Virginia Beach pastor selected as new Roanoke College chaplain

Rev. Chris Bowen will succeed the Rev. Paul Henrickson, who had worked for the college since 1982.

Chris Bowen

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The Rev. Chris Bowen has been named the new chaplain of Roanoke College.

Bowen, who begins work July 1, will succeed the Rev. Paul Henrickson, who had worked for Roanoke College since 1982 before announcing his intent to retire this summer.

Coming into his new position as the Timothy L. Pickle Dean of the Chapel, Bowen brings with him a background in both biology and the Lutheran church.

Bowen was ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 2001 following his graduation from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C. Before being ordained, Bowen worked as a research assistant at North Carolina State University after graduating from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C., with a biology degree.

After initially serving as a pastor in Lake Nebagamon, Wis., Bowen most recently worked at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach, where he served first as an associate pastor and then as a senior pastor. Bowen has served as the senior pastor of St. Michael Lutheran since 2009.

Bowen’s duties at Roanoke College will include offering religious programming for the entire campus as well as serving as the pastor for the students, faculty and staff, according to a news release.

Monday, August 12, 2013