Gerhard Forde
Encyclopedia
Gerhard O. Forde was an American
Lutheran theologian who wrote extensively on the Protestant Reformation
and Lutheran Theology
and tradition.
and raised near Starbuck
. He received the B.A.
degree from Luther College
in 1950, attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
for one year, and then earned the Bachelor of Theology
degree from Luther Seminary
in 1955. He earned the Th.D. degree from Harvard Divinity School
in 1967. Forde also studied at University of Tübingen and was the Lutheran tutor at Mansfield College, Oxford University, 1968-70. He also spent sabbatical years at Harvard (1972–73), Strasbourg
(1979–80), and St. John's University
Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, Collegeville, Minnesota (1988).
and was a rostered pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
after its founding. Forde's teaching career began at St. Olaf College
, Northfield, Minn., where he was instructor in religion in 1955-56. Gerhard Forde joined the Luther Seminary faculty as lecturer in church history in 1959-61. After moving to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa
as assistant professor of religion in 1961-63, he returned to the seminary as instructor in 1964 and was promoted to professor ten years later. Even after Dr. Forde's retirement in 1998 he remained active as a teacher and lecturer for several years.
A member of the American Academy of Religion
, Forde had also been active as a member of the board of dialog, A Journal of Theology; the Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue; the commission for the new Lutheran Church; and the editorial board of The Lutheran Quarterly, new series.
. In the lead issue of the "new series" of Lutheran Quarterly Forde provided a future view for American Lutheranism titled Radical Lutheranism. In the article, Forde addressed the future of Lutheran identity that he viewed as being bound largely to ethnic and cultural backgrounds, not the theological identity forwarded by Forde that he stated as being a dedication to the "radical" gospel of Jesus Christ and the concept of justification by faith.
Forde would continue to expound on the concept of Radical Lutheranism, most pointedly in his later book On Being a Theologian of the Cross: Reflections on Luther's Heidelberg Disputation, 1518 and essays published in A More Radical Gospel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Lutheran theologian who wrote extensively on the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
and Lutheran Theology
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
and tradition.
Background
Gerhard Olaf Forde was born in Pope County, MinnesotaPope County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,236 people, 4,513 households, and 3,064 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile . There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
and raised near Starbuck
Starbuck, Minnesota
Starbuck is a city in Pope County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,302 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Minnesota State Highways 28, 29, and 114 are three of the main routes in the city.-History:...
. He received the B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Luther College
Luther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
in 1950, attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
for one year, and then earned the Bachelor of Theology
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
degree from Luther Seminary
Luther Seminary
Luther Seminary is the largest seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America . Located in the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood of St...
in 1955. He earned the Th.D. degree from Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
in 1967. Forde also studied at University of Tübingen and was the Lutheran tutor at Mansfield College, Oxford University, 1968-70. He also spent sabbatical years at Harvard (1972–73), 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,...
(1979–80), and St. John's University
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
The College of Saint Benedict , for women, and Saint John's University , for men, are partnered liberal arts colleges respectively located in St. Joseph and Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. Students attend classes and activities together, and have access to the resources of both campuses...
Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, Collegeville, Minnesota (1988).
Career
Forde was a pastor in the American Lutheran ChurchAmerican Lutheran Church
The American Lutheran Church was a Christian Protestant denomination in the United States that existed from 1960 to 1987. Its headquarters was in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon its formation in 1960, the ALC designated Augsburg Publishing House , also located in Minneapolis, as the church publisher...
and was a rostered pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
after its founding. Forde's teaching career began at St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
, Northfield, Minn., where he was instructor in religion in 1955-56. Gerhard Forde joined the Luther Seminary faculty as lecturer in church history in 1959-61. After moving to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
as assistant professor of religion in 1961-63, he returned to the seminary as instructor in 1964 and was promoted to professor ten years later. Even after Dr. Forde's retirement in 1998 he remained active as a teacher and lecturer for several years.
A member of the American Academy of Religion
American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,...
, Forde had also been active as a member of the board of dialog, A Journal of Theology; the Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue; the commission for the new Lutheran Church; and the editorial board of The Lutheran Quarterly, new series.
Radical Lutheranism
In 1987, the journal Lutheran Quarterly was relaunched in the midst of the negotiations that lead to the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in AmericaEvangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
. In the lead issue of the "new series" of Lutheran Quarterly Forde provided a future view for American Lutheranism titled Radical Lutheranism. In the article, Forde addressed the future of Lutheran identity that he viewed as being bound largely to ethnic and cultural backgrounds, not the theological identity forwarded by Forde that he stated as being a dedication to the "radical" gospel of Jesus Christ and the concept of justification by faith.
We should realize first of all that what is at stake on the current
scene is certainly not Lutheranism as such. Lutheranism has no
particular claim or right to existence. Rather, what is at stake is
the radical gospel, radical grace, the eschatological nature of the
gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen as put in its most uncompromising
and unconditional form by St. Paul. What is at stake is
a mode of doing theology and a practice in church and society
derived from that radical statement of the gospel.
... I do want to pursue the proposition that Lutheranism especially in America might find its identity not by com-
promising with American religion but by becoming more radical
about the gospel it has received. That is to say, Lutherans should
become radicals, preachers of a gospel so radical that it puts the old
to death and calls forth the new, and practitioners of the life that
entails ‘‘for the time being.’’
Forde would continue to expound on the concept of Radical Lutheranism, most pointedly in his later book On Being a Theologian of the Cross: Reflections on Luther's Heidelberg Disputation, 1518 and essays published in A More Radical Gospel.
Publications
- The Preached God: Proclamation in Word and Sacrament (2007) Lutheran Quarterly Books
- The Captivation of the Will: Luther vs. Erasmus on Freedom and Bondage (2004) Lutheran Quarterly Books
- A More Radical Gospel : Essays on Eschatology, Authority, Atonement, and Ecumenism (2004)Eerdmans; edited by Mark C. Mattes, and Steven D. Paulson.
- On Being a Theologian of the Cross: Reflections on Luther's Heidelberg Disputation, 1518 (1997)
- Theology Is for Proclamation (1990)
- Forensic Justification and Law in Lutheran Theology, Justification by Faith, Lutherans and Catholics in dialogue VI (1985)
- When the Old Gods Fail, Piety, Politics and Ethics, Reformation Studies in Honor of George Wolfgang Forell (1984)
- The Work of Christ and "Christian Life," Christian Dogmatics (1984)
- Justification by Faith: A Matter of Death and Life (1982)
- Where God Meets Man (1972)
- The Law Gospel Debate (1969)