This year, 2017, is the 500th anniversary of The Protestant Reformation. The Reformation is usually associated with Martin Luther and the posting of his 95 Theses on October 31, 1517. Luther’s challenge to the church of his day, while neither intending nor desiring it, split Western Christianity, fragmenting it into multiple denominations, churches and traditions, each emphasizing different theologies, beliefs, spiritualities and community structures.
All claim Christ as their Savior and Lord and claim to be faithful to what Christ desires of us. Yet each tradition has a different understanding of what following Christ entails. These sessions will continue to explore the history of the Reformation as it continues to impact current ecumenical relationships. We will continue to examine the key theological beliefs and practices of the various Christian denominations with regards to differing understanding of church, ministry and sacraments, especially Eucharist. With special emphasis on the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue, we will detail the ecumenical teaching of Vatican II and reflect on how we can work together in reconciling differences and move toward Christian Unity. Come as we continue to learn together the rich variety that exists within Christianity.[:]
