Renewing Church and University
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Renewing Church and University The Twenty-Seventh Annual Reformation Day at Emory October 21, 2014 Emory Texts and Studies in Ecclesial Life, 7 Hans Baldung Grien’s portrait of Martin Luther in Postil oder vszleg der Epistel vnd Evangelien durch den Advent (Strasbourg: Johann Schott, 1522). Renewing church and university: the twenty-seventh annual Reformation Day at Emory / edited by M. Patrick Graham 72 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm The Reformation and Education / Timothy J. Wengert—The Place of Theology in the University / Ian A. McFarland—Theological education and church reform / Armin Siedlecki. 1. Christian education—History—16th century—Exhibitions. 2. Education— History—16th century—Exhibitions. 3. Universities and colleges—History—16th century—Exhibitions. 4. Reformation—Exhibitions. I. Pitts Theology Library II. Title BV1465.P588 2014 [Z664.P588] RENEWING CHURCH AND U NIVER SITY RENEWING CHURCH AND U NIVER SITY T HE T WENTY S EVENTH A NNUAL REFOR MATION D AY AT E MOR Y OCTOBER 21, 2014 E DITED BY M . PATR I C K GRAHAM E MOR Y T EXTS AND S TUDIES IN ECCLESIAL L IFE, 7 A TLANTA: PITTS T HEOLOGY L IBR A R Y, 2014 1 RENEWING CHURCH AND U NIVER SITY RENEWING CHURCH AND U NIVER SITY P R EFAC E temporary topics. The subject of his article in this volume is The year 2014 marks the cen- hardly a new one for him—as the tennial of Candler School of footnotes of his work make clear—but Theology, the completion of the new in it he shows in meticulous detail and home for the Pitts Theology Library with the fine nuance of a mature scholar with its remarkable exhibit gallery, and just how much Luther and certain oth- the twenty-seventh annual Reformation ers engaged in a “remarkable merging of Day at Emory. The theme for this year’s education and theology, humanism and program is, “Reform in the University Reformation” (p. 8 below). This presen- and the Church,” a topic that is not only tation corrects and fills in the gaps of important for a proper understand- what many know or recall from reading ing of events and social institutions in about Luther and his reformation, and Germany almost five hundred years ago, it summons the contemporary church but it is also critical for discussions about and academy to a deeper and more theological education and the value of responsible engagement of this topic. The university divinity schools today. While Pitts Theology Library is grateful for his Martin Luther’s name is widely associ- contribution to this year’s program and ated with the Protestant Reformation in for his unflagging and generous service Germany, and the story of him nailing on the Scholars Advisory Committee his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Church in Wittenberg certainly captured Collection. popular imagination, what is not so widely known is that Luther and his col- Professor Ian A. McFarland, associate leagues at the University of Wittenberg dean of faculty and academic affairs began reforming the school’s medi- and Bishop Mack B. and Rose Stokes eval curriculum under the influence of Professor of Theology at Candler renaissance humanism, and this reform School of Theology, Emory University, had theological implications that fur- contributed the second article in this thered the reform of the church. volume, “The Place of Theology in the University.” As a lay Lutheran theologian This volume presents the two main lec- and by virtue of his position at Candler tures from the 2014 Reformation Day School of Theology, he is well prepared at Emory and the catalog for the exhibi- for this examination of the role of a tion, thus ensuring that the contributions school of theology in a university and of the day to scholarship and to related the implications that such a setting holds discussions in the church and academy for both the academy and the church. are preserved and made widely avail- Professor McFarland has demonstrated able. Professor Timothy J. Wengert, his ability as an accomplished system- Ministerium of Pennsylvania Emeritus atic theologian, able administrator (most Professor of the History of Christianity recently, guiding Candler School of at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Theology successfully through the reaf- Philadelphia, has entitled his presenta- firmation of accreditation process with tion “The Reformation and Education.” the ATS and SACS), and deeply engaged In addition to his achievements in the member of an ELCA congregation. His classroom and study as one who has clarity of thought, fine and irrepressible shaped a generation of Lutheran clergy sense of humor, and generous support and won an international reputation as for the Kessler Reformation Collection a scholar of the Reformation, with par- and its programs has made his partner- ticular expertise on Philipp Melanchthon, ship with the Pitts Theology Library This publication is made possible with support from he has assisted Lutheran churches and invaluable. Nancy and Walker Ray in honor of their children and grandchildren. others in their navigation of thorny con- 2 3 RENEWING CHURCH AND U NIVER SITY RENEWING CHURCH AND U NIVER SITY P R EFAC E temporary topics. The subject of his article in this volume is The year 2014 marks the cen- hardly a new one for him—as the tennial of Candler School of footnotes of his work make clear—but Theology, the completion of the new in it he shows in meticulous detail and home for the Pitts Theology Library with the fine nuance of a mature scholar with its remarkable exhibit gallery, and just how much Luther and certain oth- the twenty-seventh annual Reformation ers engaged in a “remarkable merging of Day at Emory. The theme for this year’s education and theology, humanism and program is, “Reform in the University Reformation” (p. 8 below). This presen- and the Church,” a topic that is not only tation corrects and fills in the gaps of important for a proper understand- what many know or recall from reading ing of events and social institutions in about Luther and his reformation, and Germany almost five hundred years ago, it summons the contemporary church but it is also critical for discussions about and academy to a deeper and more theological education and the value of responsible engagement of this topic. The university divinity schools today. While Pitts Theology Library is grateful for his Martin Luther’s name is widely associ- contribution to this year’s program and ated with the Protestant Reformation in for his unflagging and generous service Germany, and the story of him nailing on the Scholars Advisory Committee his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Church in Wittenberg certainly captured Collection. popular imagination, what is not so widely known is that Luther and his col- Professor Ian A. McFarland, associate leagues at the University of Wittenberg dean of faculty and academic affairs began reforming the school’s medi- and Bishop Mack B. and Rose Stokes eval curriculum under the influence of Professor of Theology at Candler renaissance humanism, and this reform School of Theology, Emory University, had theological implications that fur- contributed the second article in this thered the reform of the church. volume, “The Place of Theology in the University.” As a lay Lutheran theologian This volume presents the two main lec- and by virtue of his position at Candler tures from the 2014 Reformation Day School of Theology, he is well prepared at Emory and the catalog for the exhibi- for this examination of the role of a tion, thus ensuring that the contributions school of theology in a university and of the day to scholarship and to related the implications that such a setting holds discussions in the church and academy for both the academy and the church. are preserved and made widely avail- Professor McFarland has demonstrated able. Professor Timothy J. Wengert, his ability as an accomplished system- Ministerium of Pennsylvania Emeritus atic theologian, able administrator (most Professor of the History of Christianity recently, guiding Candler School of at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Theology successfully through the reaf- Philadelphia, has entitled his presenta- firmation of accreditation process with tion “The Reformation and Education.” the ATS and SACS), and deeply engaged In addition to his achievements in the member of an ELCA congregation. His classroom and study as one who has clarity of thought, fine and irrepressible shaped a generation of Lutheran clergy sense of humor, and generous support and won an international reputation as for the Kessler Reformation Collection a scholar of the Reformation, with par- and its programs has made his partner- ticular expertise on Philipp Melanchthon, ship with the Pitts Theology Library This publication is made possible with support from he has assisted Lutheran churches and invaluable. Nancy and Walker Ray in honor of their children and grandchildren. others in their navigation of thorny con- 2 3 RENEWING CHURCH AND U NIVER SITY RENEWING CHURCH AND U NIVER SITY The third part of the present volume is School of Theology and of the Kessler contributed by Armin Siedlecki, head of Reformation Collection. Their encour- cataloging at the Pitts Theology Library. agement, support of annual programs, As curator for the inaugural exhibit in and financial contributions for the the library’s new gallery, he has worked growth of the Collection have been criti- carefully to weave together this fine pre- cal, and for all this I am deeply grateful. sentation of Luther’s work as reformer of university and church and assigned Finally, I must acknowledge the gener- it the title, “Theological Education and ous contributions of Richard and Martha Church Reform.” While Siedlecki’s doc- Kessler, the members of the Standing toral degree and publications have been Advisory Committee for the Kessler in the field of Hebrew Bible, he has been Reformation Collection, and all those a librarian at the Pitts Theology Library who support the collection through their since 2001 and cataloged and studied in participation in its programs and gifts detail literally hundreds of Reformation to advance its acquisitions.