by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service
"Lutherans in Public" was the theme of the annual Lutheran
Ethicists Gathering, held Jan. 4-6 at the Franciscan Renewal
Center in Scottsdale, Ariz. About 40 participants considered the
congregations and all other expressions of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America as they engage and relate to public
life.
Speakers and their topics:
+ Dr. Robert Benne, director, Center for Religion and Society,
Roanoke College, Salem, Va. -- "Lutherans in Public: Four Lively
Options"
+ Dr. Mark Ellingsen, associate professor of church history,
Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta -- "Lutheran
Confessional Theology and the Constitution."
+ Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, assistant professor for theology and
religious studies, Seattle University, Seattle -- "Ethical
Methods for 'Lutherans in Public'"
+ The Rev. Ronald W. Duty, assistant director for studies, ELCA
Church in Society, Chicago -- "Moral Deliberation in a Public
Lutheran Church"
+ Dr. Stefan Heuser, assistant professor of ethics, Institute for
Systematic Theology, University of Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany --
"Lutherans as Citizens: The Witness of Good Works in Public"
+ Dr. Richard A. Hoehn, director, Bread for the World Institute,
Washington, D.C. -- "Lutherans in Public: A View from the Public
Square"
+ Charles Lutz, director for church in society in the former
American Lutheran Church -- "Should Churches Use Economic Tools
to Push Political Goals in the Holy Land Conflict?"
+ Dr. Diane M. Yeager, associate professor of ethics and religion
and social theory, Department of Theology, Georgetown University,
Washington, D.C. -- "God, Church and Country: Berggrav's
Leadership in the Norwegian Resistance"
The Rev. Ronald F. Thiemann, professor of theology and of
religion and society, Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass.,
responded to and summarized the presentations.
Links:
Lutheran Ethicists Gathering
http://www.ELCA.org/scriptlib/dcs/jle/jle_journal/aboutleg.asp
Roanoke College
http://web.roanoke.edu/
Interdenominational Theological Center
http://www.itc.edu/
Seattle University
http://www.seattleu.edu/
University of Erlangen-Nuernberg
http://www.uni-erlangen.org/
Bread for the World Institute
http://www.bread.org/about-us/institute/
former American Lutheran Church
http://www.ELCA.org/communication/roots.html
Georgetown University
http://www.georgetown.edu/
Harvard Divinity School
http://www.hds.harvard.edu/
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
