Closing Gap between Academic Theology and Church Life

Bavarian Church Looking Ahead to Christian Unity Highlight in 2009

"The place where you are gathered - the city of Augsburg - fits well with the topic of your theological consultation," said Oberkirchenrat Michael Martin, director of the department of ecumenism and church life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria (ELKB).

On behalf of ELKB Bishop Dr Johannes Friedrich, Martin was welcoming the around 120 participants to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) consultation "Theology in the Life of Lutheran Churches - Transformative Perspectives and Practices Today" at a reception given by the Bavarian church on 26 March in Augsburg, Germany.

"The task of this consultation is to close the gap between academic theology and church life," Martin declared. This can be achieved by "examining the changes in theological work in different local contexts of Lutheran theology in the 21st century."

Addressing this issue is "essential for the communion of Lutheran churches within the LWF," he added. In his words of welcome, Martin announced that the ELKB was to celebrate its 200th anniversary this year. A further highlight in 2009 would be the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification on 31 October.

"Together with the LWF, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Methodist World Alliance, we want to remember this very important step on our way to the unity of the one church, to which we all belong." Over 120 theologians from more than 30 countries are taking part in the consultation "Theology in the Life of Lutheran Churches:

Transformative Perspectives and Practices Today" in Augsburg, Germany, under the auspices of the LWF Department for Theology and Studies (DTS). The 25 to 31 March meeting, held in collaboration with the Institute of Protestant Theology of the University of Augsburg, is the culmination of the DTS study program "Theology in the Life of the Church," which has been ongoing since 2004.