Bellarmine University will host a series of free, public events this fall to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s publication of his 95 Theses.
“The 95 Theses of Martin Luther were a critical event in the history of Christianity,” said Dr. Bill Fenton, dean of Bellarmine College of Arts and Sciences. “Consistent with the mission of Bellarmine University to promote ‘thoughtful, informed consideration of serious ideas, values, and issues,’ the 500th anniversary of this event provides a worthy opportunity for reflection through the lenses of worship, history, theology, music, and art.”
Luther’s 95 Theses — a list of questions and propositions — was published in an attempt to spark debate among scholars of the time regarding the Catholic Church’s theology of indulgences and, ultimately, the authority of the papacy. Luther’s publication was instrumental in the start of the Protestant Reformation, ultimately shaping the course of Western Christianity.
The series will commence with an ecumenical worship service at Bellarmine’s Our Lady of the Woods Chapel on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. [
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On Thursday, November 2, there will be a concert, held at 7 p.m. in Wyatt Center’s Cralle Theater. The performance will include Bellarmine choirs and the Louisville Civic Orchestra. A featured piece will be Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony.
Kathryn Johnson
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On Thursday, November 9, there will be a lecture on the current relations between Lutherans and Catholics, delivered by ecumenical scholar Dr. Kathryn Johnson, held at 7:30 p.m. in the George G. Brown Center’s Frazier Hall.
Johnson previously served as an assistant general secretary for ecumenical affairs for the Lutheran World Federation in Geneva, Switzerland, and currently serves as director of ecumenical and interreligious relations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
The closing event will be an art show, opening in Bellarmine’s McGrath Gallery in the Wyatt Center on November 10 at 5 p.m. and continuing through November 30.
The art show will feature work from Bellarmine students, created during a week-long collaboration with visiting artist Adam Moser. Moser’s work has included site-specific interdisciplinary projects ranging in topic from baseball to theology, and has been displayed in museums and galleries across the country.
These events are sponsored by the Bellarmine College of Arts and Sciences.
This news release was prepared by student worker Christina Mudd.