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The Reverend Ralph Baumgartner has served as bishop's associate in the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) since 1995. Prior to his call to the synod, he served for 18 years as a pastor in ministry with Latinos in Mexico, Texas, and Minnesota.

A Minnesota native, he was graduated with a B.A. degree in political science and economics from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 1968. He received the M.Div. degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul in 1975.

He has participated in national leadership training through The Gamaliel Foundation in 1993 and advanced leaders’ training in 1996 and 2005, and has been a leader in the formation of ISAIAH, a metropolitan church-based organization. Through his role on the synod staff, he is leading a team of church planters doing outreach among low-income Latino immigrants on the East Side of St. Paul. He received the Race, Church and Change Award from Luther Seminary in 1992 in recognition of his leadership in the ministry of racial reconciliation.

Baumgartner lives in St. Paul with his wife Katherine, who serves on the faculty of the department of nursing at Augsburg College. They have two children, Matthew and Ana, and are members of Roseville Lutheran Church.