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About the Lutheran Ethicists

 

About the Lutheran Ethicists

Lutheran ethicists during the last decade have developed a tradition of meeting annually.  Each January around 30 to 40 professors in seminaries and colleges, retired professors, graduate students, DCS Studies Deapartment staff, and others gather to talk about mutually agreed upot topics related to Christian ethics and the church's presence in society.  The gatherings take place from Wednesday evening until Friday breakfast before the annual meetings of the Society of Christian Ethics (SCE).

Past Gatherings

 
2008 January 2-4
SIMPSONWOOD CONFERENCE AND RETREAT CENTER
ATLANTA, GEORGIa
Topic was "Lutherans and the Law in Human Society." The presenter was John White, Jr., About 30 persons were present.
 
2007 January 3-5
CATHOLIC CONFERENCE AND RETREAT CENTER
DALLAS, TEXAS
Topic was, "Human Sexuality." Presenters were Wanda Deifelt, Martha Ellen Stortz, Kathryn Ott, Laurie Jungling, Gary Simpson, and Don S. Browning. About 45 persons were present.
 
2006 January 4-6
Franciscan Renewal Center
Scottsdale, ArizonA
Topic was "Lutherans in Public." Presenters were Robert Benne, Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Mark Ellingsen, Stefan Heuser, Ronald Duty, Richard Hoehn, Charles Lutz, and Diane Yeager. Ronald Thiemann responded. Forty-four persons were present.
 
2005 January 5-7
Manresa Retreat Center
Miami, Florida
Topic was "Vulnerability and Security." Presenters were Ulla Schmidt, Raag Rolfsen, Sturla Stalsett, Wanda Deifelt, Ryan LaHurd, Gary Simpson, H. David Baer, Mary Gaebler and Diane Yeager. Thirty-five persons were present.
 
2004 January 7-9
Loyola at the Cenacle
Chicago, Illinois
Topic was "Lutheran Contributions to Bioethics." Presenters were Paul Nelson, Mark Hanson, Klaus Tanner and Leland Glenna. Approximately 50 persons were present.
 
2003 January 8-10
St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center
Pittsburg Pennsylvania
"War and Peace in the Islamic Tradition"
Abdulaziz Sachedina and Schaail Hashmi presented.  David Perry and John Kelsay responded.  Approximately 45 attended.
 
2002 January 9-11
Rosemary Heights Retreat Center
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
"Economic globalization." Presentation by members of the Tataskweyak Cree Nationa and other Canadians. Discussion of the Lutheran World Federation's Engaging Economic Globalization as a Communion.  Approximately 40 were present.
 
2001 January 2-5
From Wednesday evening until Friday breakfast
Loyola at the Cenacle
Chicago, Illinois
Discussed with Prefessor Oliver O'Donovan his book The Desire of Nations: Rediscovering the Roots of Political Theology.  Around 40 were present.
 
2000 January 5-7
From Wednesday evening until Friday breakfast
College of Preachers at the National Cathedral
Washington, DC
Topic was the church's public policy advocacy.  Alan Geyer presented a paper, and Russ Siler formed a panel of advocates.  Close to 30 were present. 
 
1999 January 6-8
From Wednesday evening until Friday breakfast
Mercy Center
Burlingame, California
Three panel discussions on the Significance of The Promise of Lutheran Ethics for Constructive Lutheran Ethics, for Teaching Ethics in the College and Seminary Classrooms, and for moral formation and teaching ethics in parish ministry.  Around 50 present.
 
1998 January 7-9
From Wednesday evening until Friday breakfast
Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center
Norcross, Georgia
Conversation on Steward Herman's paper: "Luther, Law, and Social Covenants"; Robert Michael Franklin, "Moral Formation in Congregations"; Conversation on Gene Outka's paper: "The Particularist Turn in Theological and Philosophical Ethics."  Around 30 present.
 
1997 January 9-10
All day Thursday to Friday noon
Friarhurst Retreat Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
"Voices From the 'Margins': How they emerge from, challenge, and affect Lutheran ethics today"; "The Lutheran Ethics Project"; "How Can We Better Equip People to Engage in Moral Deliberation?" Around 30 present.
 
1996 January 4-5
Madonna Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico
"Veritatis Splendor"
All day Thursday to Friday noon. Discussions of George Forell essays and of Gil Meilaender's article on "Veritatis Splendor."
 
1995 January 5-6
Thursday noon to Friday noon
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Arlington, Virginia
"What Sources in the Lutheran Tradition are Crucial in Your Work in Ethics? How?"; and "The Role of the Church as a Moral Teacher in This Society Today" Around 30 present.
 
1994 January 6-7
Dominican Retreat Center
River Forest, Illinois
"Who Are We and What Are We Teaching, Writing, Doing?";
"What Makes Ethics 'Lutheran'?"; and
"The Current Ecclesial Context for Ethical Deliberation
in the ELCA
"
Shared syllabi and brief papers on what is distinctive about Lutheran ethics.  Our first full meeting with around 30 present.  Gene Outka wrote a report on this "consultation of Lutheran ethicists."
 
1993 January 8
Ascension Lutheran Church
Savannah, Georgia
Friday before SCE.  12-15 present.
 
1992 January 12
Philadelphia
12:30-2 in a restaurant in Philadelphia.  On Sunday after SCE.  12-15 present.