The Institute on Lay Vocation at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is pleased to announce that audio files of the Nov. 3-4 forum it offered, “Called to Engage the Postmodern World-The Lutheran Voice in Contemporary America,” are available online. The audio files in MP3 format may be accessed free of charge on the Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Web site at csl.edu.

The forum highlighted the urgent need for Lutherans to witness against theever-changing values in contemporary America. “For too long, Lutherans have been sitting on the sidelines and have allowed others to dominate the discussions concerning society, culture, politics and government,” commented Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto, director of Concordia Seminary’s Institute on Lay Vocation. “Church leaders and scholars from outside the Lutheran Church are urging us to let our Lutheran voice be heard. I hope this forum provided a first step in that direction.”

The forum featured an alternating pattern of keynote speakers, respondents, and question and answer sessions, allowing full participation by those who attended. The keynote speakers included:

• Dr. Mark A. Noll, the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame, who will present “The Need for a Lutheran Perspective on Christianity and Politics”;
• Dr. Robert Rosin, professor of historical theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, who will present “Lutherans Engaging the World: Time to Plant an Apple Tree”;
• Dr. Harold O.J. Brown, the John R. Richardson Professor of Theology and Philosophy at the Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, N.C., who will present “Where Is Luther When We Need Him?”;
• Father Gregory J. Lockwood, professor of systematic theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, St. Louis, who will present “Lutherans and Catholics – Joined Against Postmodern Confusion?”; and
• Dr. Robert Benne, founding director, Center for Religion and Society, Roanoake College, Salem, Va., who will present “Sunset or Dawn?-The Lutheran Calling to Public Life in America.”

Those who offered formal responses to the keynote presentations included Dr. Charles P. Arand, professor and chairman of systematic theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; David Neff, editor, Christianity Today magazine; Dr. Paul Rorem, Benjamin B. Warfield Professor of Medieval History, Princeton Theological Seminary and editor of Lutheran Quarterly; and Dr. James W. Voelz, dean of faculty and professor of exegetical theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

For more information, call (314) 505-7009 or e-mail [email protected].