REPORT OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL IN NEUENDETTELSAU, 2001

"Overcoming Violence"

I would like to begin by thanking those responsible for allowing and assisting (Project Andrew) me to represent the Lutheran Church of Australia at the recent Summer School at Neuendettelsau, run by Missionwerk and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria. It's so difficult to begin to describe being in a group of 21 theologians from 18 different countries. It was indeed a once-in-a-life-time, unbelievable, privilege.

The specific theme of the Summer School was "Overcoming Violence" which picked up the World Council of Churches theme for this decade - "Decade to Overcome Violence". At our first session we were all presented with a meaningful symbol of the theme as a gift from the Lutheran Church in Liberia. It was a cross fashioned from the shell of a bullet.

A wonderful variety of speakers shared aspects of this topic with us. They included -

• Ms Laura Short from the WCC.
• Professor Dieter Becker who spoke on Culture, Religion and Violence while referring mainly to the works of Rene Girard,
• Dr Klaus Schafer who gave us a theological approach to Overcoming Violence with a paper on "God and Violence".
• Peter Klentzan who shared from his practical experience of working with children in Bosnia coping with the trauma of war,
• Dr Hansjooerg Biener who introduced the work of the Peace Education Standing Commission of the World Conference on Religion and Peace,
• Mathias Kippenberg who shared practical insights from the work as a mediator and trainer in mediation.

Added to this list were quite a number of people from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria who aimed to give us some insight into life in the present day Church in Germany.

A real highlight was both the formal and informal discussion and interaction with Lutheran Pastors from other countries and cultures. I gained much not only from listening to their theological insights but also their stories about ordinary church life in their country. Individual case studies of violence from each country gave even deeper insight into issues drawn from real life.

As a representative of the LCA, I found it very embarrassing and difficult to try to give some explanation as to why our church doesn't yet ordain women. I must say I really did enjoy the experience of being spiritually fed by women Pastors, both in our groups and in joint worship. Compared to the churches in Germany, India, and Africa, it was also sobering to consider what little we are doing in the LCA, in the whole area of overcoming violence. I didn't even know the WCC had declared this to be the "Decade to Overcome Violence".** It was fascinating to see reflected in the attitude of the people from Africa and India, and indeed in my own Australian experience, how young/small isolated churches tend to be more interested in desperately clinging to "traditional truths" they have been taught, rather than allowing the Gospel to influence life as it continues to change and develop.

During the middle weekend, our group was able to visit and worship with Lutheran Congregations in Bavaria. It was a great privilege for me to experience life in an average German manse for two days, and to be invited to preach on Sunday. Our German hosts were always welcoming, accepting and very generous in their hospitality.

A scheduled part of the school was a trip to Luther sites in Germany. The aim was to allow us to experience first hand some feeling of the Reformation history we'd only learnt from lectures and books. I must say the tour organized for us achieved this aim very well. It was a joy to be at the places where Luther was born and died, where he entered the monastery, where he translated the New Testament, where he nailed the 95 thesis to the church door, and where he lived in Witttenberg. It was also fascinating to visit Philip Melanchton's house.

To be in the very places the history of the church, and indeed the world was changed so dramatically; to join in a worship service led by an order of Lutheran Nuns who have come to live and work in the old Erfert Augustinian Monastery so that it can continue to live rather than become a dead museum; to see many ordinary yet remarkable little things, like the green parrots included in the Monastery chapel's ancient stain glass windows (how progressive is that when the existence of such birds would have only just been discovered by Europe and likely not to have been seen by any of the population of Erfert); and to be able to listen to a concert of J.S. Bach's music in the very church at which he was Music Director, are things I shall always treasure.

Yet another highlight was the experience of visiting the Buckenwald Concentration Camp. The experience of standing where people suffered so much, for no other reason than that someone had defined them as being different and lesser beings, moved me more than anything else. We must never cease fighting the battle against each and every manifestation of prejudice and discrimination still made today because of gender (ordination of women?), sexual orientation (the attitude of the church to homosexuality?), race, political views, and many other unimportant differences.

Finally let me encourage the LCA not only to express it's gratitude to those responsible for inviting people from our church to participate in such a rich and rewarding experience, but also to make sure that, when invited, Australian Lutherans are always found to attend such a wonderful programme.

Keith Stiller
September 7, 2001

** In his reply, the President of our Church, kindly pointed out that his first Newsletter to Pastors (December 2000) "stated that this was the focus and that the NCCA had also picked up on it."

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