Reformation Journeys to the Year 2517
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther started a Reformation by posting 95 Theses. As a historian, I spend a lot of time looking backwards and trying to understand the past. But I also like to wonder what things will be like in the future. If the past is any guide, faith and love will still be important then.
On that theme, I wrote a report imagining the 1000th anniversary of the Reformation. If we can be sure of anything, it's that Earth-based Lutheranism will need to watch out for its geocentric religious biases. Check it out the Fan Fiction page here, along with other Reformation Fan Fiction weirdness.
Have a happy next 500 years! :)
The picture to the left was taken as I was preparing to preach in Loehe Chapel at Wartburg Seminary. The stole had belonged to Rev. Dr. Will Hassold, a longtime professor of Greek at Concordia University Ann Arbor who died in 2015. I was related to him in the same way that Philip Melanchthon was related to the humanist scholar Johannes Reuchlin: grandnephew by marriage. So many saints! Peace to all.
On that theme, I wrote a report imagining the 1000th anniversary of the Reformation. If we can be sure of anything, it's that Earth-based Lutheranism will need to watch out for its geocentric religious biases. Check it out the Fan Fiction page here, along with other Reformation Fan Fiction weirdness.
Have a happy next 500 years! :)
The picture to the left was taken as I was preparing to preach in Loehe Chapel at Wartburg Seminary. The stole had belonged to Rev. Dr. Will Hassold, a longtime professor of Greek at Concordia University Ann Arbor who died in 2015. I was related to him in the same way that Philip Melanchthon was related to the humanist scholar Johannes Reuchlin: grandnephew by marriage. So many saints! Peace to all.
Teaching Adventures on the Way to 2517
With my friend Bugenhagen in Wittenberg
Summer 2023
Co-leader of Food Theology workshop, ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering, Phoenix (via Zoom)
Supply preacher, First Congregational UCC, Dubuque
Winter and Spring 2023
Panelist and presenter, American Society of Church History, Philadelphia
Led J-term immersion to Geneva, Taize, and Strasbourg
Panelist for webinar on Eucharist and Digital Worship
Autumn 2022
Communion Bread Baking Workshop co-leader with Kellie Lisi; Wartburg Seminary
Attended Sixteenth-Century Society Conference, Minneapolis; presented a paper
Attended Lutheran Historical Conference, St. Louis
Supply preacher in October, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque
Summer 2022
International Luther Congress, Thousand Oaks, CA; preacher, presenter, and seminar leader
International Loehe Conference, Dubuque; preacher and participant
Early 2022
Germany Immersion J-term course: Berlin, Wittenberg, and Erfurt
Community lecture: "The Spirituality of Casting Bread upon the Waters"
Wartburg Seminary Reformation & Renewal presentation: "Luther's Four Pockets"
Crossings Community "Table Talk" leader: "Relational Uses of the Law"
Autumn 2021
Confirmation class presentation, "For You," on Lutheran spirituality, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Dubuque
Spring and Summer 2021
Guest preacher, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran, La Mesa, CA
Keynote speaker for the Northeastern Iowa Synod assembly (online; text available here)
Discussion of Stories from Global Lutheranism, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fayetteville, AR
Webinar on the 500th anniversary of Luther at the Diet of Worms, hosted by ELCA Wittenberg Center
January-February 2021
More Small Catechism study with the Western Iowa Synod, ELCA
Autumn 2020 (online)
Leader of a Small Catechism study with the Western Iowa Synod, ELCA
Christian education with Redeemer Lutheran, Hinsdale, IL
Presenter for Lutheran Historical Conference
Guest musician for Wartburg Seminary Oktoberfest, "Luther and Beer"
Speaker for Confirmation event, North Carolina Synod ELCA
"Holy Happy Hour" guest, Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, Seattle
Spring and Summer 2020
Led online workshops for ELCA Coaching Network and Western Iowa Synod
January-February 2020
Japan Immersion J-term course: Tokyo, Mitaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Kyoto, etc.
Attended American Association for the Advancement of Science conference (AAAS), Seattle
Fall Semester 2019
Attended AAR/SBL annual conference, San Diego
Attended meeting of Lutheran historians & archivists, St. Louis
Summer 2019
Guest musician for combined outdoor worship with St. Paul's & St. John's, La Motte, IA
Attended ELCA Association of Teaching Theologians, Rock Island, IL
Adjunct professor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Adjunct instructor for ELCA Horizon Apprenticeship program, online & Chicago
Spring 2019
Attended the North American Luther Forum, St. Louis
Created and led Bible/Pop Culture Trivia for Wartburg's Senior Banquet, Dubuque
January-February 2019
Presenter & attendee, American Society of Church History, Chicago
Led and participated in Milwaukee Urban Immersion, J-term class
Talk about vocation with college students from Waldorf, Luther, Iowa, and Northern Iowa
Luther & Lent with Ft. Dodge Forum, Ft. Dodge, IA
Discussed Book of Harmony with Diakonia lay school class, Platteville, WI
Fall 2018
Presenter & participant, Lutheran Historical Conference at Cal Lutheran Univ., Thousand Oaks, CA
Adult Forum leader, Trinity Lutheran Church, Mason City, IA
Summer 2018
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue "On Grace" with Dr. Kohlhaas in Waterloo, IA
Bible study leader, Central/Southern Illinois Synod Assembly, Champaign, IL
Spring 2018
Sunday morning Christian education with First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
Presenter with Dairyland Conference of NW Synod of Wisc., Chimney Rock, WI
Attended SXSW EDU conference on innovation in education, Austin, TX
January-February 2018
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue "What ifs" with Dr. Kohlhaas in Waterloo, IA
Presentations on "Melanchthon & Education," Northeast Iowa Synod Day of Renewal, Cedar Falls, IA
Presenter for Center for Global Theologies conference on "Reformation Perspecives on Suffering," WTS
Led January urban immersion trip to Milwaukee
November & December 2017
'Table Talk with Martin' & Sunday adult forum, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Phila, PA
Keynote Speaker for annual theological forum, Adventist International Institute for Advanced Studies, Silang, Cavite, Philippines
Adult forum leader, Saron Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, MI
Advent & Christmas with Luther, Ft. Dodge Forum, Ft. Dodge, IA
October 2017
Keynote speaker, Association of Lutherans of Arab & Middle Eastern Heritage (ALAMEH), Chicago
Presenter at Cedar River Theological Education Forum, St. Andrew Lutheran, Cedar Rapids, IA
Keynote speaker, Reformation event of Menominee Valley Conference (Northern Great Lakes Synod), Marinette, WI
'Martin Luther Rock'n'Talk' with confirmation class, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Dubuque, IA
'A Mighty Fortress for Whom?' Presentation at Refugees & Reformation conference, WTS, Dubuque, IA
Two presentations with Christ Lutheran Church, Walla Walla, WA
Reformation Sunday adult forum, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque
Helped organize ecumenical Reformation Sunday worship, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dubuque
Spoke in chapel with Tom O'Meara & Bonnie Sue Lewis, Reformation Day, WTS, Dubuque
September 2017
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue with Dr. Jake Kohlhaas in Rockford, IL
Reformation event with Erik Herrmann at Lutheran Child & Family Services, Indianapolis, IN
Led adult education class, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hinsdale, IL
Guest preacher, teacher, & workshop leader (on faith & citizenship), Grace Lutheran Church, Dodgeville, WI
Academic presentation, original skit, & adult ed at Christ Lutheran Church, Charlotte, NC
Summer 2017
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue, part 2, with Dr. Jake Kohlhaas in Waterloo, IA
Attended & gave short presentation at the International Luther Congress, Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, Germany
May 2017
Adult education classes at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque
Keynote speaker at assembly of East Central Synod of Wisconsin, Green Bay, WI
April 2017
Presentations on Roots of the Reformation, King of Glory Lutheran, Dallas, TX
Paper on "Bugenhagen's Interpretation of Jonah 4" with Chicago Society of Biblical Research, Chicago
"Respite in the Wilderness" church leaders' retreat with Florida-Bahamas Synod, Luther Springs Camp, FL
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue with Dr. Kohlhaas, Faith Lutheran, Marion, IA
March 2017
Western North Dakota Syond GIFTS program on Christian freedom & service, Minot, ND
Presentations on Luther, Repentance & Lent, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, IA
Taught confirmation class on Luther, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue with Dr. Kohlhaas, Wartburg Theological Seminary [WTS], Dubuque
Discussion with visiting campus ministry students from Concordia College (Moorhead)
January & February 2017
Presented a conference paper on the early Luther, American Society of Church History, Denver, CO
Presentation on Christian freedom & freedom of religion, Fort Dodge Forum, Ft. Dodge, IA
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue with Dr. Jake Kohlhaas in Waterloo, IA & Loras College, Dubuque, IA
Discussion with campus ministry students from University of Iowa & University of Northern Iowa
Late 2016
Confirmation Extravaganza Speaker, South-Central Wisconsin Synod, Madison
Guest preacher & teacher at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
Guest preacher & teacher at Midvale Lutheran Church, Madison, WI
Co-leader of Food Theology workshop, ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering, Phoenix (via Zoom)
Supply preacher, First Congregational UCC, Dubuque
Winter and Spring 2023
Panelist and presenter, American Society of Church History, Philadelphia
Led J-term immersion to Geneva, Taize, and Strasbourg
Panelist for webinar on Eucharist and Digital Worship
Autumn 2022
Communion Bread Baking Workshop co-leader with Kellie Lisi; Wartburg Seminary
Attended Sixteenth-Century Society Conference, Minneapolis; presented a paper
Attended Lutheran Historical Conference, St. Louis
Supply preacher in October, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque
Summer 2022
International Luther Congress, Thousand Oaks, CA; preacher, presenter, and seminar leader
International Loehe Conference, Dubuque; preacher and participant
Early 2022
Germany Immersion J-term course: Berlin, Wittenberg, and Erfurt
Community lecture: "The Spirituality of Casting Bread upon the Waters"
Wartburg Seminary Reformation & Renewal presentation: "Luther's Four Pockets"
Crossings Community "Table Talk" leader: "Relational Uses of the Law"
Autumn 2021
Confirmation class presentation, "For You," on Lutheran spirituality, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Dubuque
Spring and Summer 2021
Guest preacher, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran, La Mesa, CA
Keynote speaker for the Northeastern Iowa Synod assembly (online; text available here)
Discussion of Stories from Global Lutheranism, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fayetteville, AR
Webinar on the 500th anniversary of Luther at the Diet of Worms, hosted by ELCA Wittenberg Center
January-February 2021
More Small Catechism study with the Western Iowa Synod, ELCA
Autumn 2020 (online)
Leader of a Small Catechism study with the Western Iowa Synod, ELCA
Christian education with Redeemer Lutheran, Hinsdale, IL
Presenter for Lutheran Historical Conference
Guest musician for Wartburg Seminary Oktoberfest, "Luther and Beer"
Speaker for Confirmation event, North Carolina Synod ELCA
"Holy Happy Hour" guest, Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, Seattle
Spring and Summer 2020
Led online workshops for ELCA Coaching Network and Western Iowa Synod
January-February 2020
Japan Immersion J-term course: Tokyo, Mitaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Kyoto, etc.
Attended American Association for the Advancement of Science conference (AAAS), Seattle
Fall Semester 2019
Attended AAR/SBL annual conference, San Diego
Attended meeting of Lutheran historians & archivists, St. Louis
Summer 2019
Guest musician for combined outdoor worship with St. Paul's & St. John's, La Motte, IA
Attended ELCA Association of Teaching Theologians, Rock Island, IL
Adjunct professor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Adjunct instructor for ELCA Horizon Apprenticeship program, online & Chicago
Spring 2019
Attended the North American Luther Forum, St. Louis
Created and led Bible/Pop Culture Trivia for Wartburg's Senior Banquet, Dubuque
January-February 2019
Presenter & attendee, American Society of Church History, Chicago
Led and participated in Milwaukee Urban Immersion, J-term class
Talk about vocation with college students from Waldorf, Luther, Iowa, and Northern Iowa
Luther & Lent with Ft. Dodge Forum, Ft. Dodge, IA
Discussed Book of Harmony with Diakonia lay school class, Platteville, WI
Fall 2018
Presenter & participant, Lutheran Historical Conference at Cal Lutheran Univ., Thousand Oaks, CA
Adult Forum leader, Trinity Lutheran Church, Mason City, IA
Summer 2018
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue "On Grace" with Dr. Kohlhaas in Waterloo, IA
Bible study leader, Central/Southern Illinois Synod Assembly, Champaign, IL
Spring 2018
Sunday morning Christian education with First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
Presenter with Dairyland Conference of NW Synod of Wisc., Chimney Rock, WI
Attended SXSW EDU conference on innovation in education, Austin, TX
January-February 2018
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue "What ifs" with Dr. Kohlhaas in Waterloo, IA
Presentations on "Melanchthon & Education," Northeast Iowa Synod Day of Renewal, Cedar Falls, IA
Presenter for Center for Global Theologies conference on "Reformation Perspecives on Suffering," WTS
Led January urban immersion trip to Milwaukee
November & December 2017
'Table Talk with Martin' & Sunday adult forum, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Phila, PA
Keynote Speaker for annual theological forum, Adventist International Institute for Advanced Studies, Silang, Cavite, Philippines
Adult forum leader, Saron Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, MI
Advent & Christmas with Luther, Ft. Dodge Forum, Ft. Dodge, IA
October 2017
Keynote speaker, Association of Lutherans of Arab & Middle Eastern Heritage (ALAMEH), Chicago
Presenter at Cedar River Theological Education Forum, St. Andrew Lutheran, Cedar Rapids, IA
Keynote speaker, Reformation event of Menominee Valley Conference (Northern Great Lakes Synod), Marinette, WI
'Martin Luther Rock'n'Talk' with confirmation class, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Dubuque, IA
'A Mighty Fortress for Whom?' Presentation at Refugees & Reformation conference, WTS, Dubuque, IA
Two presentations with Christ Lutheran Church, Walla Walla, WA
Reformation Sunday adult forum, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque
Helped organize ecumenical Reformation Sunday worship, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dubuque
Spoke in chapel with Tom O'Meara & Bonnie Sue Lewis, Reformation Day, WTS, Dubuque
September 2017
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue with Dr. Jake Kohlhaas in Rockford, IL
Reformation event with Erik Herrmann at Lutheran Child & Family Services, Indianapolis, IN
Led adult education class, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hinsdale, IL
Guest preacher, teacher, & workshop leader (on faith & citizenship), Grace Lutheran Church, Dodgeville, WI
Academic presentation, original skit, & adult ed at Christ Lutheran Church, Charlotte, NC
Summer 2017
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue, part 2, with Dr. Jake Kohlhaas in Waterloo, IA
Attended & gave short presentation at the International Luther Congress, Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, Germany
May 2017
Adult education classes at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque
Keynote speaker at assembly of East Central Synod of Wisconsin, Green Bay, WI
April 2017
Presentations on Roots of the Reformation, King of Glory Lutheran, Dallas, TX
Paper on "Bugenhagen's Interpretation of Jonah 4" with Chicago Society of Biblical Research, Chicago
"Respite in the Wilderness" church leaders' retreat with Florida-Bahamas Synod, Luther Springs Camp, FL
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue with Dr. Kohlhaas, Faith Lutheran, Marion, IA
March 2017
Western North Dakota Syond GIFTS program on Christian freedom & service, Minot, ND
Presentations on Luther, Repentance & Lent, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, IA
Taught confirmation class on Luther, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Dubuque
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue with Dr. Kohlhaas, Wartburg Theological Seminary [WTS], Dubuque
Discussion with visiting campus ministry students from Concordia College (Moorhead)
January & February 2017
Presented a conference paper on the early Luther, American Society of Church History, Denver, CO
Presentation on Christian freedom & freedom of religion, Fort Dodge Forum, Ft. Dodge, IA
Lutheran-Catholic dialogue with Dr. Jake Kohlhaas in Waterloo, IA & Loras College, Dubuque, IA
Discussion with campus ministry students from University of Iowa & University of Northern Iowa
Late 2016
Confirmation Extravaganza Speaker, South-Central Wisconsin Synod, Madison
Guest preacher & teacher at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
Guest preacher & teacher at Midvale Lutheran Church, Madison, WI