2026 Lutheran Quarterly Lecture: “Gerhard O. Forde, a Practical Theologian par excellence” by Timothy J. Wengert



Friday, April 17 | 3:00 PM
Luther Memorial Church, Grand View University
1201 Grandview Ave, Des Moines, IA 50316

Professor Emeritus Timothy J Wengert

Gerhard Forde (1927-2005) is often labeled a church historian or systematic theologian.  But underneath all of his writings lurks a model of churchliness and, even more importantly, practicality.  His writings continue to inform how to serve the church with the gospel in these perilous times.  Professor Emeritus Timothy J. Wengert will explore several aspects of Forde’s thought that most shaped his own ministry and that offer insights into proclaiming the gospel in the twenty-first century, as we anticipate the 100th anniversary of his birth in 2027.

Timothy J. Wengert is emeritus professor of Church History at the United Lutheran Seminary (Philadelphia).  A parish pastor for seven years in Minnesota and Wisconsin with a doctorate from Duke University, he taught on Philadelphia's faculty from 1989-2013.  He has written widely on Reformation, co-edited the English edition of The Book of Concord (Fortress, 2000) and translated Luther’s Small Catechism, used throughout the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as well asFreedom of a Christian and The 95 Theses.  In addition to books on Philip Melanchthon and Martin Luther, he co-edited The Annotated Luther, the Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions, and authored Word of Life: Introducing Lutheran Hermeneutics (Fortress, 2019).  His most recent publications are a commentary on the Augsburg Confession: The Augsburg Confession: Renewing Lutheran Faith and Practice (Fortress, 2020) and (with Robert Kolb) a study edition of the Augsburg Confession (Fortress, 2024).  He has served U. S. dialogues with the United Methodists and the Roman Catholics and at the international level with the Mennonite World Conference.  He lives in Hackettstown, New Jersey with his wife, the Rev. Ingrid Fath Wengert.  His children by his late wife, Barbara, live in Jersey City, NJ (Emily) and Philadelphia, PA (David).

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