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"Talking Points" is a set of eight leaflets issued by the Department for Ecumenical Affairs of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to set forth propositions for discussion and debate on theological issues in Christian-Jewish relations. They are intended to stimulate reflection and response on certain key issues as part of an ongoing study process within the church.

In each leaflet, the basic point or proposition is printed in a box at the top of the first page, followed by several paragraphs of explanation and commentary, and concluding with suggested questions for discussion. These propositions have deliberately been formulated in such a way as to push and test ideas that might otherwise go unexamined.

Most of the topics dealt with are pertinent to Christians generally. Some, such as "Law and Gospel," deal with issues that have been more prominent in the Lutheran tradition. For the most part, the points are intended for discussion among Christians, as part of our "homework" for interfaith encounter, but having a Jewish guest or guests when discussing some of the topics would be likely to add special interest and insight.*

These points have a historical background, both in Christian-Jewish relations generally and more specifically in the work of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The past 40 or 50 years have seen a transformation in the stance of many Christians and many church bodies toward Jews and Judaism. Various factors have influenced this development, including the Holocaust, the establishment of the State of Israel, and the continued experience of living together peacefully and productively
in a pluralistic American society. Theological developments have also played a major role, including a new recognition of the Jewishness of Jesus and the Jewish roots of Christian worship.

All of this has led to the most substantive re-evaluation of Christian attitudes and behaviors toward the Jews and Judaism since church and synagogue parted ways. Repentance for past injustices and injuries, repudiation of anti-Jewish and antisemitic expressions, and overtures to a new relationship have marked these recent decades.

Within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, two documents exemplify this remarkable change. The "Declaration to the Jewish Community" of 1994 decisively repudiated Luther's anti-Jewish views, expressed remorse for the harm they have done, and pledged "to live out our faith in Jesus Christ with love and respect for the Jewish people." The 1998 "Guidelines for Lutheran-Jewish Relations" offered further suggestions for co-operation and dialogue.*

Discussion across the church made it plain that there are further questions that need to be explored, questions about the theological relationship between the two traditions. The 1999 ELCA Churchwide Assembly took an action calling for the creation of study materials on theological aspects of Christian-Jewish relations from a Lutheran perspective. The task was undertaken by the Consultative Panel on Lutheran-Jewish Relations, the advisory body that had also worked on the two previous statements; "Talking Points" is the result. The Panel appreciates the comments received from Jewish colleagues and ELCA staff during the writing process.

These Talking Points do not constitute an official ELCA statement about Judaism and Jewish-Christian relations. In the Consultative Panel’s judgment, formulating such a statement would be premature, since there is no clear consensus on many of the issues involved. Lutherans need time to live into the new reality in Jewish-Christian relations, open to the Holy Spirit's continuing work of illumination. We very much desire feedback from your study and discussion, which will help clarify where we are and where we are headed. The back of each leaflet includes information about how to submit your thoughts and comments.

* For use in settings specifically intended to include both Christians and Jews, such as Living Room Dialogues, the ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations recommends the "Interfaith Circles" program, a set of discussion guides. To order, see /ecumenical/resources/lujwrsce.html or telephone 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2610.
* A copy of the 1998 Guidelines with the 1994 Declaration is included in the present packet. For a larger-print, graphic version contact the ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations as indicated in the previous note.

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