500 years ago, Martin Luther posted his "95 Theses" to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. In honor and celebration we dedicated this page to the memory of Martin Luther by posting some interesting facts of the history of Martin Luther and the Lutheran Church.
KATHERINE, "morning star" LUTHER
The reformer Martin Luther wrote to his spouse with affectionate humor: “To my dear lady of the house, Katherine von Bora Luther, a preacher, beer brewer, gardener.” Sometimes he addressed her as “Lord Katie” or “My dear lady of the New Pig Market”. (There was a hog market near Katherine’s garden.) Recalling the story of Adam and Eve, he often called Katherine “my rib”.
Though some pious biographies characterized her as a docile housewife keeping busy with her embroidery as she ran the parsonage, Katherine von Bora (1499 – 1552) was in reality a strong, assertive businesswoman. She managed an enormous household. Her home, a former monastery, was a boardinghouse for university students and guests. Refugees from religious persecution could find shelter there. It was a hospital in times of plague. Katherine always deferred to Martin publicly, addressing him respectfully as Herr Doktor (Sir Doctor), but it is clear that she was the manager of the household. Many men thought Katherine was too outspoken, but she was a good match for her strong-minded husband. Like Martin, she remained true to her convictions, even when the world had different expectations.
-copied from the Gathering Magazine
​Not only are we (Immanuel Lutheran Church) celebrating the 500th anniversary of the reformation this October, but the whole world has turned its attention to the Protestant Reformation started by Martin Luther so long ago. Luther described the movement as a “living, daring confidence in God’s grace.”
We are reminded that the Lutheran church is but one expression of the body of Christ, and our witness to the love of God in Christ joins that of other churches world-wide.
Our connection to the global Lutheran church is realized through the Lutheran World Federation, a communion of 145 churches of the Lutheran tradition, representing over 74 million Christians in 98 countries. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) of which we are a part, is the only member church from the United States. Recently, Elizabeth Eaton, churchwide bishop of the ELCA, was elected Vice President of Lutheran World Federation’s North America region.
Each of the 65 synods of the ELCA is connected with a direct relationship to a companion Lutheran church in another part of the world. Our own Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod (NTNL) is connected with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sierra Leone in western Africa. This is why we choose to send mission support to the church in Sierra Leone, especially when the country is devastated by a natural disaster such as the recent mud slide in Freetown that killed over 400 people.
Jennifer Kirby, member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Oaks, OK, (Oaks Indian Mission, another recipient of our mission outreach) reports on her experience of the global Lutheran church. Attending the UN Commission on the Status of Women this year, she met many from Lutheran World Federation churches near and far. Kirby said her experience gave her “a greater, larger sense of community and connection in faith. It means my church has something in common with another church in a different country. Being connected with Lutherans across the globe reminds me that we are part of something much larger than ourselves.”
What Martin Luther started in Germany 500 years ago certainly did not stay in Germany. The reformation continues to reform and reshape our lives and churches world-wide, keeping us focused and grounded in Scripture, Faith, and the Grace of God.