Theology in the Life of the Church
The "Theology in the Life of the Church" series: a rich harvest from seminars held across the globe since the program's inception in 2004. |
“Theology in the Life of the Church: Revisiting Its Critical Role” is the current focus of overall DTS work. The purpose is to call for, encourage and deepen constructive theological work in relation to major contextual challenges that churches face in their respective settings.
The program seeks to bridge what have been significant divides between more classical and more contextual approaches to theology, and to promote a more engaged and critical role of theology in the life of the church.
A global consultation in Augsburg, Germany, from 25-31 March 2009 marked the culmination of the "Theology in the Life of the Church" program.
Theology in relation to contextual challenges
Since 2006, a series of seminars has brought together theologians from different parts of the world to develop theology responding to challenges that Lutheran churches are facing today.
Left to right: Rev. Dr Musawenkosi Biyela, Dr Anastasia Boniface-Malle, Rev. Dr Sylvester Kahakwa at the September 2006 DTS seminar in Arusha, Tanzania. |
Economic injustice and poverty
"Confessing and Living out the Faith in the Face of Death and Injustice," Arusha, Tanzania, September 2006. Held in conjunction with the LWF consultation “Poverty and the Mission of the Church in Africa.”
“So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.” Poverty and the Mission of the Church in Africa includes seminar presentations, reflections and findings. [CHF 18, USD 15, Euro 12, plus postage and packing. Click to order.]
Breklum, Germany, December 2006. Seminar participants discuss Christian-Muslim relations in their contexts. |
Interreligious realities
“Beyond Toleration? Assessing and Responding Theologically to New Challenges for Christian-Muslim Relations,” Breklum, Germany, December 2006. Held in conjunction with the North Elbian Center for World Mission and World Service (NMZ).
Though participants came from around the world, the seminar had a particular focus on Europe.
Breklum seminar message: English | German
Deepening Faith, Hope and Love in Relations with Neighbors of Other Faiths brings together papers presented at the seminar and other contributions. [CHF 16, USD 14, Euro 10, plus postage and packing. Click to order.]
DTS seminar in Höör (Akersberg), Sweden. Left to right: Rev. Dr Elisabeth Gerle, Mr Girma Mohammed. © LWF/K. Bloomquist |
Fundamentalism
“Fundamentals for a Lutheran Communion in the Face of Fundamentalisms,” Höör (Akersberg), Sweden, March 2007. Directly preceded the LWF Council and church leaders meeting.
Letter from Höör seminar participants
Empire
"Confessing and Living Out Faith in the Triune God: Being the Church in the Midst of Empire," June 2007, Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA.
Being the Church in the Midst of Empire. Trinitarian Reflections includes articles co-authored by seminar participants. [CHF 16, USD 14, Euro 10, plus postage and packing. Click to order.]
In this book, theologians take up the daunting challenge of developing constructive theological responses, grounded in the Triune God, which have the potential to counter, transform and nurture long-term resistance to empire today.
Responding as Lutherans to challenges in the global South
Further seminars have been held especially for theologians from the global South to address theological questions facing people in these contexts.
TLC seminar, January 2008, Hong Kong. Left to right: Fidon Mwombeki, Samuel Ngun Ling, Emi Mase-Hasegawa. © LWF/K. Bloomquist |
Religious resurgence
“What do we believe, teach and practice in the midst of religious resurgence today?”, January 2008, Lutheran Theological Seminary and the Tao Fong Shan Centre, Hong Kong.
Participants focused on moving beyond the enculturation phase of theological development toward more intercultural critique and the transformation of theological understandings.
Identity, Survival, Witness: Reconfiguring Theological Agendas, volume 3 of the Theology in the Life of the Church series, includes some of the papers from the Hong Kong seminar. [CHF 16, USD 14, Euro 10, plus postage and packing. Click to order].
Pentecostalism
“Critical Lutheran Beliefs and Practices in Relation to Neo-Pentecostalism,” July 2008 in Soweto, South Africa.
The Soweto seminar explored Lutheran theological convictions such as the priority of God’s grace that are key for assessing Lutheran church practices associated with Pentecostalism.
Soweto seminar message: in English | French
Lutherans Respond to Pentecostalism, volume 4 of the Theology in the Life of the Church series, includes papers from the Soweto seminar. [CHF 16, USD 14, Euro 10, plus postage and packing. Click to order.]
For more information on the “Theology in the Life of the Church” program, please contact:
Dr Kathryn Johnson, DTS Interim Director
