College of Arts and Sciences

Luther's 95 Theses: Are They Church Dividing? Catholic & Lutheran Perspectives  

Professor Dr. Wolfgang ThönissenThe Department of Catholic Studies in cooperation with The Commission on Christian Unity of the Archdiocese of Newark proudly present, Luther's 95 Theses: Are They Church Dividing? Catholic & Lutheran Perspectives, on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in the Chancellor's Suite, University Center.

About The Event:

2017 will mark 500 years since Martin Luther published his 95 theses and the Reformation began. It will also mark 50 years since Catholic and Lutheran dialogue began after Vatican II. What can be said today about events which divided them in the past?

About the Speakers:

Timothy J. Wengert is the emeritus Ministerium of Pennsylvania professor of Church History at the Luteran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, where he taught from 1989-2013. He received his doctorate from Duke University in 1984. He has written many scholarly books and articles on the Reformation, was co-editor of the English edition of The Book of Concord and translated Luther's Small Catechism. He is general editor of The Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions (Baker, 2017). He co-authored (with Susan Wood) a book on Lutheran/Roman Catholic relations (Paulist, 2016). He edited the first volume of The Annotated Luther, from which his translation of the 95 Theses has also appeared (Fortress 2015). 

Professor Dr. Wolfgang Thönissen is Director of the Johann-Adam-Möhler-Institute for Ecumenism, Paderborn, Germany. From 1985 to 1999 he was executive secretary, board of the Council of Christian Churches in Baden-Württemberg. Since 1999, he had been professor of ecumenical theology at the Theological Faculty, Paderborn. He serves as consultant to the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity, Vatican City, and Counselor to the German Bishop's Conference and consultant to the International Lutheran Roman Catholic Commission on Unity. He completed his doctoral studies in theology and philosophy in Bonn and Tübingen, 1986, and postdoctoral lecture qualification (Habilitation) 1994 in Freiburg.

The speakers are participating in the Stone Lectures at Princeton Theological Seminary, October 3-6, 2016, and have graciously agreed to spend an afternoon with us for this program.

About the Department of Catholic Studies
Established in 2012-- the Year of Faith and the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II -- the Department of Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University, America's oldest diocesan university, fosters Seton Hall's Catholic identity and mission by exploring the relationship of Catholicism with all areas of culture and learning. Since its focus is the Church's encounter and dialogue with society or the Church in the world, Vatican II designated a special place for Catholic Studies as a discipline in academic life. As a result, Catholic Studies is a dialogue between Catholicism and culture that occurs in a special way at Catholic universities. While respecting other disciplines, Catholic Studies explores theology and philosophy in relation to culture, humankind and the world. This methodological approach opens up a place for all other disciplines; these enrich Catholic Studies and are enriched in return.

For more information, please contact Gloria Aroneo at [email protected] or (973)-275-2808