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Saturday, July 26, 2014

Loehe Theological Conference IV: Wilhelm Loehe on Christian Formation





For the past several days, the International Loehe Society (http://www.iloes.net/en/) Fourth Loehe Theological Conference has been holding forth in Neuendettelsau, Germany -- Loehe's base of operation in the 19th century. Scholars primarily from Germany and North America discussed the topic of Christian Formation.



Professor John Pless and Dr. Albert Collver from the LCMS were presenters at the conference. Deaconess Grace Rao and Rev. Tony Booker, Regional Director for Eurasia, also attended on behalf of the LCMS.



Dr. Collver's presentation was titled, "Loehe: Mission Societies, The Church in Its Motion and Missio Dei." Collver noted that for Loehe the church engages in mission by being Church. The gospel goes out into the world to all nations, one congregation at a time. Collver used Loehe to critique some contemporary Missiology trends.


Professor Pless presented on "Seed Grains: Loehe's Manual for Christian Formation Through Prayer." Loehe teaches Christians how to pray, not by talking about prayer but by providing prayers for Christians to imitate. He provides prayers for the church year and for various events and concerns. The Psalter has a primary function in Seed Grains with each day of the week. Through Seed Grains, Loehe hoped to shape the life of the Christian.


Nikolai Kirche, Loehe's congregation. At the time of Loehe, there were only about 500 people in Neuendettelsau.



Stained glass window in the Nikolai Kirche.



The tomb of Wilhelm Löhe.



Wilhelm Loehe was instrumental in the establishment of St Lorenz (pictured above) in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Location:Missionsstraße,Neuendettelsau,Germany

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