Dr. James L. Brauer is a professor emeritus of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Brauer retired in 2008 after 17 years of distinguished service as professor of Practical Theology. He also served as dean of the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus.
Prior to coming to the Seminary in 1991, he served as instructor of classical languages and religion (1965-68) and professor (1968-87) at Concordia College in Bronxville, N.Y. He also served as director for the Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (1987-92).
He received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) from Concordia Seminary (1964, 1967). He holds a Master of Sacred Music (S.M.M.) from Union Theological Seminary in New York, N.Y. (now the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University) (1972) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in music from City University of New York, N.Y. (1983). He was ordained on July 4, 1965, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Wis.
He is the author of Meaningful Worship: A Guide to the Lutheran Service (Concordia Publishing House) and Worship, Gottesdienst, Cultus Dei: What the Lutheran Confessions Say About Worship (Concordia Publishing House) as well as numerous articles and reviews. Two collections of his hymn prelude compositions were published by Concordia Publishing House.
He has been a member of professional societies, including the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, the North American Academy of Liturgy, the American Guild of Organists, the North American Academy of Liturgy and the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.
He is married to Gail (nee Schuth). They have a son, Andrew (who died in 2016); a daughter, Rebecca (Mitchell); and five grandchildren.