Lutheran Confession of Faith (CT9005L)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit is an introduction to the Lutheran Confessions as contained in the Book of Concord. It concentrates on the overall content of the Lutheran Confessions, especially the Augsburg Confession and the Apology, the Smalcald Articles and Luther’s Catechisms, to help students appreciate the background and main themes of the confessions for the study of theology, and for the life of the church today in witness, spirituality, and service..

Unit code: CT9005L

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Articulate a critically informed understanding of the basic tenets of the Christian faith as expressed in the Lutheran symbols (the Book of Concord)
2.

Critically analyse the major theological teachings of the Lutheran Church and their historical development
3.

Discuss the centrality of the doctrine of justification for the Lutheran Confessions generally and for the Augsburg Confession and its Apology in particular, distinguishing where Lutheran tradition differs from other Christian traditions
4.

Critically analyse the theology of the Lutheran Confessions’ deeper internal integration and unity, and their implications for vocational life and service in the church
5.

Critically analyse the continuing relevance of the Lutheran Confessions for the contemporary church

Pedagogy

This unit is underpinned by teaching practices and strategies (lecturer input, seminar discussion, group analysis exercises) which encourage student engagement and participation in a variety of learning tasks and opportunities which foster deep learning.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Arand, Charles P., et al. The Lutheran Confessions: History and Theology of the Book of Concord. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2012.
  • Gassmann, Gunther, and Scott Hendrix. Fortress Introduction to the Lutheran Confessions. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress, 1999.
  • Kolb, Robert K., and James Nestigen, eds. Sources and Contexts of the Book of Concord. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2001.
  • Kolb, Robert K., and Timothy J. Wengert, eds. The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Translated by Charles Arand et al. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2000.
  • Lohrmann, Martin J. Book of Harmony : Spirit and Service in the Lutheran Confessions. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2016.
  • Samuel, William J. Towards an Asian Lutheran identity and Self understanding Report from the Conference on Asian Lutheranism Medang November 2014. Geneva, Switzerland: The Lutheran World Federation Asia Lutheran Communion, 2014.
  • Schlink, Edmund. Theology of the Lutheran Confessions. Translated by Paul F. Koehneke and Herbert J. A. Bouman. St Louis, MO: Concordia, 2004.
  • Stjerna, Kirsi Irmeli. Lutheran Theology : A Grammar of Faith. London, UK: T&T Clark, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021.
  • Streufert, Mary J. Transformative Lutheran Theologies : Feminist, Womanist, and Mujerista Perspectives. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2010.
  • Wengert, Timothy J. Martin Luther's Catechisms: Forming the Faith. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2009.
  • ---------- The Augsburg Confession: Renewing Lutheran Faith and Practice. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2020.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Portfolio

Reflections on selected weekly readings and close study of an article of the Augsburg Confession

 1400 20.0
Essay

Theological keys to understanding the Lutheran confessions

 2600 35.0
Seminar or Tutorial

Presentation of independent research on a topic to be negotiated with the lecturer

 2000 25.0
Essay

Confessing the faith then and now

 1400 20.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 18 Sep, 2024

Unit record last updated: 2024-09-18 08:03:10 +1000