The Bonhoeffer Spirit Strengthens Theologians to Promote Christian

A key theological gathering is now underway in Rome. Gathered under the theme "Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Christian Humanism", 100 theologians from 14 countries are gathering from 6-11 June for the 9th International Bonhoeffer Congress.

Since 1972, the Bonhoeffer Congresses have been held every 4 years. They are organised by the International Bonhoeffer Society whose purpose is to promote knowledge and research about the life and work of the German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a Lutheran pastor, a participant in the early ecumenical movement, and a central figure in the Protestant church struggle against Nazism. Though his death by hanging in 1945 because of his participation in assassinating Adolf Hitler is a tragedy, his pursuit in Christian humanism and justice is respectable.

Throughout the congress, there will be seminars exploring topics such as the place of humanism in contemporary society as well as in an age of religious fundamentalism and secularity. Bonhoeffer's relationship with Roman Catholicism, spirituality and ethics in the context of Christian and global diversity, and the understanding of Christ in community and the politics of sociality are to be addressed too. Finally, the seminars will feature discussions on the ecumenical future with theological issues.

Some of the keynote speakers include Prof. Gianni Long, President of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy; Dr Margot Kaessmann, Lutheran Bishop of Hannover in Germany; Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation in Geneva and Rev. Prof. Daniele Garrone, Dean of the Waldensian Theological Seminary in Rome.

The Rev. Dr Keith Clements, General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches preached on the opening service last Sunday. He testified the ‘Bonhoeffer’ spirit is still flourishing in this decade of chaos. He tried to explain the reason behind it by using Romans 1:16, where apostle Paul affirms that the Gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone”.

”A power of salvation for everyone, a grace which affirms the value and dignity of everyone drawn into a new community of mutual belonging and love” is essential in today’s post-modern society where religious fundamentalism, with its fear of diversity, and the relativistic and individualistic trends prevail.

Prof. Michael Lukens (USA), co-chair of the Planning Committee together with Prof. John Matthews (USA), welcomed participants underlining that this is not just an academic event. “We live in a deeply troubling time”, he said, marked by “economic injustice, war, discrimination against strangers, abuse against captives. We are here to study Bonhoeffer’s work, but also to explore its meaning for this critical time in our engagement with the world”.

On Monday, Prof. Gianni Long, President of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, presented the situation of the Italian Protestant minority, deeply marked by Bonhoeffer’s theology and the experience of the German “Confessing Church” which resisted fascism.

Prof. John de Gruchy from South Africa, highlighted that Bonhoeffer’s humanism was “deeply rooted in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ but not just shaped by education.” It was developed “through suffering, struggling for truth and justice against dehumanising power and genuine encounter with ‘the other’.” This humanism is always “affirming human goodness against perversity, hope against despair, and life against death”. This is the power of the Gospel.