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LutherHostel Explores "Christians in Society"George E. Handley Mid-June the seminary campus was once more the setting for a fifth annual LutherHostel. Thirty participants gathered Monday, June 16th for the five-day program of fellowship, enrichment and growth, exploring "Christians in Society". Since the opening of the Wiedemann Center in 1998, this program - in association with the Association of Lutheran Older Adults - has been a summer highlight, utilizing the seminary facilities and faculty, as well as resources of the greater Philadelphia area. "Lutheran Contributions Then and Now" was the 2003 sub-theme. The program this year included presentations by four faculty members: John H. P. Reumann (Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Greek), H. George Anderson (concluding his semester as St. John’s Visiting Professor of Theology), Timothy Wengert (Ministerium of Pennsylvania Professor of Reformation History) and Karl Krueger (new Director of the Library). Reumann, active in the event planning since its beginning, provided the introductory Overview, as well as Biblical perspectives. Typically, his presentations were rich in providing interesting illustrations from church history, especially from Germany, but also in America, centering on the Philadelphia scene, even including a reference to Lutheran Curt Simmons, former Phillies baseball star. Noted church historian and former ELCA Presiding Bishop, Anderson highlighted Lutheran ministry with the poor, both in its almsgiving and advocacy aspects. Wengert explored Luther’s teaching on "doing good works", as well as faithful responsibility in both of the Two Kingdoms. Krueger shared unique resources in the seminary library related to the theme, as well as stories on items from the rare book collection. An unscheduled treat was provided by Curator John Peterson as he showed items from the Archives Center vault, housed in the library. A recommendation for "free-time" was to view the special display in the library rotunda on O. Frederick Nolde, former professor and active at the formation of the United Nations, who is credited with influence on the writing of the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights", an early UN milestone. "Community Partnerships" was illustrated by Lutheran Children and Family Services staff Bill Erat and Susan Pursch. "The Greater Olney Circle of Friends" provided a case study on the church and government cooperation, involving five historically strong Lutheran congregations (St. Mark, St. Paul English, St. Paul, Tabor and Zion), all in Philadelphia’s 9th City Council District. A bus tour enhanced this perspective with visits to Cookman United Methodist Church, New Creation Lutheran Church (a Latino mission prospering out of the facilities of the former Erloeser/Redeemer Church), as well as the Lutheran Settlement House. The service of Lutheran deaconesses was noted at several points, including a presentation by Sister Ramona Cecille. Daily worship was led by Pastor Margay Whitlock (Zion Church, Rahway, NJ) and musician Barbara Hartenbauer (St. Paul, Glenside, PA). This year’s enrichment included a trip to the Barnes Foundation art galleries in Lower Merion. The 2004 LutherHostel is scheduled for June 14-18, with a theme of "We the People … of God". |