Lutherans agree that proclamation of the gospel is central to Lutheran theology and practice. The agreement tends to dissipate, however, when our theology and practice of proclamation is cast as the task of evangelism. On the one hand, Lutherans affirm the task of evangelism as a key element in the mission of the church. For example, the ELCA’s 2003 Churchwide Assembly adopted a comprehensive evangelism strategy called Sharing Faith in a New Century: A Vision for Evangelism in the ELCA by an overwhelming vote of 933-42. But on the other hand, Lutherans are also often uncertain about evangelism — or at least the use of the term. In the American context, proclamation characterized as evangelism can seem captive to “decisionist” theology (which denies the very gospel supposedly proclaimed) and practices that equate membership gains with sharing the gospel. These concerns may explain the typical absence of the term evangelism in the tables of contents and indexes of books about Lutheran identity.

Nonetheless, Lutherans claim the term as well as the work. How shall Lutherans understand evangelism today? What theology undergirds evangelism, and what practices should be nurtured? Two distinguished theologians from the seminaries of the ELCA, Dr. Edgar M. Krentz and Dr. David L. Tiede, explored these themes in the 2004 Hein-Fry Lectures.

Edgar M. Krentz is the Christ Seminary-Seminex Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Prof. Krentz spoke at:

• Lutheran School of Theology, March 5, 2004
• Wartburg Theological Seminary, April 15, 2004
• Trinity Lutheran Seminary, April 29, 2004
• Luther Seminary, April 30, 2004

David L. Tiede is President and Professor of New Testament, Luther Seminary. Prof. Tiede spoke at:

• Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, February 5, 2004
• Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, February 24, 2004
• Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, February 27, 2004
• Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, March 11, 2004

Listen to the Presentations
David Tiede at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg on March 11, 2004
Part One and Part Two

Edgar M. Krentz at Luther Seminary on April 30, 2004
Part One and Part Two