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Editor’s Note
Welcome to our fourth issue of SIMUL, the journal of St. Paul Lutheran Seminary. This edition will discuss the uses of the law, and whether there are two or three of them.
In this issue, Mark Menacher starts us off with a theological review of the origins of the three uses, Henry Corcoran looks at the topic through the lens of Ignatian spirituality, Jim Cavanah takes a pastoral look at the law’s application in the parish, and John Hoyum closes us out by advocating a fidelity to the confessions, even by those who would reject article six of the Formula of Concord.
Our Theological Conference
This past April, we had an amazing conference in Jekyll Island, GA. For those who have never been there, Jekyll Island was a hunting and beach club for the rich and famous in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and its membership included members of the Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Pulitzer and Goodyear families. Today, the club is a beautifully renovated beach resort.
The Jekyll Island Club
This year’s conference featured Dr. Marney Fritts, who spoke on Luther’s two kingdoms theology, and Rev. Julie Smith, who explained how to read the Bible by properly distinguishing law and gospel. Mark Ryman introduced his new visual catechism, and Steve King gave a presentation on a new update of the old Crossways material. The updated Crossways resources are available from Sola Publishing, and you can contact Mark Ryman about the visual catechism at revryman@gmail.com I also provided a hands-on demonstration on how to access and read SIMUL online.
So please mark your calendar for next year’s conference, also at the Jekyll Island Club, April 11-12, 2023. The speakers include Rev. Brad Hales, Rev. Julie Smith and others to be announced.
What’s New?
Letters - We are now including a letters section for those who would like to comment on any of our articles. If you would like to send a letter to the editor for possible publication, you can email it to me at dennisdimauro@yahoo.com
Book Reviews - We also seek to include a book review or two in each issue. As you can see, Josh Hollman has written wonderful reviews of two works by Peter Leithart and Gilbert Meilaender for this issue.
What’s Ahead?
Upcoming Issues - We are so excited about this coming year. Our Fall 2022 issue will cover the sacraments, a topic which has come under much discussion during the COVID-19 shutdowns. Our Winter 2023 issue will be on renewal in the local church, responding to Bradley Hales very successful class of the same title which had over one hundred students representing twenty-two different churches. Luther’s theology of vocation will be the subject of our Spring 2023 issue.
India Classes – St. Paul Lutheran Seminary has partnered with the Lutheran School of Theology in India to provide education for their pastoral candidates – they had eleven students in their first graduating class! Unfortunately, we have no funding for our American professors, and they have been providing their services pro bono. While their generosity has kept the classes going for the time being, this situation is sadly unsustainable. If you would like to support our commitment to educating Indian pastors for ministry, please consider making a generous contribution at https://semlc.org/support-st-paul-lutheran-seminary/
I hope you enjoy this issue of SIMUL! If you have any questions about the journal or about St. Paul Lutheran Seminary, please shoot me an email at dennisdimauro@yahoo.com
