NorthwestWashingtonSynodCandidacyCommitteeGuidedReadingCourse:LutheranConfessions,Theology,andHistory

Semester:Fall2018Professor:Rev.ErikSamuelson,M.Div.,M.A.Location:CentralLutheranChurch,Everett,WAThiscourseisdesignedtomeettherequirementsforLutheranConfessionsandLutheranHistoryforthetheologicaleducationcomponentoftheELCACandidacyrequirementsintheNorthwestWashingtonSynod,asapprovedbyRev.PaulHoffman,CandidacyCommitteeChair.CourseFormat:

Guidedreading,tutoring,andsymposiummeetingsfordiscussion.Sixsessions:1introductory,4symposium,1finalexamreview.The4symposiumsessionscanbeattendedviaZoom,thoughin-personispreferred.Attendanceatthefirstandlastmustbeinperson.

Evaluation:

Studentswilldemonstratelearningthroughatakehomeexamthatcovers:• Definition,historicalsignificance,andcontemporaryapplicationofkeyLutheran

theologicaltermsandconcepts• AnalysisofcontemporaryissuesintheirministrythroughthelensofLutheran

ConfessionsandLutheranHistory• Historicalunderstandingoftheircongregation’spolity,theologicalemphases,anduseof

theLutheranConfessionsbasedonhistory,predecessorbodyaffiliation,andethnicmakeup.

RequiredBooks:

• TheBookofConcord:TheConfessionsoftheEvangelicalLutheranChurch,Kolb,RobertandTimothyJ.Wengert,ed.(Minneapolis:Fortress,2000)

• Gassmann,GüntherandScottHendrix.FortressIntroductiontoTheLutheranConfessions.(Minneapolis:Fortress,1999)

• Gritsch,EricW.AHistoryofLutheranism,(Minneapolis:Fortress,2003).Secondeditionisalsoacceptable.

• Samuelson,ErikT.R.FiveTypesofLutheranConfessionalTheology:TowardaMethodofLutheranTheologyInAmericafortheTwenty-FirstCentury.(Everett,WA:WittenbergWorkshop,2006).

• Otherchaptersandarticlesasassigned.OptionalBooks:

• Gritsch,EricW.FortressIntroductiontoLutheranism.(Minneapolis:Fortress,1994).• Gritsch,EricW.andRobertW.Jenson.Lutheranism:TheTheologicalMovementandIts

ConfessionalWritings.(Minneapolis:Fortress,1976).

Sunday,Sept30th4:00-6:00pm

CourseOverview,orientationandinitialconversation

Sunday,October14th4:00-6:00pm

HistoricalIntroductionandOverviewofConfessionalDocuments

• Gritsch“History,”Chapters1-3• Samuelson,Chapters1-2• GassmannandHendrix,

Chapters1-4

Sunday,November11th4:00-6:00pm

AugsburgConfession,SmalcaldArticles,andCatechisms

• AugsburgConfessionin“BookofConcord”(BoC)pages27-105.ReadeithertheGerman(evenpages)orLatin(oddpages)

• SmalcaldArticlesin“BoC”295-328

• SmallCatechismin“BoC”pages345-375

• LargeCatechismin“BoC”pages377-480

• GassmannandHendrix,Chapters5-6

Sunday,November25th

4:00-6:00pm

LutheranHistoryPostLutherto20thCenturyandDeepDiveintoTheologicalAreas

• Gritsch“History”,chapters4-6• Other“BoC”readingsbasedon

theologicaltermsidentifiedinpreviousclasssession(specificsTBD)

Sunday,December16th4:00-6:00pm

20thCenturyLutheranismandContemporaryTheologicalApplication

• Gritsch“History”Chapter7• GassmannandHendrix,

Chapter7• “ModelConstitutionfor

CongregationsintheEvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica2013”Linkhere

• OtherreadingsTBD

Sunday,January6th

4:00-6:00pm FinalExamReview FinalTakeHomeExamDue

WorksheetonContextofLutheranConfessionalWritingsThreeEcumenicalCreeds(Apostles,Nicene,Athanasian)DatesWritten:Political/ReligiousContext:PurposeandTone:Examplethatillustratespurposeandtone:SmallCatechismandLargeCatechismDateWritten:1529Political/ReligiousContext:EvangelicaltheologywasspreadinginGermany.Lutherandothersvisitedchurchesandrealizedthetheologybeingtaughtandthemethodsbeingusedwerepoor.PurposeandTone:Pedagogical.Tohelppastorsandparentseducatetheirchildren,andensurethatgoodtheologyisbeingtaughtinchurches.Examplethatillustratespurposeandtone:TheLord’sPrayer,article1:“OurFather,youwhoareinheaven.Whatisthis?Answer:WiththesewordsGodwantstoenticeus,sothatwecometobelieveheistrulyourFatherandwearetrulyhischildren,inorderthatwemayaskhimboldlyandwithcompleteconfidence,justaslovingchildrenasktheirlovingfather.(BOC,356)AugsburgConfessionDateWritten:Political/ReligiousContext: PurposeandTone:

Examplethatillustratespurposeandtone:ApologytotheAugsburgConfessionDateWritten:Political/ReligiousContext: PurposeandTone:Examplethatillustratespurposeandtone:SmalcaldArticlesDateWritten:Political/ReligiousContext:PurposeandTone:Examplethatillustratespurposeandtone:

TreatiseonthePowerandPrimacyofthePopeDateWritten:Political/ReligiousContext:PurposeandTone:Examplethatillustratespurposeandtone:FormulaofConcordDateWritten:Political/ReligiousContext:PurposeandTone:Examplethatillustratespurposeandtone:

LutheranConfessionsandHistoryFinalExamName________________________________________________

Topic:SinHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?Topic:LawandGospelHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:ElectionandFreeWillHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:JustificationandSanctificationHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:TheChurchHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:FaithandGoodWorksHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:ConfessionandAbsolutionHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:BaptismHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:TheMinistryandPriesthoodofAllBelieversHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:TheHolySupper(Communion)HowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:HowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:AdiaphoraHowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:HowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?

Topic:HowdoLutheransunderstandthis?(akaWhatdoesthismean?)Whatarethekeytheologicalelements?Whywasthisimportantinthe16thCenturycontext?Whyis(orcould)thisbeimportantinyourcontext?