Reformation 500 Observances
As the second oldest Lutheran college in the USA, the mission statement of Roanoke College declares that we “honor our Christian heritage by nurturing a dialogue between faith and reason.” In this spirit, Roanoke College announces a series of special academic events from late 2016 through the anniversary year 2017 in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and in coordination with the 175th anniversary of the college’s founding.
The design of these observances marking the posting of the Ninety-Five Theses by Martin Luther in 1517 is ecumenical and forward-looking as we seek to learn from Catholic, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Reformed, Evangelical, Jewish and secular perspectives as well as from interdisciplinary panels composed of Roanoke College faculty and symposia sponsored by the Department of Religion and Philosophy. The panels and symposia are open to all students, faculty and staff who find the designated topics of interest. The free public lectures aimed at a general audience will be presented by internationally recognized experts, assuring the highest level of scholarly treatment of issues and questions involved in consideration of the heritage of the Reformation for us today.
The public is cordially invited to any and all of the public events listed below. As a rule, the public lectures begin at 6pm and run for 45 minutes. No tickets are required, unless otherwise noted. A half-hour dessert reception intervenes before a panel of Roanoke faculty and other invited guests respond to the lecturer. Then the floor is opened for audience questions and comments, finishing no later than 8:30pm. We expect this format to stimulate memory and advance critical appreciation of one of the watershed events of Western civilization and its religious culture.
Artistic and musical celebrations will be announced by the fall of 2016.
Professor Paul R. Hinlicky