MARTIN LUTHER AT THE REICHSTAG (IMPERIAL DIET) OF WORMS IN 1521/© FOTO MARBURG/ART RESOURCE
faith—each has his/her biases, preju- dices, opinions and limitations. They hear other voices in their teaching and learning communities as together they witness to Jesus Christ. The ELCA includes its teaching theologians as participants in the various studies and ecumenical dia- logues it undertakes. The seminaries and teaching theologians also have a voice in church assemblies and gatherings because they are valuable resources of the church and for the church. They are deeply committed to the life and mission of the church. They seek to foster a deeper under-
standing of the meaning of the faith in our contemporary context. At ELCA seminaries, teaching theologians discuss, debate and wrestle with the challenging issues affecting the church and society. Thus the seminaries serve as centers of theological deliberation for the ELCA. The church supports this work because without it, it lacks crucial theological focus and guid- ing wisdom. As institutions of the church, the seminaries and theolo- gians seek to support and serve it in all its ministries. In a pluralistic age it’s more
important than ever to take the views of others into account. The vocation of the theologian today calls for lis- tening patiently and perceptively to diverse voices in the community and a faithful discernment of God’s activ- ity in the world. Teaching theologians speak not only for themselves but also on behalf of the church within which they stand. As members of the church called to theological leadership, they heed the voices of the community of faith and speak for its sake and for the sake of the gospel, not for themselves alone. M
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