The main reason Ed, Marie, and I were in South Africa two weeks ago was the International Association of Mission Studies conference. Every three or four years missionaries, professors and students of missiology and other interested persons from around the world gather to learn from each other about Christian mission that’s happening around the globe. IAMS is an …
What Kind of Fool am I? A Reflection on the Same-Sex Marriage Debate
Dear Folks, I’m back from South Africa and will begin telling you about our trip next week, but today we have a wonderful piece from Marie Failinger of Hamline University. Here’s her bio in her own words: “I’m a Valpo grad (B.A. 1973, J.D. 1976), practiced law in Legal Aid In Indiana (Indianapolis and Evansville) for 5 …
Lutheran Theology and Chinese Religion
Colleagues, Here is the second sample of Lutheran Theology tossed our way by a Singapore sling. Peace & Joy! Ed Schroeder Pastor Martin Yee Paper for Lutheran Distinctives Course Singapore, August 1999 Upon reflections on what I learned from the Lutheran Distinctive course, below are what I perceived are some important pastoral applications for my parishioners who …
A Pastor’s Accountability in Church Growth
Colleagues, When we were in Indonesia last year, we visited Steve Haggmark and Nancy Johnson at the Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga on the island of Java. They’re a husband-and-wife team on the theology faculty there. Their roots are in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Besides these full-time jobs, they have other callings. Steve, for …
CHRISTOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES AT IAMS 10; Some Thoughts about IAMS 10
Edward H. Schroeder [An Evaluation of the International Association for Mission Studies Conference in Pretoria, South Africa, January 21-28, 2000] Part I. Looking for Christology at IAMS 10 It seems to me that we had trouble reflecting on Christology at IAMS #10 – January 21-28 in Pretoria, South Africa. Our trouble was not that we got into …
“Gospel Basics For Adults” – A curriculum for new members
Colleagues, If things are going according to plan, we your editors are in South Africa on this Thursday participating in the Tenth Conference of the International Association for Mission Studies. Before we left the USA, we put 3 pieces into the pipeline to supply you with ThTh postings for the three Thursdays we’ll both be gone. Then …
Postmodernism and truth: a theological perspective
When Ed came back from Bali/Australia/New Zealand he brought with him an article by Bruce Hamill, a Presbyterian minister in Darfield, NZ, called “Postmodernism and truth: a theological perspective” from the journal “Stimulus” (vol.5, no. 1, Feb 1997). It’s a interesting article, but a bit long for THTH, so I’m taking the liberty of offering you some …
Living with Two Calendars
Colleagues, For this Festival Day, the Epiphany of our Lord, also Christmas Day for Eastern Orthodox Christians, we pass along this gem from THE OLIVE LEAF, monthly newsletter of Mt. Olive Evangelical Luth. Church, Mukwonago, Wisconsin. Rather epiphanic itself, it shows forth the parish theology you can encounter at Mt. Olive under the pastoring of Steven Kuhl. …
THE JOB OF UN-CURSING THE WORLD
Edward H. Schroeder [Youth Programs, Minneapolis, ALC, etc., Volume 13, n.d., pp. 13-16] VOCATION IS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. IT IS THE FULL TIME CALLING OF GOD TO LIVE MY LIFE AS THOUGH IT WERE HIS LIFE. I HAVE A WHOLE RAFT OF VOCATIONS ALREADY BEFORE I EVER HAVE A JOB …