Lessons from Bonhoeffer
Pastor Erin Jones
Communications and Advocacy Engagement Manager, LAMPa
erin.jones@elca.org
As we prepared for all that 2024 would bring to our work at the intersection of faith and civic life, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa) heard a recurring request from pastors and lay leaders across the state. They sought ways to help their congregations better understand why living out their faith publicly was so important. While there were many resources available for clergy, and a forthcoming social statement from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we gleaned from these conversations that there was a need for something more—a resource that would provide an organic and accessible entry point to these discussions, tailored to the everyday experiences of congregational life.
In our discernment, we reflected on the life and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor-theologian whose discipleship in the public sphere offers a timeless witness to the challenges of living faithfully in a divided and turbulent world. Bonhoeffer’s ability to connect theological reflection with concrete action seemed especially relevant to the questions we were hearing from leaders. His life and work provide a compelling model of what it means to live out faith boldly in the face of adversity, making him a powerful entry point for conversations about the intersection of faith and public life.
In February of last year, we were introduced to Dr. Lori Brandt Hale, a professor at Augsburg University and president of the International Bonhoeffer Society, English Language Section. She had been reflecting on how she and the Society could make Bonhoeffer’s scholarship accessible beyond academia. In a cultural moment where Bonhoeffer’s name and legacy are frequently invoked—and often misused—she felt a responsibility to ensure that his life and work could be engaged with faithfully and accurately by a wider audience. Through our conversations, we decided to partner in creating a curriculum that would bring Bonhoeffer’s insights to the average congregational context.
The resulting curriculum, “Lessons from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in a House Divided and a World on Fire,” was designed as a core four-week series featuring Bonhoeffer’s life, theology, and ethical reflections in concise and digestible lessons. Each lesson includes exercises and discussion questions that tie the material to participants’ lives, encouraging practical and accessible engagement. Additionally, the curriculum offers optional modules on Christian Nationalism and community building, as well as a curated list of resources for further exploration. This flexibility allows congregations to adapt the material to their own needs and timelines, whether they choose a brief overview or a more extended study.
I had the privilege of teaching a six-week version of the course at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Shadyside, the congregation I attend. I initially expected that many participants would already have some familiarity with Bonhoeffer’s story, but I quickly realized that most had only an initial understanding of his life and work. As the weeks progressed, I found myself learning alongside them. Our discussions deepened and complicated my own understanding of Bonhoeffer’s theology and legacy. One of the most powerful insights we explored was the idea that there is no singular “Bonhoeffer moment,” a phrase often used in public discourse to suggest a dramatic turning point or even a call to violence. Instead, Bonhoeffer’s story reminds us that every moment in our lives is an opportunity to turn toward our neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable. This understanding reframes Bonhoeffer not as an unattainable martyr but as a relatable figure—a sibling in Christ who lived out his faith in concrete ways, just as we are called to do.
Pastor Eric Damon offered similar reflections after having taught the curriculum with his two congregations, Grace in Manorville and Emmanuel Heilman in Ford City. He found that the material had “enough substance for a class that considered themselves rather familiar with Bonhoeffer but was easy enough to work with for our class that had barely heard of him.” Pastor Damon also appreciated that “[participants] had room for their own authentic responses to the information, and the responses they gave taught me as much as I was teaching them.” One moment that stood out to him was when a young man answered the question, “when is it time for Christians to take a stand?” with the response, “when someone is in need.” This unprompted answer resonated so deeply with Pastor Damon that it became the heart of his sermon the following week.
The curriculum’s impact has extended beyond Pennsylvania. Pastor Eric Clapp, who serves Calvary Lutheran Church in Perham, Minnesota, in the Northwest Minnesota Synod, shared how his congregation engaged with the material. “I’m so grateful for this curriculum from LAMPa diving deeper into Bonhoeffer’s life and how it impacted his thinking about God and his place in the world,” Pastor Clapp said. “We primarily used it with small groups in my congregation, and many found a kindred spirit in Bonhoeffer for how to navigate tumultuous political times with faith, keeping Christ as the center.” He also appreciated the curriculum’s accessibility, noting that lay leaders were able to teach it confidently, thanks to the included PowerPoint slides and presenter scripts. “I couldn’t recommend it more and am continually finding folks sharing their ongoing reflections and giving recommendations for further reading and conversation—what a gift!” he said.
As a new theatrical film about Bonhoeffer was released this fall and we approach the 80th anniversary of his death in April, his legacy continues to resonate both in ecclesiastical and popular culture. To support congregations engaging with the curriculum, we also created a midweek Lenten prayer service that complements the lessons. This resource offers an opportunity for communities to reflect on their call to discipleship during the season of Lent. Both the curriculum and the prayer service are available at lutheranadvocacypa.org/bonhoeffer.
Ultimately, we have engaged in this work of lifting up Bonhoeffer’s words and legacy because they so powerfully capture the essence of our shared calling. As Bonhoeffer writes, “We can and should speak not about what the good is, can be, or should be for each and every time, but about how Christ may take form among us today and here.” By reminding us to see Christ in our neighbors, Bonhoeffer calls us to live boldly in solidarity with others. His witness challenges us to embrace a life of justice, rooted in the transformative love of Christ.