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After two thousand years of Christian history, once again our central challenge is mission. In a society that is diverse without connection, spiritual without commitment, rich without justice, and powerful without much interest in the larger world, local Christian communities are deeply challenged not to hide their vision, but to let it shine brightly as a beacon of hope in the communities where they live and work. Our Lutheran heritage is a rich resource for this new missional challenge if we can imagine together how to unpack these treasures to speak to the questions of men and women today. These are neither the same nor completely different from those faced at the time of the Reformation. But like Luther and his colleagues we are not able to rest with "the way it has always been" but are challenged to seek reform and renewal that will pull us out of ourselves and into contact with other denominations, other religious organizations, and all those non-religious seekers with whom we share our pilgrimage on this planet. |
Academic and Professional History
BA, Williams College; BD, Yale Divinity School; MPhil, PhD, Yale Graduate School. Pastorate in Massachusetts. Instructor, Yale Divinity School. Professor of Systematic Theology, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. PLTS Academic Dean 1989-1996. President 1997- . Sabbaticals at Cambridge University, London, and University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Clergy membership: Grand Canyon Synod.
Special Service
Member, GTU Core Doctoral Faculty; GTU Board of Trustees 1992-95, 1997-; Co-chair, Lutheran-Reformed Dialogue; Member, ELCA Task Forces on
Communications, Sexuality; Speaker at ELCA Churchwide Assembly, National Youth Gathering, ELCA Bishops’ Academy, and events in more than 50 synods; Hein-Fry Lecturer 1996; Recent international conferences in Sweden, Hong Kong, Germany and Israel. Author:
Called to Confess Christ, My Conversations with Martin Luther,
Martin Luther: Resilient Reformer (forthcoming); Editor: A Common
Calling, Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings.
Papers and Sermons Online
Contact
president@plts.edu
(510) 559-2731
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