perspectivas Luteranas Latinoamericanas, Sínodo del sureste de la ELCA (mar 2022).

Papers delivered

  • "Toward a Constructivist Grounded Theology: Making the case for a new theo-qualitative methodological framework," SGSAH Scottish Universities Theology, Religion and Biblical Studies Postgraduate Workshop, Glasgow, Scotland (Jun 2025).
  • “Wade in the Water: Experience the Troubling of Transformative Learning,” 15th Biennial International Transformative Learning Conference, Siena, Italy (Sep 2024).
  • “Perichoretical Engagement: Theological Musings for Mutual Accompaniment.” University of Edinburgh New College Postgraduate Colloquium, Edinburgh, Scotland (Jun 2024).
  • “Post-indoctrination: Teaching Lutheran doctrine in a mission context,” 12th International Congress for Luther Research, Helsinki, Finland (Aug 2012).

  • "Healthy Boundaries." Workshop, Southeastern Synod Fall Convocation, Arden, NC, Oct 2025, Caribbean Synod, Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands, Nov 2025.

  • “Accompaniment 2.0.” Peace Lutheran Church, Knoxville, TN, Mar 16, 2025.

  • “Accompaniment is Formation.” Workshop, Southeastern Synod Assembly, Chattanooga, TN, Jun 2, 2023.

  • “Pastoral Care for Rostered Ministers” Workshop, Southeastern Synod Fall Convocation, Arden, NC, Oct 19, 2022.

  • “Growing Latiné Ministry” Workshop, Southeastern Synod Fall Convocation, Arden, NC, Oct 19, 2022.

  • “Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation, and Opportunities (AMMPARO) - Guardian Angels Program.” Program presentation, Southeastern Synod, Atlanta, GA Sep 13, 2022 and Mar 4, 2023. 

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