Rededication: Embracing Our Lutheran Identity in Our Current Context

Abstract

Rededication: Embracing Our Lutheran Identity in Our Current Context by Pastor John P. Bortulin is a reflective essay presented at the 2024 Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Symposium. As Lutheran worship celebrates its 500th anniversary, this essay explores the enduring principles of Lutheran worship, focusing on the need for rededication to the core elements of Lutheran identity in modern contexts. Pastor Bortulin emphasizes the pastoral nature of Luther’s reforms, drawing attention to the evangelical, sacramental, incarnational, liturgical, vocational, and missional dimensions of Lutheran worship. He argues that Lutheran identity, rooted in the gospel and the doctrine of justification, continues to offer a powerful witness in an increasingly secular and fragmented world. The essay calls pastors and congregations to embrace their theological heritage while considering contemporary challenges and the needs of their local communities. Through this rededication, Bortulin advocates for worship that remains faithful to Lutheran confessions while being responsive to the present-day context in which the church serves.