Date: January 15 - January 16
Seminary Symposium is a continuing education opportunity for pastors, seminary students, and other interested participants. The symposium format invites presentations on various topics, leaving space for thought-provoking interaction. This year's theme is Justification: The Righteous Shall Walk By Faith.
Too Far to Travel?
Watch and interact with this year's symposium livestream in real-time by registering below. You can watch previous symposium lectures and many other video resources in the conferences section of our blog.
All Symposium attendees are encouraged to stay for the Georg Sverdrup Society Forum on Friday.
Schedule
Wednesday, Jan 15
6:00PM Check-in opens
6:15PM Catered Dinner in SLC Atrium
7:00PM Dr. Reed Lessing—“The Righteous Shall Live by Faith” (Bio)
The doctrine of justification in the Minor Prophets? Indeed! The righteous live by faith, even in Old Testament Israel.
Thursday, Jan 16
9:00AM–Noon Morning Session
- 9:00 Dr. Reed Lessing—"The Book of Amos” (Bio)
This session will introduce the minor prophet Amos and examine how God used him to call the people of Israel to repentance and faith. - 10:15 Coffee/Snack Break
- 10:45 Dr. Reed Lessing—“The Book of Jonah” (Bio)
The book of Jonah is familiar to many of us, but its focus on judgment and salvation also shines a light on justification in the Old Testament.
Noon Lunch in cafeteria for paid registrants
1:15–4:00PM Afternoon Session
- 1:15 Rev. Dr. Phill Hooper—“Justification by Grace: Long Before Luther” (Bio)
Though many Lutherans don't often think about it, "Justification by Grace through Faith" was a concept that the church professed well before the Reformation. This session aims to explore several examples of this doctrinal concept expressed in the first fifteen centuries of the church. - 2:00 Break
- 2:15 Rev. Dennis Norby—“Justification in the Catechisms” (Bio)
The catechisms of Martin Luther deliver to us precise and positive declarations of the great truths revealed in the Scriptures. This presentation will explore how Luther's teaching in the catechisms articulates to us the doctrine of justification by grace through faith. - 3:00 Break
- 3:15 Rev. Dr. Jason Gudim—“Realized Eschatology: Justification in the Congregation” (Bio)
How does the Church of the here and now relate to the saints in all times and in all places? This presentation will explore how images in the book of Revelation demonstrate how God uses the Sacraments to connect His Church to His eternal reality.
Dinner on your own
Friday, Jan 17
9:00AM–Noon Georg Sverdrup Society Session
Registration deadline is January 5.
Speakers
Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing
Lessing is the Chair of Old Testament Studies at Concordia University—St. Paul and Associate Pastor at Crossview Lutheran Church in Edina, Minn. He has over twenty years of parish experience and has published several academic resources, including several commentaries in the Concordia Commentary Series, "Deliver Us: God's Rescue Story in Exodus" (CPH, 2022), and "Overcoming Life's Sorrows: Studies in the Book of Jeremiah" (CPH, 2023). He received his Ph.D. in Hebrew from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.
Rev. Dr. Phill Hooper
Hooper is the pastor at St. John's Free Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minn. He has served as an adjunct instructor at the Free Lutheran Bible College & Seminary since 2014, teaching courses on the Old Testament and Christian education. He recently received his Ph.D. from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis Missouri.
Rev. Dennis Norby
Norby is the pastor of Grace and Zion Free Lutheran Churches in Valley City, North Dakota. He serves on the board of the AFLC's Ambassador Publications and Parish Education.
Rev. Dr. Jason Gudim
Gudim is a member of the faculty at the Free Lutheran Bible College & Seminary. He has thirteen years of experience in parish ministry and serves as co-host of the "Being Lutheran" podcast. He received his D.Min from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.