Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., will host the International Loehe Society Theological Conference III July 26-30.
Founded in 2005, the International Loehe Society seeks to promote the study of Wilhelm Loehe (1808-1872), a Bavarian pastor and churchman who was
influential in the confessional revival in Germany and instrumental in establishing the Fort Wayne seminary.
The society meets triennially, alternating between Neuendettelsau, Germany, and a location in North America associated with Loehe.
Professor John T. Pless of the Fort Wayne faculty and English language co-president of the International Loehe Society, described Loehe as “a multi-dimensional churchman whose influence on global Lutheranism has been deep and long-lasting.”
Loehe’s work, he said, resulted in the founding of two Lutheran seminaries — in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Dubuque, Iowa — and “contributed to the early life of both the Missouri Synod and the Iowa Synod, which is now part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
“This conference involves several leading Loehe scholars from Germany and North America whose research increases understanding of Loehe for missions, worship and pastoral care,” Pless added. “As the conference only meets in North America once every six years, it provides a wonderful opportunity for pastors and laity to explore Loehe’s legacy.”
Confirmed speakers and their topics at the upcoming conference include:
- Dr. Lawrence Rast, Concordia Theological Seminary president-elect and professor of Historical Theology, who will address “Loehe, Wyneken and the Fort Wayne Seminary.”
- Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz, professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at the seminary, “Loehe’s Missiological Perspective.”
- Dr. Dietrich Blaufuß, co-president of the International Loehe Society, Erlangen, Germany, “Loehe and the Enlightenment.”
- Dr. Paul Chung, associate professor of World Christianity and Missions at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., “Confession as Mission — Retrieving Wilhelm Loehe.”
- Jacob Corzine, doctoral candidate in Systematic Theology at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, “Wilhelm Loehe and Chiliasm in the Context of 19th Century Eschatology.”
- Matthias Honold, archivist, Diakonie, Neuendettelsau, Germany, “Archival Research on the Immigrants to Michigan.”
- Dr. Thomas Kothmann, adjunct lecturer at the University of Regensburg, Germany, “Loehe as Religious Educator.”
- Rev. Mark Loest, pastor of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frankentrost, Saginaw, Mich., “Loehe’s Colonies: Then and Now.”
- Rev. Martin Lohrmann, pastor of Christ Ascension Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, “Loehe and the Ministerium of Pennsylvania: Loehe’s Reception Among his Contemporaries in the Eastern United States.”
- Deaconess Cheryl Naumann, parish deaconess at Redeemer Lutheran Church and School, Oakmont, Pa., and president of the Concordia Deaconess Conference, “Lutheran Deaconesses in North America: An Assessment of Loehe’s Influence.”
- Dr. Craig Nessan, professor of Systematic Theology at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, “Wilhelm Loehe in Deindoerfer’s History of the Iowa Synod.”
- Dr. Thomas Schattauer, professor of Liturgics and dean of the chapel, Wartburg Theological Seminary, “Loehe’s 1844 Agenda.”
- Dr. Wolfhart Schlichting, editor of Confess Augustana, Augsburg, Germany, “Loehe’s Correspondence with Wedemann 1849-1850 on Theory and Practice in Church and Ministry.”
- Dr. John Stephenson, professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, “Loehe as an Ecumenical Lutheran.”
Erika Geiger, author of The Life, Work and Influence of Wilhelm Loehe, 1808-1872 (translated by Wolf Knappe and published earlier this year by CPH), will be present for a book-signing event as part of the conference.
The final day-and-a-half of the conference will take place in Frankenmuth, Mich., where participants will have time to visit the museum and tour the town, attend an outdoor dinner hosted by Saint Lorenz Lutheran Church and take part in a Loehe hymnfest led by Rev. Steven Starke and Dr. Scott Hyslop.
Accommodations for July 29 are available at the Bavarian Inn Lodge and Conference Center in Frankenmuth at the reduced rate of $89, plus tax. To reserve a room, call the Bavarian Inn at 989-652-8747, ext. 3559, and mention group number 11D3S5.
A limited amount of on-campus housing is available at the seminary for the first part of the conference in Fort Wayne. Please call 260-452-2105 for availability and rates.
Conference registration is $130 and is available online and through the seminary’s community services office. For more information, call the seminary at 260-452-2100 or click here.
Posted June 9, 2011
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