Pastor Paul Ziese began his service as senior pastor of MacArthur Park Lutheran Church in August 1996.  Prior to coming to San Antonio, he served as senior pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin; senior pastor and co-pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Yorktown; and co-pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Austin and Grace Lutheran Church in Lockhart. 

Paul Ziese was born in Houston, graduated from Waltrip High School and is a son of Holy Cross Lutheran Church.  He received a B.A. in psychology and sociology from Texas Lutheran University in Seguin in 1972.  Later that summer he married Lynn Schudy who currently serves as Bishop's Associate of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Paul received a M.Div. from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN in 1976 and a M.Th. in systematic theology in 1982.  His thesis was titled “Theology and Practice of Baptism for Lutherans and Baptists.”  He also received a D.Min. from Garrett-Evangelical Seminary in Evanston, IL in 1998.  His final field project was titled, “Stewardship Education as a Means of Congregational Redevelopment.” 

In addition to being a pastor at MacArthur Park, Paul serves as Immediate Past President of the Greater San Antonio Community of Congregations, the oldest and largest ecumenical organization in the city.  The group recently became interfaith.  He also serves as Dean of the San Antonio Conference of the Southwestern Texas Synod.  Recently, he was elected to the Board of Directors of St. Luke’s Lutheran Health Ministries and was a voting member to the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.   

In his spare time, Paul enjoys exercising,, keeping up with current events, and playing sudoka puzzles.  He has enjoyed being an amateur weather observer and astronomer.  

Paul and Lynn are parents of three adult offspring – Rachel, Jonathan, and Timothy.