The first edition in a new series on Lutheran theology
18. 12. 2019.
Hannover, Germany / Geneva
“What is Lutheran?” is the title of the first volume in a new series – Lutheran Theology: German Perspectives and Positions (Lutheran Theology: German Perspectives and Positions.)
This publication by the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) and the German National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (GNC/LWF) will be expanded each year with a new volume.
The LWF is pleased about the new book series in English, which is intended to promote the dissemination of theological publications by the VELKD churches and to make them available to an international audience. “For the global Lutheran communion it will be a gift – as we experience our Christian faith through a shared Lutheran tradition,” says Rev. Dr. Chad Rimmer, LWF Study Secretary for Lutheran Theology and Practice.
The first edition is a collection bringing together five texts that were published in Germany in connection with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. They address the fundamental themes of theology and church life from a Lutheran perspective: theology (Dr. Michael Roth), liturgy (Dr. Christian Lehnert), congregation (Dr. Martin Kumlehn), ecumenism (Dr. Bernd Oberdorfer) and church law (Dr. Hendrik Munsonius).
The president of the VELKD Lutheran Church Office, Rev. Dr. Horst Gorski, acknowledges: “Lutheran churches all over the world encounter similar problems and challenges. The exchange of high-quality theological literature can help us learn from one another how to be a Lutheran church in our own context. We want to take part in that with this new book series.”
The General Secretary of the GNC/LWF, Oberkirchenrat (the senior administrative officer of the church) Norbert Denecke, says that “the texts in the collection ‘What is Lutheran?’ offer a German perspective on these questions – as one of many within the Lutheran communion, without claiming universal applicability.” He continues: “We are making them available to our sister churches so that they can better understand our theological and ecclesial tradition, find what is common and what is different, and, in discussing it, take a closer look at their own views.”
The volume can be downloaded free of charge here.
Source: Lutheran World Information
Photo: LWF/A. Weyermüller