Ecumenical and/or Inter-religious

[1] 2025 marked 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea (325 CE), where bishops gathered—including from Bichvinta in what is now occupied Abkhazia to articulate the Church’s faith. Yet, in the last century, neither together nor separately did the Christian churches, East or West, protect humanity from the Holocaust and the Gulag. Today, the occupying […]

[1] Can salvation by faith alone provide a basis for Christian unity in churches being fractured by ethical debates? Even with the recent ecumenical agreements with the Orthodox on the filioque, discussions of ecumenism seem moot for denominations that are struggling to maintain internal unity in the face of fractious debates over social issues, especially […]

  “and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.” (1 Kings 19:12)   Introduction [1] The sound of sheer silence greeted me on my first morning in Egypt, a profound quiet that seemed to echo through the ages. Standing in […]

 In this issue we would like to point those who lead Congregational Discussion with 2 resources that include study guides and questions.  [1]  For those interested in learning more about the original Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed, the ELCA has created a study guide for congregations.  This can be found here. [2]  In […]

[1] Having just celebrated the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, this issue of Journal of Lutheran Ethics contains a reflection from the World Council of Churches’ Nicaea 2025 Ecumenical Council and reflections on the possibilities for and challenge of Christian unity today. [2]The Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order of the World Council […]

[1] There can be little question that doctrinal theology, not to mention “dogmatics,” has become disreputable, not only in the eyes of hostile critics of Christianity, but also to the consciences of many Christians. For ELCA Lutherans in particular, doctrinal theology connotes ecclesiastical policing, conjuring up medieval inquisitions, rancorous disputation, hairsplitting scholasticism, witch hunts, heresy […]

Introduction [1] The Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community at St. Olaf College, which I direct, is charged with articulating why and how Lutheran theology, tradition, and affiliation still matter at an institution like St. Olaf that boasts an increasingly diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. The number of students identifying as Lutheran […]

[1] I was invited by a congregation to lead an educational series on Islam and Christian-Muslim relations during one of the numerous politically controversial moments in our nation that fixated on Muslims. This is usually the time when I am invited to speak – when there is a political controversy. My intent, however, was to […]

[1] This issue of Journal of Lutheran Ethics invites thinking about the ethics of dialogue. This has been a common topic in the last several issues for the Journal, as dialogue between people with different life experiences, politics, and faith perspectives continues to be one of the most pressing demands for pastors, professors, and members […]

[1] Linda Morgan-Clement’s essay gives practical advice for holding an interfaith dialogue which can result in transformative learning.  While adult education and confirmation classes can be powerful places for learning about other faith traditions through readings and watching videos, another path for learning might start by considering one’s own faith tradition through dialogue with others […]