Was heißt »Lehre« in den lutherischen Kirchen? Woran orientiert sie sich? Wie entsteht Verbindlichkeit? Welche Instanzen und Prozesse der Lehrbeurteilung haben sich entwickelt? Wer kann Lehrfragen wie entscheiden? Die vorliegende Studie stellt zunächst gegenwärtige Strukturen der Lehrverständigung im deutschen Luthertum dar und entfaltet exemplarisch historische Fallstudien lutherischer Lehrverantwortung (Bultmann-Kontroverse; Frauenordination; Apartheid; Rechtfertigungslehre). Ein zweiter Teil skizziert die Entstehung lutherischer Lehr- und Bekenntnisnormen im 16. Jh. und verfolgt im historischen Längsschnitt die Entwicklung von Konzepten kirchlicher Lehrverbindlichkeit bis in die Gegenwart. Abschließende Thesen erschließen die Relevanz lutherischer Lehrverantwortung für die ökumenischen Dialoge.
[Doctrinal Responsibility - a Lutheran Perspective]What does »doctrine« mean in Lutheran churches? What is it based upon? How is it made binding? What instances and processes of doctrinal judgment have developed? Who can decide doctrinal questions and how? This study first presents current structures of doctrinal understanding in German Lutheranism and unfolds exemplary historical case studies of Lutheran doctrinal responsibility (Bultmann controversy; ordination of women; apartheid; doctrine of justification). A second part outlines the emergence of Lutheran doctrinal and confessional norms in the 16th century and traces the development of concepts of ecclesial doctrinal commitment in a historical cross-section up to the present. Concluding theses explore the relevance of Lutheran doctrinal responsibility for ecumenical dialogues.
[Doctrinal Responsibility - a Lutheran Perspective]What does »doctrine« mean in Lutheran churches? What is it based upon? How is it made binding? What instances and processes of doctrinal judgment have developed? Who can decide doctrinal questions and how? This study first presents current structures of doctrinal understanding in German Lutheranism and unfolds exemplary historical case studies of Lutheran doctrinal responsibility (Bultmann controversy; ordination of women; apartheid; doctrine of justification). A second part outlines the emergence of Lutheran doctrinal and confessional norms in the 16th century and traces the development of concepts of ecclesial doctrinal commitment in a historical cross-section up to the present. Concluding theses explore the relevance of Lutheran doctrinal responsibility for ecumenical dialogues.