We Believe in the Holy Spirit”: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities Documentation 63/2021

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

We Believe in the Holy Spirit”: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities Documentation 63/2021 The concept of “identity” today is contested against the backdrop of myriad forms of social, political, economic and ecological exclusion. How is identity expressed in a global LWF Lutheran tradition whose members share common biblical, liturgical, confessional, theological and spiritual foundations yet represent diverse cultures and traditions? At this global LWF consultation, church leaders, youth, theologians, lay and ordained practitioners in local communities interrogated the concept of identity by focusing on how the Holy Spirit calls, gathers and frees the baptized to express God’s transforming love for the world. The result was the papers presented in this publication. They explore the Spirit’s work to revive and equip the faithful for vocation through the ministry of the church today and into the future of the Lutheran communion. We Believe CONTRIBUTORS: AUVINEN, Mari-Anna; CHRISTOPHER, Caroline; CLAPSIS, Emmanuel; FRIEDERICH, Nestor; GODEBO, Yacob; HALVARSSON, Sofi e; in the Holy Spirit HUTAGALUNG, Novriana Gloria; KÄRKKÄINEN, Veli-Matti; KIM, Jun Hyun; MADEJSKI, Sebastian; MCDONALD, Christopher Lee; MORUDU, Kagiso Harry; Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities MTATA, Kenneth; MULENGA-KAUNDA, Mutale; OBERDORFER, Bernd; PERSAUD, Winston; PETERSON, Cheryl; PÖDER, Johann-Christian; RIMMER, Chad; SAMUEL, Spirit Holy the in Believe We Wilfred John; WALLACE, Beverly; WASMUTH, Jennifer; ZEILER, Johannes Habib. DOC 63/2021 ISBN 9783-374-06949-1 EUR 20,00 [D] “We Believe in the Holy Spirit”: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities Documentation 63/2021 The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Lutheran World Federation. “We Believe in the Holy Spirit”: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities Edited by Chad M. Rimmer and Cheryl M. Peterson LWF Documentation 63 Bibliographic information published by the German National Library The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the internet at http://dnd.dnd.de © 2021 The Lutheran World Federation Printed in Germany This work, including all of its parts, is protected by copyright. Any use beyond the strict limits of copyright law without the permission of the publishing house is strictly prohibited and punishable by law. This book was printed on FSC-certified paper. Cover: LWF/Albin Hillert Editorial assistance: Kristine Greenaway and LWF Office for Communication Design and Layout: LWF Office for Communication Printing and Binding: Elbe Druckerei Wittenberg GmbH ISBN 978-3-374-06949-1 / eISBN (PDF) 978-3-374-06950-7 Published by Evangelische Verlangsanstalt GmbH, Leipzig, Germany, under the auspices of The Lutheran World Federation Department for Theology, Mission and Justice 150, rte de Ferney, PO Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Parallel editions in German and Spanish Contents Preface ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Martin Junge “We Believe in the Holy Spirit”: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities ..............................9 Chad M. Rimmer and Cheryl M. Peterson The Holy Spirit as Gift and Promise Bible Study: The Time of the Holy Spirit – John 14:25-27 ............................................................ 19 Jun Hyun Kim Martin Luther to Manas Buthelezi: Toward a Lutheran Pneumatological Identity ................23 Kenneth Mtata “Transformed and Freed?” African Pentecostalism, Women’s Identity and the Subordinated Spirit ... 37 Mutale Mulenga-Kaunda Embodied Spirit: Outlines of Lutheran Pneumatology ................................................................. 47 Bernd Oberdorfer A Theological Reflection on the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit in the Face of Contemporary Challenges to Christian Witness in the Twenty-First Century .......................59 Winston D. Persaud The Work of the Holy Spirit in Creation and Sanctification: On the Future of Lutheran Pneumatology ...................................................................................................................................... 71 Johann-Christian Pöder After Justification: An Ecotheological Look at the Holy Spirit as Gift and Promise ...............79 Chad M. Rimmer The Church as Holy Communion Bible Study: Formed and Freed – Galatians 5:1; 22-25 .................................................................97 Caroline Christopher “The Holy Spirit Has Called Me through the Gospel …”: The Third Article of Luther’s Small Catechism as a Basic Text of Lutheran Ecclesiology ................................................................... 101 Jennifer Wasmuth Community of God: Perspectives from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana .....115 Mari-Anna Auvinen The Holy Spirit in the World ............................................................................................................125 Emmanuel Clapsis 5 We Believe in the Holy Spirit: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identities The Challenge of Being a Church of Lutheran Confession in the Context of a Religious Market ..133 Nestor Paulo Friedrich Coordinated Formation: Reconnecting through the Active Faith of Children .......................145 Christopher Lee McDonald The Lord’s Supper as the Call to Community: Conversion to the Lutheran Church in Poland .......165 Sebastian Madejski The Marks of the Church as Spiritual Practices for Renewal and Revival .............................175 Cheryl M. Peterson Transformed and Freed Bible Study: “Chloe Told”: A Womanist Reading – 1 Corinthians 12.......................................189 Beverly Wallace Transformed, Freed, Empowered: The Spirit’s Work in the Gifting and Vocation of All Believers .............................................................................................................................................. 197 Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen We Believe in the Holy Spirit: Global Perspectives on Lutheran Identity .............................. 211 Yacob Godebo The Vocation of the Priesthood of All Humans: Toward a Wider Understanding and Meaning of the Lutheran Teaching .................................................................................................................225 Sofie Halvarsson A Mourning Grace: Bataknese “Andung-Andung” as a Theological Aesthetic in the Experience of Trauma .......................................................................................................................235 Novriana Gloria Hutagalung Youth Leadership in South Africa ..................................................................................................247 Kagiso Harry Morudu A Lutheran Perspective of the Nexus Between Justification and Sanctification in the Contexts of Holistic Mission with Reference to the Application of Spiritual Gifts ...............259 Wilfred J. Samuel Lutheran Theological Education and Formation: A Risky Business in Changing African Landscapes .........................................................................................................................................269 Johannes Habib Zeiler Annex Findings, Learnings, and Steps for Future Reflection ...............................................................279 List of Contributors ...........................................................................................................................287 6 Preface Questions of Lutheran identity have driven joint theological reflection within The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) since its inception. What is a Lutheran understanding of the church’s ministry? How do Lutherans understand the connection between justification and justice? What is the relationship between worship and culture? How do we understand ourselves as a communion of churches? What is the church’s role in the public space? How do we interpret the Bible? These questions have prompted significant study processes within the communion that reveal who we are and who God calls us to be in the world. In 2019, representatives of every region of the communion gathered in Addis Ababa to ask a new set of questions. A diverse group of teachers, diaconal ministers, pastors, youth, bishops, musicians, social workers, and more, gathered to reflect on the diverse expressions of our common Lutheran tradition. Lutherans around the world share a tradition that is rooted in the norms of Scripture, common confessions, a catechism, and shared liturgical traditions. But the gift of Christ, present in faith, is Word that bears fruit in each one of us. While the good news of Christ is the common melody, each of us sounds individual notes that create a harmony. This consultation rooted these questions of unity and diversity in the third article of our Trinitarian ecumenical creeds and our catechisms’ teaching about the work of the Holy Spirit. The gift of faith, the life of the church, and our baptismal calling belong to the work of God’s Spirit. By that Spirit, we are united in a common confession, and yet personally gifted for a life of faith and loving service to all creation. Ours is an age when spiritual and political narratives promise easy answers to complex issues. Excluding diversity and demanding uniformity offer easy answers to complex problems. Nevertheless, they threaten the very social and ecological fabric of life and stifle the life-giving creativity of the Spirit at work in creation. Living into the unity among the diversity
Recommended publications
  • Concordia Theological Monthly
    CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY In Many, Much RICHARD R CAEMMERER SR The Reforming Role of Religious Communities in the History of Western Christianity CARL VOLZ Biblical Humanism and Roman Catholic Reform: (1501-1542) Contarini, Pole, and Giberti MARVIN W. ANDERSON Notes on "Spirit-Baptism" and ''Prophetic Utterance" VICTOR BARTLING Our Common Confession and Its Implications for Today ROBERT W. BERTRAM Brief Studies Homiletics Book Review ~ol XXXIX November 1968 No. 10 OUf CO~-Dn Confession an.J Implica =ions :~or l'oday ROBERT '.7. BERTRAM EDITORIAL NOTE: At its recent Fourth placing it with is His own new order. The World Assembly in Uppsala, Sweden, the World old order, because it is His, is ultimate. Council of Churches featured three speakers from three worldwide sectors of Christendom "For truly I say to you, till heaven and that do not, at present, hold membership in the earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will WCC: one from the Roman Catholic Church, pass from the law until all is accomplished" one from the Pentecostalist churches of the world, and the present author, who spoke, (Matt. 5: 18). But because this old order, though unofficially, as a member of The Lu­ though His, is not His new order, it is only theran Church - Missouri Synod. His address, penultimate. His word of reconciliation, here published by kind permission of the World Council of Churches, appears also as an appen­ not His word of judgment, is His last dix in the official Uppsala Report. word. Yet the word of judgment is still His. What He saves us from, finally, is Y OU have kindly invited me, your grate- ful guest, w ~-' __:_ ~: ~ ___Jmmon Himself.
    [Show full text]
  • A South African Reformed Perspective on Dialogue
    Scriptura 88 (2005), pp. 183-204 ON LEARNING TO SPEAK: A SOUTH AFRICAN REFORMED PERSPECTIVE ON DIALOGUE Dirk J Smit Systematic Theology Stellenbosch University Abstract The paper makes a contribution to the official Roman Catholic-Reformed dialogue between the Vatican and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. After several years of reflection on the notion of “the kingdom of God” it became obvious to participants in the dialogue that different views of authority and of dialogue itself played a major role in the process. This paper was requested as an attempt to reflect on some of these differences from a Reformed perspective and from a South African experience. It therefore represents a case study of bilateral dialogue in which South African Reformed Christians have been participating. A first introductory section proves narrative background to the specific case study (par. 4-13). In four further sections four major clusters of crucial ecumenical issues that came to the fore in the dialogue are then discussed, namely questions concerning truth and community (par. 14-27), questions concerning doctrine and ethics (par. 28-46), questions concerning real reception (par. 47-56) and questions concerning speaking with authority in the church (par. 57-70). A final section offers some concluding reflections on the process of learning to speak when Reformed Christians and churches are involved. These concluding remarks are intended to contribute to this official bilateral dialogue. Key Concepts: Ecumenical dialogue, truth, community, doctrine, ethics Thinking About Dialogue: A South African Case-study 1. This is a case study, and a very particular and limited one.
    [Show full text]
  • Give Us Today Our Daily Bread Official Report
    LWF EleVENTH ASSEMBLY Stuttgart, Germany, 20–27 July 2010 Give Us Today Our Daily Bread Official Report The Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches Give Us Today Our Daily Bread Official Report THE LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION – A COMMUNION OF CHURCHES Published by The Lutheran World Federation Office for Communication Services P.O. Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.lutheranworld.org Parallel editions in German, French and Spanish Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute! – Offizieller Bericht Donne-nous aujourd’hui notre pain quotidien – Rapport officiel Danos Hoy Nuestro Pan de Cada Día – Informe Oficial Editing, translation, revision, cover design and layout by LWF Office for Communication Services Other translation, revision by Elaine Griffiths, Miriam Reidy-Prost and Elizabeth Visinand Logo design by Leonhardt & Kern Agency, Ludwigsburg, Germany All Photos © LWF/Erick Coll unless otherwise indicated © 2010 The Lutheran World Federation Printed in Switzerland by SRO-Kundig on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (www.fsc.org) ISBN 978-2-940459-08-7 Contents Foreword .......................................................................................7 Address of the LWF President .......................................................9 Address of the General Secretary ...............................................19 Report of the Treasurer ..............................................................29 Letter to the Member Churches .................................................39
    [Show full text]
  • Western Seminary Bulletin
    llrstrru �rmittary iullrtiu REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA VOL. VI, NO. 4 HOLLAND, MICHIGAN MARCH, 1953 The Christian Hope ELTON M. EENIGENBURG For more than two years now the theological world the world one view of the Christian Ho�e to which all has been abuzz with lively discussions of the theme of Protestant and Orthodox parties can give unqualified the Second Assembly of The W odd Council of Church­ assent. To offer to the world at that time more than one es. The prospect of re-examining almost any theological view might have the adverse effect of increasing the theme would have been enough to stir up more or less world's sense of hopelessness, and worst of all, such a excitement in that mud1-embattled zone of the Church's situation would certainly provide the enemies of the labours, but when it was announced in the fall of 1950 World Council, both evangelical and unbelieving ele­ that the next major advance of the Protestant churches ments, to say nothing of the Roman Catholic Church, of the world should be in the eschatological direction, with all the material for destructive criticism they could it was a foregone conclusion that in almost no time at ask for. In the light of this prospect, the Central Com­ all the most diverse kinds of opinion on the subject mittee has been criticized in different quarters for being would be forthcoming. Such hopes, or better, fears, overly courageous, or downright foolhardy. were not disappointed, and to say the least, the variety However, the divergencies of viewpoint have turned of opinion has been staggering.
    [Show full text]
  • Proquest Dissertations
    INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and Leaming 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI' PHILIP MELANCHTHON, THE FORMULA OF CONCORD, AND THE THIRD USE OF THE LAW DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Ken Ray Schurb, B.A., B.S.Ed., M.Div., M.A., S.T.M.
    [Show full text]
  • LWF 2019 Statistics
    The Lutheran World Federation – 2019 Membership Figures Summary The following figures give the membership of the 148 member churches (M), including two associate members (AM). General summary 2019 148 LWF member churches ................................................................................. 77,493,989 LWF Regions LWF Membership Africa 28,106,430 Asia 12,4 07,0 69 Central Eastern Europe 1,153,711 Central Western Europe 13,393,603 Nordic Countries 18,018,410 Latin America & the Caribbean 755,924 North America 3,658,842 Total 77,493,989 Statistics at a glance Nordic Countries Germany Ethiopia Asia The churches in the Nordic With 10.8 million LWF The Ethiopian Evangelical There are 55 member countries have the highest members, Germany is the Church Mekane Yesus with churches in Asia. percentage of Lutherans, country with the single over 10 million members is ranging from 58-75% of largest number of the largest LWF member the population Lutherans. church. LWF Statistics 2019 1 2019 World Lutheran Membership Details (M) Member Church (AM) Associate Member Church (R) Recognized Church, Congregation or Recognized Council Church Individual Churches National Total Africa Angola ............................................................................................................................................. 49’500 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Angola (M) .................................................................. 49,500 Botswana ..........................................................................................................................................26’023
    [Show full text]
  • LWF Eleventh Assembly Stuttgart, Germany, 20–27 July 2010 Give Us Today Our Daily Bread Official Report
    LWF EleVENTH ASSEMBLY Stuttgart, Germany, 20–27 July 2010 Give Us Today Our Daily Bread Official Report The Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches Give Us Today Our Daily Bread Official Report THE LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION – A COMMUNION OF CHURCHES Published by The Lutheran World Federation Office for Communication Services P.O. Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.lutheranworld.org Parallel editions in German, French and Spanish Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute! – Offizieller Bericht Donne-nous aujourd’hui notre pain quotidien – Rapport officiel Danos Hoy Nuestro Pan de Cada Día – Informe Oficial Editing, translation, revision, cover design and layout by LWF Office for Communication Services Other translation, revision by Elaine Griffiths, Miriam Reidy-Prost and Elizabeth Visinand Logo design by Leonhardt & Kern Agency, Ludwigsburg, Germany All Photos © LWF/Erick Coll unless otherwise indicated © 2010 The Lutheran World Federation Printed in Switzerland by SRO-Kundig on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (www.fsc.org) ISBN 978-2-940459-08-7 Contents Foreword .......................................................................................7 Address of the LWF President .......................................................9 Address of the General Secretary ...............................................19 Report of the Treasurer ..............................................................29 Letter to the Member Churches .................................................39
    [Show full text]
  • Ecumenical and Confessional Writings Volume 1: the Ominc G Christ and Church Traditions/ After the Council Edmund Schlink
    Valparaiso University ValpoScholar Theology Faculty Publications Department of Theology 2017 Ecumenical and Confessional Writings Volume 1: The ominC g Christ and Church Traditions/ After the Council Edmund Schlink Follow this and additional works at: http://scholar.valpo.edu/theo_fac_pubs Recommended Citation Schlink, Edmund. Ecumenical and Confessional Writings Volume 1: The ominC g Christ and Church Traditions/After the Council. (2017). Becker, Matthew L. (Ed.). Bristol, CT: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. This Editorial is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Theology at ValpoScholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theology Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ValpoScholar. For more information, please contact a ValpoScholar staff member at [email protected]. Edmund Schlink Ecumenical and Confessional Writings The Coming Christ and Church Tradition After the Council edited by Matthew L. Becker Edmund Schlink Works Volume 1 Matthew L. Becker (ed.), Edmund Schlink: Ecumenical and Confessional Writings. Vol. 1 © 2017, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen ISBN Print: 9783525560280 — ISBN E-Book: 9783647560281 Matthew L. Becker (ed.), Edmund Schlink: Ecumenical and Confessional Writings. Vol. 1 Edmund Schlink Works Edited by Matthew L. Becker Volume 1 Vandenhoeck &Ruprecht © 2017, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen ISBN Print: 9783525560280 — ISBN E-Book: 9783647560281 Matthew L. Becker (ed.), Edmund Schlink: Ecumenical and Confessional Writings. Vol. 1 Edmund Schlink Ecumenical and Confessional Writings Volume 1 The Coming Christ and Church Traditions After the Council EditedbyMatthew L. Becker Translated by Matthew L. Becker and Hans G. Spalteholz Vandenhoeck &Ruprecht © 2017, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen ISBN Print: 9783525560280 — ISBN E-Book: 9783647560281 Matthew L.
    [Show full text]
  • A Handbook of Councils and Churches Profiles of Ecumenical Relationships
    A HANDBOOK OF COUNCILS AND CHURCHES PROFILES OF ECUMENICAL RELATIONSHIPS World Council of Churches Table of Contents Foreword . vii Introduction . ix Part I Global World Council of Churches. 3 Member churches of the World Council of Churches (list). 6 Member churches by church family. 14 Member churches by region . 14 Global Christian Forum. 15 Christian World Communions . 17 Churches, Christian World Communions and Groupings of Churches . 20 Anglican churches . 20 Anglican consultative council . 21 Member churches and provinces of the Anglican Communion 22 Baptist churches . 23 Baptist World Alliance. 23 Member churches of the Baptist World Alliance . 24 The Catholic Church. 29 Disciples of Christ / Churches of Christ. 32 Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council . 33 Member churches of the Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council . 34 World Convention of Churches of Christ. 33 Evangelical churches. 34 World Evangelical Alliance . 35 National member fellowships of the World Evangelical Alliance 36 Friends (Quakers) . 39 Friends World Committee for Consultation . 40 Member yearly meetings of the Friends World Committee for Consultation . 40 Holiness churches . 41 Member churches of the Christian Holiness Partnership . 43 Lutheran churches . 43 Lutheran World Federation . 44 Member churches of the Lutheran World Federation. 45 International Lutheran Council . 45 Member churches of the International Lutheran Council. 48 Mennonite churches. 49 Mennonite World Conference . 50 Member churches of the Mennonite World Conference . 50 IV A HANDBOOK OF CHURCHES AND COUNCILS Methodist churches . 53 World Methodist Council . 53 Member churches of the World Methodist Coouncil . 54 Moravian churches . 56 Moravian Unity Board . 56 Member churches of the Moravian Unity Board . 57 Old-Catholic churches . 57 International Old-Catholic Bishops’ Conference .
    [Show full text]
  • Edmund Schlink
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Crossref Confessional and ecumenical? Revisiting Edmund Schlink on the hermeneutics of doctrine D J Smit (University of Stellenbosch) ABSTRACT Confessional and ecumenical? Revisiting Edmund Schlink on the hermeneutics of doctrine Conrad Wethmar has always been interested in questions concerning the hermeneutics of doctrine, often concentrating on methodological issues regarding the role of confessions and the challenges of ecumenical theology. For this purpose, he consistently engaged with German-speaking Lutheran theologians. In this essay, the important views and contributions of Edmund Schlink regarding confessional and ecumenical theology are called to mind, as one further potential dialogue partner for South African theologians like Wethmar. A first section reminds readers of Wethmar’s contributions. The second section recalls Schlink’s theological journey and the role of confessions – both Lutheran confessions and the Confessing Church with Barmen – as well as the ecumenical church – several real dialogues between major confessional traditions, including his role during the Second Vatican Council – before the third sections draws some of his major methodological insights and contributions together. A brief final section points to some potential similarities between Schlink’s work and Wethmar’s interests. 1 “DOGMA EN VERSTAANSHORISON”? More than most of his contemporaries amongst South African systematic theologians, with perhaps the exception of Piet Naudé (see for example Naudé 2007), Conrad Wethmar has focused over the last two decades or more on questions of theological method and theological education (Wethmar 1997; 2003b; 2003c), especially on questions on the nature and hermeneutical function of church doctrine (Wethmar 1977; 2001; 2003a).
    [Show full text]
  • Wolfhart Pannenberg: Reason, Hope and Transcendence
    Wolfhart Pannenberg: Reason, Hope and Transcendence STANLEY GRENZ In the 1960s, the German systematic theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg was hailed as a proponent of the emerging theology of hope. Pannenberg has never been keen on accepting that label for himself. His aversion is cor- rect, in that his program moves beyond the original intent of that theology; nevertheless, the inclusion of Pannenberg within this historical movement remains appropriate. His rise to theological prominence occurred in the con- text of the advent of the theology of hope, and he shares the central orienta- tion of the movement, namely, the emphasis on the future or the eschaton as the point of transcendence. PANNENBERG'S EARLY THEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT Wolfhart Pannenberg was born in 1928 in a part of northeast Germany that now belongs to Poland. The basic outlook that drives his theological program came to be shaped quite early in life. A crucial factor in this mold- ing process was the path he followed in corning to faith, for this was at the same time the path that led to his choice of theology as his life's pursuit. A series of crucial experiences launched him in this direction.1 The first occurred when he was about sixteen years old. While browsing through the public library, Pannenberg happened on a book by the atheist Stanley Grenz is professor of theology and ethics at Carey/Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. This article is adapted from Twentieth-Century Theology: God and the World in a Transitional Age, by Stanley J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson, Copyright 1992, by Stanley J.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin of Reports Thirty-Second Annual Northern Illinois Synod Assembly June 14-15, 2019 Augustana College, Rock Island
    Bulletin of Reports Thirty-second Annual Northern Illinois Synod Assembly June 14-15, 2019 Augustana College, Rock Island Table of Contents All contents can be downloaded from the synod website - http://assembly.nisynod.org. Official Notice ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Proposed Rules for the Thirty-Second Annual Northern Illinois Synod Assembly ............................ 5 Assembly Agenda .............................................................................................................................. 10 Letter from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton .......................................................................... 14 Report of Northern Illinois Synod Bishop Jeffrey Clements .............................................................. 15 Anniversaries of Rostered Ministers .......................................................................................................... 18 Rostered Ministers Who Have Retired in the Past Year ............................................................................. 18 Report of the Synod Vice President ................................................................................................... 19 Report of the Secretary ....................................................................................................................... 19 Minutes of the 2018 NIS Assembly .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]