I currently serve as Associate Pastor at Christ Lutheran (Fredericksburg, VA). Here, I am tasked primarily with overseeing community engagement, Christian formation/youth, and pastoral care. I have also served as a volunteer law enforcement chaplain since 2008, awarded the National Sheriff’s Association Medal of Merit in 2018. I enjoy assisting the local Clinical Pastoral Education program as Chair of their Public Advisory Group where, along with advising the program director and staff, I occasionally teach intern and resident chaplains. You might have also heard about me as a member of “The Clerical Errors” (aka “The 3 Priests”) a popular, regional theology on tap program held live in the Richmond area and also a podcast. You can learn more about this through our Facebook group: Three Priests Walk in a Bar.
This blog is just another chance for me to offer my two cents about faith and the world for those interested. Hopefully, it will serve to honor God and help others here and there along their way. If you are interested in first responder health and wellness, I invite you to visit my blog and podcast, Midnights LEO (LEO stands for Law Enforcment Officer).
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Lou
Biographical Information:
Pastor Lou Florio is a former police officer, missionary to Native youth, and hospice chaplain. He previously served the Church as Pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church (Mechanicsville, VA), Vice-Pastor at Christ Lutheran Church (Richmond, VA), Acting Vice-Pastor at Lakeside Lutheran Church (Littleton, NC), and represented the Virginia Synod Bishop’s Office as Dean of the Richmond Conference of ELCA Congregations. He currently serves as Associate Pastor of Christ Lutheran (Fredericksburg, VA). He has a heart for ecumenical and interfaith relationships, serving as a representative of the Virginia Synod (ELCA) on the Virginia LARCUM (Lutheran-Anglican-Roman Catholic-United Methodist) Committee and Virginia Lutheran-Episcopal Committee Committee since 2020. He has earned the “Senior” level credential for law enforcement chaplaincy through the International Conference of Police Chaplains in 2023. He was the City of Alexandria Kiwanis Police Officer of the Year alongside his patrol partner in 1994.
Pastor Florio graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (English) degree with Distinction from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1986. He was named a Distinguished Military Graduate of the United State Army (ROTC) and awarded VMI’s Asa S. Dearing Medal for graduating top in his academic department. He was later awarded a Master of Divinity degree from Union Presbyterian Seminary and Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He completed additional studies for ordination at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now part of United Lutheran Seminary) and also served as a volunteer with the Ecumenical Community of Taizé in France for several months (1994-1995).
He married the love of his life, Kristine, in 2002. She serves as a federal government employee, and they reside in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. They both remain big fans of VCU Rams Baskeball.
© 2023 The Rev. Louis Florio. All text and images not held under copyright by Word Press or another entity may not be used without permission of the author.
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