Lutheran Archives

FRITZSCHE ORATION

Presented jointly by Australian Lutheran College (ALC) and Committee of Lutheran Archives (CoLA)

Speaker: Rev Dr Dean Zweck, ALC emeritus lecturer

Tuesday 8 June 2021
3:30PM (CST)

Physical gathering:  ALC Chapel, Australian Lutheran College, 104 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide
Please register at alc@alc.edu.au

Online streaming: A link will become available on the ALC events page

One hundred years ago in March 1921, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia (UELCA) was formed by the uniting of five Australian Lutheran synods. Hear the story as told by ALC emeritus lecturer, Rev Dr Dean Zweck and learn about the factors that led to this milestone event, and its significance for the eventual union of almost all Australian Lutherans as one church body in 1966.

Speaker: Steen Olsen

21 June 2021
7:30PM

Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place, ADELAIDE

Beginning as a Coffee Lounge, Jacob's Ladder grew into a missional Church which became part of something that came to be called The Jesus Movement. Their focus was not on feeding the poor and hungry, but people were fed and given a place to stay. Their focus was not on justice, but the oppressed were set free. Their focus was not on human rights, but God-given dignity and freedom were proclaimed. They joined Jesus in the Father's mission to his world, and the Spirit brought forgiveness, faith and life to many.

Retired Lutheran pastor Steen Olsen was associated with Jacob's Ladder and has published a book detailing its history, theology and teaching and citing some examples of its impact on people's lives.

Speaker: Lorraine Macknight

19 July 2021
7:30PM

Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place, ADELAIDE

This presentation will focus on three aspects of the career of Prussian diplomat, CKJ Bunsen (1791-1860): his sincere Christian faith, family and a hymnbook that he compiled as a young man in Rome. Several editions of the hymnbook appeared in the nineteenth century, but its significance lies more with the fortunes of the hymns from it that he encouraged others to translate into English and that many Australians have sung since.

Lorraine Macknight is a graduate of four universities and has worked as a professional archivist for archival institutions, museums and libraries in Canberra and Launceston. As a church organist in both cities, she has also played regularly for several denominations, including Presbyterian, Anglican, Lutheran and Uniting churches. Her doctoral thesis, Minding the Hymn: Catherine Winkworth and the Transmission of German Hymnody to Australia (Charles Sturt University) was completed in 2014. She has also authored several articles and archival findings aids.

Speaker: Trevor Schaefer

Monday 16 August 2021
7:30PM

Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place, ADELAIDE

The Australian Lutheran College (ALC) Library has a wonderful collection of over 2000 rare books tucked away in a compactus at the end of the main building. There are books here dating back to the time of Luther, including a number of his pamphlets (printed, not handwritten). Some of the treasures include original editions of the Book of Concord from 1580 and a German bible from 1551 with superb full-colour illustrations.

ALC Library has received several grants from the National Library to assess the significance of the collection and to determine the preservation needs. Some of the books are in excellent condition and others are just holding together. Just as interesting is the story of provenance, or who owned a book previously, and how it came to be in this library. Trevor Schaefer, an ALC librarian, looks after this collection and will give an illustrated talk on the rare books.