The Wittenberg Concord: Creating Space for Dialogue (Lutheran Quarterly Books) - Softcover

Jensen, Gordon A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1506431569 ISBN 13: 9781506431567

Publisher: Fortress Press, 2018

Synopsis

Rethinking the Wittenberg Concord for Today

One of the mostly forgotten gems of the sixteenth century Reformations is the Wittenberg Concord. Signed in 1536 by representatives of evangelical southern German imperial cities and territories and the Lutherans, the dialogue that led to the concord provided space for the participants to have a meaningful dialogue that led to the recognition of each other's understanding of the sacraments as orthodox. This was remarkable, given the very public failures at Marburg in 1529 and Augsburg in 1530. The lack of agreement threatened the unity of the evangelical estates and made them, along with the Reformation teachings, vulnerable to attack by the Holy Roman Empire and the Roman Catholic Church.

The dialogue participants created enough space in their own understandings of the sacraments of baptism, absolution, and the Lord's Supper to allow the agreement to occur--and function reasonably well, at least until the beginning of the Thirty Years War in 1618.

The final two chapters explore how this concord has impacted the church since its acceptance, and how the lessons learned from this dialogue can assist churches today in providing healthy spaces for ecumenical dialogue to discuss controversial issues.

About this title

About the Author

Gordon Jensen is the William Hordern Chair of Theology and Dean of Studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary Saskatoon in Canada. He is the author of Walking Together in Christ (2006), as well as numerous articles, essays, and chapter contributions.

Review

"Gordon Jensen's book draws some important lessons from the experience of the sixteenth-century reformers that are still relevant for anyone involved in ecumenical dialogue today." -- Amy Nelson Burnett, Paula and D.B. Varner University Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska

"Professor Jensen's work makes important contributions both to our understanding of the Lord's Supper in the Reformation and to potential ecumenical discussions today." -- Carl R Trueman, William E. Simon Visiting fellow in Religion and Public Life, Princeton University

"A remarkable achievement, and a lasting contribution to Christian ecumenism!" -- Mickey L. Mattox, Professor of Historical Theology, Marquette University

"Precisely and sympathetically written book rich with historical narrative and lucid theological analysis, this study is an excellent tool in both ecumenical work and in classroom." -- Kirsi Stjerna, First Lutheran, Los Angeles/Southwest California Synod Professor of Lutheran History and Theology, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

About this edition

• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1506431569
• ISBN 13: 9781506431567
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 235