For Congregational Discussion: Ethics of Marriage and Family on the 500th Anniversary of Katie and Martin’s Wedding 

For Congregational Discussion:

This year marks the 500^th anniversary of the wedding of Katharina Von Bora and Martin Luther. We at the Journal of Lutheran Ethics invite congregations to celebrate this event and discuss its meaning. Below is a four part series meant to help those organizing adult education in congregations to embrace this anniversary and to think about what it might mean.

1. Celebrate the history of Katharina and her Martin! Read (or listen on YouTube https://youtu.be/FqHbyfebFTk ) to Diane Bowers’ essay on their meeting, courtship,  and Luther’s final pivot to take his Katie to wife. Together discuss the following:

• • Luther’s fear of death and the devil initially kept him from marrying, however he finally decided to marry and embrace joy and love to spite the devil.  How do you see love, joy, and commitment to family as a way to resist evil and trust God?
  • What elements of Katie’s faith impress you? Do you think they impressed Martin?  What do you think their marriage taught him about God?

2. Talk about healthy relationships! Read Joy McElroy’s essay about teaching children about healthy relationships and consider the following:

• • In order to have healthy relationships, both partners are to consider the other as an equal. What barriers do we have in our culture and society to equal partnership?
  • What might we learn about our own relationships as adults when we teach these values to children?
  • What might healthy relationships between parents and children look like?

3. Talk about parenting! Read Elisha Branch’s essay about learning to be a shepherd in her family and consider the following:

• • How does recognizing God as a graceful parent help a human parent to better accept their child in all the child’s messiness?
  • How does recognizing that we have God as a graceful parent help us be better parents ourselves?
  • What is the role of the church in helping parents?

1. 4. Talk about the role of the church! Read Alvin Erickson’s essay about churches that expect everyone to be involved and consider:

• • How can prayer help build up faith in parents to be bishops of their families?
  • How can churches be a foundation that support and feed families and all people?
  • What specific actions can your church do to help support healthy and just relationships between spouses, parents, children, and those inside and outside the church’s structure?