We cordially invite you to participate in the XI. International Bonhoeffer Congress in Sigtuna, Sweden, 27 June – 1 July 2012.

 

Due to his Christology and ecclesiology, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's theology is intrinsically political. On the one hand, his theological convictions make possible opposition to government authority. Early on, in his critical engagement against the Nazi regime, in "The Church and the Jewish Question" (1933), Bonhoeffer expected the church to oppose the state when the rights of those disdained by the state were violated. Ultimately, this stance resulted in Bonhoeffer's participation in the resistance and his violent death. On the other hand, Bonhoeffer advocated a conservative, nondemocratic political order for Germany after the war. How can one explain these apparent contradictions? How should we understand Bonhoeffer's political theology? The aim of the XI. International Bonhoeffer Congress is to encourage reflections on the continuing relevance of Bonhoeffer's political theology and ethics.

 

The program covers three main issues: Bonhoeffer’s Political Resistance (28 June), Bonhoeffer on Church, State and Civil Society (29 June) and How do we Live Responsibly (30 June). The list of keynote speakers include Victoria Barnett (Washington), Sven-Erik Brodd (Uppsala), Wolfgang Huber (Berlin), Jean Bethke Elshtain (Chicago), Wolf Krötke (Berlin), Nico Koopman (Stellenbosch) and Christiane Tietz (Mainz). The paper sessions include ca. 50 papers given by selected congress participants. See full program at www.sigtunastiftelsen.se.

 

Sigtuna is the historic place where Bonhoeffer met Bishop George Bell during the war for clandestine meetings regarding the conspiracy against Hitler. The congress will be hosted by the historical Sigtuna Foundation (http://www.sigtunastiftelsen.se) which is located only 15 minutes from the international airport of Stockholm (Arlanda).

 

Please visit www.sigtunastiftelsen.se for more information and registration.

Registration will be closed on 1 April 2012.

Kind regards

Bishop Martin Lind, Lund, Sweden                                                                                                        

President of the Congress                                                                                                                        

 

Professor Kirsten Busch Nielsen, University of Copenhagen

Chairperson of the Planning Committee