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Theological Practices That Matter TLC 5 TLC THeologY in THE Life of THE CHurcH Vol. 5 Attending to “practices” as points of departure for in-depth theological reflection is a promising shift toward theology that more directly engages the life of the church. These practices are vital; they need to be grounded in and guided by basic theological understandings, and critiqued if they are inconsistent with such understandings. In this sense, through practices we realize that theology does matter. Theological Practices That Matter Some participants in the concluding consultation of the Theology in the Life of the Church program reflect theologically on such diverse practices as reading the Bible; worship; baptism; forgiveness of sin; church discipline; inclusion of children at the Eucharist; spiritual care of the dying; stigmata as marks of Christ; sexual taboos; engaging political powers; and theological formation in daily life. Contributor include: Dorothee Arnold (Germany), Ramathate Theological Practices Dolamo (South Africa), Norma Cook Everist (USA), Kristin Graff- Kallevåg (Norway), Paul Isaak (Namibia/Switzerland), Margot Kässmann (Germany), Dirk Lange (USA), Alex Mkumbo (Tanzania), That Matter Elieshi Mungure (Tanzania), Fidon Mwombecki (Tanzania/Germany), Lisandro Orlov (Argentina), Gary Simpson (USA), Martha Ellen Stortz (USA), Teresa Swan Tuite (USA), Jens Wolff (Germany). The editor, Karen L. Bloomquist, directs the Department for Theology and Studies, LWF, Geneva, Switzerland. LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY PRESS The Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches ISBN (Europe) 978-3-905676-87-7 DTS-TLC05-Cover.indd 1 26/02/2010 08:54:24 AM Theological Practices that Matter Karen L. Bloomquist, Editor on behalf of The Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches Lutheran University Press Minneapolis, Minnesota Theology in the Life of the Church series Being the Church in the Midst of Empire. Trinitarian Reflections, Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths, Simone Sinn (ed.) Identity, Survival Witness. Reconfiguring Theological Agendas, Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) Lutherans Respond to Pentecostalism, Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) Theological Practices that Matter, Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) Transformative Theological Perspectives, Karen L. Bloomquist (ed.) Theological Practices that Matter Theology in the Life of the Church, vol. 5 Karen L. Bloomquist, Editor on behalf of the Lutheran World Federation Copyright © 2009, Lutheran University Press and The Lutheran World Federation. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in articles and reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. Editorial assistance and layout: LWF/Department for Theology and Studies Design: LWF/Office of Communication Services Artwork on cover: LWF/Office of Communication Services. Photo © LWF/D.-M. Grötzsch Published by Lutheran University Press under the auspices of: The Lutheran Word Federation—A Communion of Churches 150, rte de Ferney, P O Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland This book is also available in certain European bookstores using ISBN 978-3-905676-87-7 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Theological practices that matter / Karen L. Bloomquist, editor. p. cm. -- (Theology in the life of the church ; v. 5) ISBN-13: 978-1-932688-43-6 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-932688-43-9 (alk. paper) 1. Lutheran Church--Doctrines. 2. Christian life--Lutheran authors. I. Bloomquist, Karen L., 1948- BX8065.3.T44 2009 230’.41--dc22 2009042329 Lutheran University Press, PO Box 390759, Minneapolis, MN 55439 Printed in Switzerland by SRO-Kundig Contents 5 Introduction Karen L. Bloomquist 15 Bible, Prayer and Confession: En Route to the Reformation Jubilee Margot Kässmann 25 The Hermeneutic of Resonance: Making Biblical Theology Relevant Today Fidon R. Mwombeki 37 Worship as the Heart of Theology: Luther’s Intercultural Approach Jens Wolff 45 Confessions, Ecumenism, Ethnicity: A Lutheran Charism Dirk G. Lange 55 Marked by the Body of Christ: A Lutheran Approach to Practices Martha Ellen Stortz 67 A Response to “Marks of the Church; Marked by the Body of Christ” Lisandro Orlov 71 Narratives of Sexuality and Hope: an African Woman’s Perspective Elieshi Mungure 79 Indigenizing the Church in Africa Ramathate Dolamo 85 A Critique of African Theology’s Anthropology: Why are Children Excluded from the Table? Kenneth Mtata 4 Theological Practices that Matter 103 Church Discipline that is Inconsistent with the Gospel Alex Mkumbo 111 United with Christ in Baptism Kristin Graff-Kallevåg 125 “Toward a Multi-Sensory Metaphorics of Grace—Luther’s Tactual Itinerary” Teresa Swan Tuite 137 Spiritual Care in Palliative Care Dorothee Arnold 143 The Church’s Prophetic Witness: Social, Economic, and Political Engagement Paul John Isaak 153 Retrieving Martin Luther’s Critical Public Theology of Political Authority for Global Civil Society Today Gary M. Simpson 169 Integrative Theological Formation Norma Cook Everist 5 Introduction Karen L. Bloomquist From the beginning, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) program, “Theology in the Life of the Church,”(TLC) has concentrated on key chal- lenges facing Lutheran churches, especially in those parts of the world where Lutheran churches are growing the most and/or in contexts that are vastly different from those where Lutheran theology has been refined over some centuries. Thus, based on a 2004 survey, the four initial “tracks” of TLC were focused on what it means to confess and live out faith in the Triune God in the face of (1) death and injustice; (2) interfaith realities; (3) Pentecostal and charismatic influences; and (4) moral differences that threaten church unity. The focus has not been on the challenges themselves but rather on the call to pursue critical and constructive theological work in relation to these realities. Through this methodology, the program has attempted to address the gap between theology and the life of the church—by carry- ing out constructive theological reflection that responds to the challenges facing Lutheran churches. In collaboration with different institutions or LWF–related events, the six seminars were held in various geographical locations and involved over 150 theologians. The first took place at the conclusion of a major African consultation on poverty and the mission of the church, organized by the LWF Department for Mission and Development, and provided a basis for lively, creative theological discussion and interchange.1 Participants at the second seminar, held in Germany on the campus of a mission society, identified ways of responding theologically to the rising interfaith challenges in Europe.2 At the third consultation, convened in Sweden immediately prior to a global gathering of Lutheran church leaders, participants dis- cussed “fundamentals” of Lutheran theology and practice that need to be seen as alternatives to the fundamentalism surrounding and sometimes in Lutheran churches themselves, especially in relation to ethical issues. At a large Lutheran seminary in the USA, the fourth consultation gathered 1 See articles in Karen L. Bloomquist and Musa Panti Filibus (eds), So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth, LWF Studies 1/2007 (Geneva: The Lutheran World Federation, 2007). 2 Simone Sinn (ed.), Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths, Theology in the Life of the Church series, vol. 2 (Geneva: The Lutheran World Federation, 2008). 6 Theological Practices that Matter mostly theologians from the USA, who intentionally focused theologically on what it means to be the church in the midst of empire.3 The fifth seminar met in Asia (in Hong Kong, also at a seminary) in the face of different kinds of religious resurgence, where matters of identity and survival set the table for theological discussions.4 At the sixth and final seminar, held at a Lutheran conference center in South Africa, the agenda was set by the rise and increasing influence of neo-Pentecostalism, and participants considered how Lutheran theological emphases and practices need to be developed in relation to this.5 Each of the six regional seminars included a few participants from outside that respective regional context. They often contributed some of the most provocative questions and deep insights, confirming the realization that those from outside a given context may be able to see, speak to, analyze or critique what those from within that context are unable or hesitant to name. It became evident that not only contextual but also theological work across contexts is crucial today. Although discernment within a given context is needed, this is not sufficient. Those voices or perspectives that come from outside our own contexts help us to see what we would rather not see, often because this would imply the need for change. Others can stir up the need to repent and to be open to being transformed. This occurs through the power of God’s Spirit, who moves through those who are different from ourselves, when they take us seriously, encounter us, even confront us. Yet, this critique from outside a context must be done in ways cognizant of and sensitive to the power inequities that inevitably are present. Unless this intentionally cross-contextual theological work occurs to a greater extent—interrogating and reconfiguring inherited theological positions with a rigor and persuasiveness that move across cultural bound- aries—then presumably universal theological understandings will continue to claim
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