Robert Bertram, Carl Braaten and the ELCA on Universal Salvation Colleagues, Some time ago Scott Jurgens, ELCA pastor in Idaho, (Seminex graduate, 1980) asked me if I had seen the article on universal salvation in the ELCA’s collection of faith statements. No, I hadn’t. Carl Braaten, he told me, was the major voice in this statement, and what Carl said didn’t coincide with what Bob Bertram had taught him. So I asked him to dig deeper, write it up and send it to me. Last week he did. It’s good. Herewith I send it on to you. Peace and Joy! Ed Schroeder
DOES THE ELCA TEACH UNIVERSAL SALVATION? By Scott J. Jurgens Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lewiston, Idaho For those who, as Luther would say, “have” Christ by faith, there is the joy and promise of a hope beyond all hopes. The peace and joy that we “have” is salvation and righteousness through Jesus Christ. And yet this peace and joy for the Christian also suggests a dilemma: why do not all among the “dear disbelievers” share in the peace and joy of this gift? This dilemma is also at the forefront of Robert W. Bertram’s set of theses entitled “U is for Universality,” in his posthumously