Theme Years of the Luther Decade (2008-2017)
In 1508 the monk Martin Luther arrived in Wittenberg. In 1517 he published his famous 95 theses and the Reformation began.In the Luther Decade from 2008 to 2017, the broad spectrum of topics for the Reformation will be addressed and revealed. Historical commemorative years, such as the 450th anniversary of the death of Melanchthon in 2010 or the 500th anniversary of the birth of Lucas Cranach the Younger in 2015, will be linked to the central themes. The Luther Decade will also explore issues of the Reformation which remain relevant to this day.
2008 The start of the Luther Decade
2009 Reformation and Confession
Calvin is considered a founding father of the reformed Protestant movement with about 80 million members worldwide. On the 500th anniversary of Calvin’s birth, the focus will include his concept of the church and his work ethic. The commitment of the Barmer Theological Declaration 75 years ago remains a strong influence to this day.
2010 Reformation and Education
The 450th anniversary of the death of Philipp Melanchthon, the “Praeceptor Germaniae” or “Teacher of Germany” is an occasion to explore the educational impulses of the Reformation: the democratization of education, the integral view of faith and education, or the foundations of general education.
2011 Reformation and Freedom
The mature Christian is the central focus of the Reformation. Baptism is linked to the general priesthood of all believers. The righteous path under the guidance of God’s Word together with the solidarity and concern for fellow men are the two poles of freedom in the Reformation.
2012 Reformation and Music
The Reformation laid a foundation stone of European music culture with a range from congregational singing to music in the home. Composers such as Bach, Schütz, Telemann and Handel were part of this, as was the Thomanerchor in Leipzig, which in 2012 celebrates the 800th anniversary of its founding. It is important to keep this rich tradition alive and explore new avenues.
2013 Reformation and Tolerance
Ecumenical community without national or confessional borders: that is the hope of the Luther Decade 450 years after the Council of Trent (in 1563) and 40 years after the Leuenberg Agreement stood witness to Protestant ecumenism. Yet we must not fail to speak of the intolerant sides of the Reformation.
2014 Reformation and Politics
Authority and personal responsibility, faith and power, freedom of conscience and human rights: these are issues of the Reformation that remain with us today and deserve wide discussion in churches and society.
2015 Reformation - Visual Arts and the Bible
On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Cranach the Younger, the focus turns to the art of the Reformation period. The Reformation was also a media revolution.
A new language of words and images was created. What “images” does faith assume today, and how is its message communicated through media, pictures and language?
2016 Reformation and the One World
The Reformation spread from Wittenberg to the rest of the world. More than 400 million Protestants worldwide have spiritual links in their religious life with the events of the Reformation. On the eve of the Reformation’s anniversary our attention will be on the global power of its influence.
2017 Anniversary of the Reformation
The anniversary year “500 Years of Reformation” will be celebrated worldwide with church and cultural events, conferences and large exhibitions: the climax of the Luther Decade, but not the end of our encounters with Luther’s life and works.
The flyer you can download at the right side.
portrait Philipp Melanchthon