Don't get me wrong: there are certain benefits to belonging to a faith tradition named after a complicated (and often controversial) historical figure. Martin Luther has inspired enough books to fill a library, along with movies, a PBS series, and at least one "rock opera." He even has his own statue in the Creation Museum (it is my second favorite, after the dinosaur with a saddle). While John Calvin and Thomas Cranmer have had vastly greater influence on American Christianity, Luther is clearly the bigger 16 ^th century celebrity in early 21 ^st century America (who wants to see a movie about Calvin?). Indeed, Luther's posting of the 95 Theses in October of 1517 has come to be seen as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, modern European history, and extremely long social media posts.  

 

However, fast forward 500 years, and while Martin Luther may still have some star power, contemporary Lutherans do not (quick: name five famous Lutherans alive today). Therefore, I am writing you with an awareness that October 2017 is something of a golden opportunity for mere Lutherans (we are being noticed by the wider society for something that does not involve Garrison Keillor!). A few years ago, at the invitation of our Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, ELCA Lutherans began to consider how best to use this brief window of attention. The 400 ^th anniversary of the Reformation was marked by triumphalism. Would the 500 ^th anniversary be an opportunity to pound our chests, sing the "fight song," and remind others of everything we got right 500 years ago? Or are we being called to offer a different kind of witness?

 

Here in central Kentucky, the local ELCA congregations have come together with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington to commemorate (not celebrate!) the 500 ^th anniversary in a series of events this October. To help prepare, a group of Lutheran and Catholic clergy studied an ecumenical resource together for six months. We wanted to be able to mark the anniversary as a testimony to our present unity in Christ, rather than as a continuation of historical conflicts. Did we come away from those dialogue agreeing on everything? Of course not. But we did come away with new relationships, greater understanding, and a passion to continue the work of overcoming the divisions within the body of Christ. As a Lutheran pastor, my hope is that the ELCA will reflect back on this month and know that we used our "Lutheran moment" to promote unity rather than discord, to build understanding rather than nurse old grievances, and to critically examine our own heritage rather than simply applaud it.

 

Before any denominational labels we apply to ourselves, we first belong to a faith tradition named after a complicated (and often controversial) figure: Jesus Christ. We are Christians, and Christians believe in the awesome power of God to bring about reconciliation, wholeness and peace. I saw a glimpse of God's work to transform conflict into communion on October 2 ^nd, when I stood with hundreds of Lutherans, Catholics, Episcopalians and others to sing "A Mighty Fortress." We did not sing this song as the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation" but as a powerful expression of the faith all Christians hold in common: that the love of God really is bigger than any force that can assail us.

 

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