A giant of 20th century Lutheran theology has died. William Lazareth was, in the old-fashioned and lovely sense, a "churchman." He served as pastor, synod bishop, seminary and college professor, denominational and ecumenical officer, and theologian of the church. He deeply shaped my theological imagination through is progressive engagement with issues of public life--justice and peace especially--from a strong basis in Lutheran theology. While in seminary in Berkeley, Sonja and I had the wonderful opportunity to welcome him for dinner at our home. He was a warm and gracious guest in our modest student apartment, and told amazing stories about his advocacy for women's ordination within the halls of the Vatican. Later I had a chance to talk with him while I was serving a large parish as senior pastor, feeling torn between pastoral duties and my role at home with Sonja and very young children. He strongly affirmed my experience, saying these dual vocations do indeed conflict at times, and one must not always win at the expense of the other.
I few years ago I wrote a review of his great book Christians in Society: Luther, the Bible, and Social Ethics. Here is the beginning, with a link to follow if you'd like.
Lazareth on Luther
by Christian Scharen
Christian Scharen is an Associate Director of the Faith as a Way of Life Project at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, Yale Divinity School.
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Writing in the season of Lent, I might helpfully begin with an act of
confession. My first published comments engaging the work of William
Lazareth included a vigorous critique. Writing on the topic of
sexuality and the Lutheran church, I challenged Lazareth's strong
position against blessing gay unions and ordaining those gay and
lesbian clergy who live under promises of fidelity to a life-partner.
Although
I stand by my criticisms, the very understanding of Luther and Lutheran
theological ethics that undergirds my criticism I learned in no small
measure from Lazareth himself. When in college I questioned the social
relevance of my Lutheran faith, my home pastor and various professors
pointed me to Lazareth's energetic arguments for Christian social
responsibility. When I chose Luther's doctrine of the two kingdoms for
a senior thesis, I learned from his careful historical reconstruction
of Luther's views. And when in graduate school, I turned to examine
Lutheran marriage theology, I found his powerful work on the Luther and
the Christian home. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to meet
this vibrant and fiery man. Let me begin this review, then, not with
critique but with deep appreciation and respect for this man's
remarkable life of service to the church catholic. Disagreement on some
issues of social ethics does not erase deep agreement in theological
ethics and still deeper unity in our mutual public ministry to the
Gospel (as pastors) and ministry for the Gospel in the world (as fellow
baptized members of the body of Christ).
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