Reformation events

WWU to host a variety of events to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation

Walla Walla University will mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation with a variety of activities and events scheduled for Oct. 31 through Nov. 4. The Protestant Reformation began in October 1517 when the German priest, Martin Luther published his 95 theses, which promoted salvation through faith in Jesus Christ over the prevailing practice of buying salvation from the church.

Join us for the weekly campus gathering called CommUnity on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. in the University Church to hear Greg Dodds, WWU professor of history and chair of the Department of History and Philosophy, speak on the 95 theses that sparked the Reformation. The University Church is located at 212 SW Fourth St., College Place.

That evening at 7 p.m. a colloquium/Adventist Forum event titled "A Conversation with Martin Luther" will be held in Village Hall. For the colloquium, an actor portraying Martin Luther will answer questions posed by audience members and WWU President John McVay. History and theology students are especially encouraged to attend and earn colloquium credit. Village Hall is located at 207 S. College Ave., College Place.

Don’t miss the ASWWU Spiritual screening of the 2003 film “Luther” on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Conard Chapel, 200 SE Ash Ave., College Place.

Reformation celebrations will continue Saturday, Nov. 4, with a special combined University Church Sabbath School program organized by the School of Theology class and the Chan Shun Pavilion class. Beginning at 10:15 a.m. in Village Hall, “The Meaning of the Reformation” will feature panelists McVay, Volker Henning, WWU vice president for Academic Administration, and Karen Clausen-Brown, WWU assistant professor of English, with Dodds as moderator. The panel will discuss the origins, meaning, and legacy of the Reformation; how the Reformation was viewed by Ellen White, a key founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; and the Reformation and women.

All events are free and open to the public.

Posted Oct. 24, 2017

Poster of Martin Luther against a red background. The words read, "Luther, 500 years of the reformation."