Stephen C. Krueger Editorial Note: Developments in both the church and the world are calling for a re-evaluation of theological education. Theological education has been the subject of a number of recent books calling into question both the core values and the pedagogical methods of most seminaries. In order to address the challenges of vacant parishes…
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Harold Kitzmann Editorial Note: Harold Kitzmann relates some of his personal ecumenical experiences as he seeks to fathom the depth of the LCMS’s opposition to fellowship with other Christians. After graduating from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1964 and later returning there for his S.T.M., he received his M.Th. in 1979 and his Ph.D. from…
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Alston Kirk Editorial Note: Pr. Alston Kirk is a retired naval chaplain who here reflects on the opportunity to welcome all of Christ’s people to the mission of the church. Not only does this refer to lay people around us but it also includes those from different Christian traditions. From 1966 to 1994 Captain Al Kirk…
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John George Huber Editorial Note: John Huber recently earned a master of arts degree in ecumenical studies (2001) at Bossey, the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches near Geneva, Switzerland, where, at 70, he was known as the “Village Elder.” A graduate of Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, he spent his ministry as a…
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Herbert Hoefer Editorial Note: Dr. Herbert Hoefer asks the pertinent question of why the dalits (or untouchables, as we used to call them) continue to come to the Christian faith even though they may have to suffer greatly for it. Dr. Hoefer indicates that our common faith provides dignity and worth to the most vulnerable…
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The Synodical Conference: Ecumenical Endeavor by Armin W. Schuetze. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 2000. 470 pages. Cloth. Reviewed by William Hassold The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America was a significant endeavor by Lutherans in the United States as they sought to achieve theological and confessional unity in what was for many of them…
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John Hannah Whenever we engage Christians who are not Lutheran, our own identity is challenged. We find ourselves asking questions like these: “Who are we as Lutherans?” “Where did we come from?” “Who were we?” “How did we get to be what we are now?” The late, great Jaroslav Pelikan is said to have invented…
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The author of this article, a professor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, sent it with this request: I am attaching a paper that I wrote concerning the Specific Ministry Pastor Proposal. It is intended to be a “non-political” paper and to approach the topic in a way that engenders discussion. It was posted…
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Teri Lynn Forbes The author is a parish pastor, having served a small rural congregation in Wisconsin and a large city congregation in Washington State. She is now serving as an intentional interim pastor with small redevelopment congregations in the Southern Ohio Synod. She recently completed her S.T.M. at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. The…
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Tonya Eza Perhaps one of the most powerful arguments for the LCMS to rethink its position on women in ministry will come from women doing ministry today. Tonya Eza is currently serving as a deaconess in Texas. Here is her story. Contrary to many professional church workers in the LCMS, I did not feel the…
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