Eric W. Gritsch
Encyclopedia
Eric W. Gritsch is an American Lutheran ecumenical theologian and Luther
scholar.
in Austria. His family was deeply affected by the Anschluss
and the Second World war. His father died on a death march as a Russian prisoner of war, but Gritsch himself, who had been drafted into a Werwolf
group, escaped capture by posing as a gypsy boy. He returned to Bernstein and graduated with Matura
in 1950. The same year, he matriculated at the University of Vienna
to study Protestant theology. In 1954 he received a Fulbright scholarship
and came to Yale University
for the academic year 1954/55. After going back to Austria to complete his ministerial training, he immigrated to the United States in 1957, initially for doctoral studies with Roland H. Bainton. His thesis was on Thomas Müntzer, the radical reformer.
Since his early days in Gettysburg, he was active in the Christian-Jewish dialog. The Lutheran World Federation
made him a board member of its Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg
, and for the ELCA he was a member of the American Lutheran-Catholic Dialog Commission (1971–1992). He also served on the board of the Lajos-Ordass-Foundation. Together with Robert Jenson
, he produced Lutheranism. The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings, a widely used resource book.
Gritsch was part of a team that translated and edited the American edition of Luther's works. Assisted by his wife Ruth (1931–2009), he translated and edited vols. 39 and 41. He also cooperated on the translation and edition of the Book of Concord
(Kolb
/Wengert edition).
with his wife Bonnie. He has remained active as lecturer and teacher. From 1995 to 2005, he taught at the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s University
in Baltimore. At the Melanchthon Institute in Houston, Texas
he held an endowed chair named in his honor in 2000.
He is a member of Zion Lutheran Church and director of its Zion Forum for German Culture. His latest major works were a history of Lutheranism and his autobiography The Boy from the Burgenland. From Hitler Youth to Seminary Professor, which also contains a number of his articles.
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
scholar.
Early life and student years
Gritsch was raised in a Lutheran Pastor's family in Bernstein im BurgenlandBernstein im Burgenland
Bernstein is a municipality in Burgenland in the district Oberwart in Austria.-People:*László Almásy : a Hungarian aristocrat, motorist, desert researcher, aviator, Scout-leader and soldier who served as the basis for the protagonist in Michael Ondaatje's 1992 novel The English Patient and the...
in Austria. His family was deeply affected by the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
and the Second World war. His father died on a death march as a Russian prisoner of war, but Gritsch himself, who had been drafted into a Werwolf
Werwolf
Werwolf was the name given to a Nazi plan, which began development in 1944, to create a commando force which would operate behind enemy lines as the Allies advanced through Germany itself. Werwolf remained entirely ineffectual as a combat force, however, and in practical terms, its value as...
group, escaped capture by posing as a gypsy boy. He returned to Bernstein and graduated with Matura
Matura
Matura or a similar term is the common name for the high-school leaving exam or "maturity exam" in various countries, including Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia,...
in 1950. The same year, he matriculated at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
to study Protestant theology. In 1954 he received a Fulbright scholarship
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
and came to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
for the academic year 1954/55. After going back to Austria to complete his ministerial training, he immigrated to the United States in 1957, initially for doctoral studies with Roland H. Bainton. His thesis was on Thomas Müntzer, the radical reformer.
Career
Gritsch's first teaching position was at Wellesley College from 1959 to 1961. In 1961, he was called to Gettysburg Seminary, where he taught Church History and Reformation Studies until his retirement in 1994. In 1970, he became the first director of the seminary's Institute for Luther Studies and responsible for the series of scholarly conferences at Gettysburg known as Martin Luther Colloquy.Since his early days in Gettysburg, he was active in the Christian-Jewish dialog. The Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Federation
The Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
made him a board member of its Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, and for the ELCA he was a member of the American Lutheran-Catholic Dialog Commission (1971–1992). He also served on the board of the Lajos-Ordass-Foundation. Together with Robert Jenson
Robert Jenson
Robert W. Jenson is a leading American Lutheran and ecumenical theologian.-Student years:Jenson studied classics and philosophy at Luther College in the late 1940s, before beginning theological studies at Luther Seminary in 1951. Due to a car accident he missed most of his first-year seminary...
, he produced Lutheranism. The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings, a widely used resource book.
Gritsch was part of a team that translated and edited the American edition of Luther's works. Assisted by his wife Ruth (1931–2009), he translated and edited vols. 39 and 41. He also cooperated on the translation and edition of the Book of Concord
Book of Concord
The Book of Concord or Concordia is the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church, consisting of ten credal documents recognized as authoritative in Lutheranism since the 16th century...
(Kolb
Robert Kolb
Robert Kolb is a professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. His major contributions include an edition of the Book of Concord as well as an introductory book of Lutheran theology. Kolb is also the director of the Institute for Mission Studies in St. Louis...
/Wengert edition).
Later years
Gritsch lives in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
with his wife Bonnie. He has remained active as lecturer and teacher. From 1995 to 2005, he taught at the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s University
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
in Baltimore. At the Melanchthon Institute in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
he held an endowed chair named in his honor in 2000.
He is a member of Zion Lutheran Church and director of its Zion Forum for German Culture. His latest major works were a history of Lutheranism and his autobiography The Boy from the Burgenland. From Hitler Youth to Seminary Professor, which also contains a number of his articles.
Works
- Reformer Without a Church. The Life and Thought of Thomas Müntzer (1488?-1525). Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1967.
- (with Robert W. Jenson) Lutheranism. The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1976.
- Born Againism. Perspectives on a Movement. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1982.
- Martin - God’s Court Jester. Luther in Retrospect. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983.
- Thomas Müntzer. A Tragedy of Errors. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989.
- Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994.
- Hungarian Edition: Lutheranizmus. [Budapest]: Magyarországi Luther Szövetség, 2000
- A History of Lutheranism. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002.
- A Handbook for Christian Life in the 21st Century. Dehli, NY: American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, 2005.
- The Wit of Martin Luther. Facet Book. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006.
- The Boy from the Burgenland. From Hitler Youth to Seminary Professor. West Conshohocken, PA: Infinity Publishing Company, 2006.
- Toxic Spirituality. Enduring Temptations of Christian Faith. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2009.