Springfield, Ohio - Wittenberg University welcomes Larry Rasmussen, Reinhold Niebuhr professor emeritus of social ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, to deliver the Kenneth H. Sauer Luther Symposium as part of the 2015-16 Wittenberg Series at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Bayley Auditorium, Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center.
Rasmussen’s address, titled “Earth-Honoring Faith: A Lutheran Responds to Climate Change,” is based on his latest book, Earth-Honoring Faith: Religious Ethics in a New Key (Oxford, 2013). In the book, Rasmussen argues that the challenges of climate change and species extinction require human beings to change their way of living on earth, since without change the consequences will be dire.
A native of Minnesota, Rasmussen is one of the world’s leading Christian environmental ethicists. Rasmussen earned his bachelor’s degrees in history and philosophy from St. Olaf College, a bachelor of divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary, and his Th.D. from Union Theological Seminary. He taught at St. Olaf before serving as a professor of Christian ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Rasmussen taught at Union Theological Seminary for 18 years, and he also served as co-moderator of the Justice, Peace, Creation unit of the World Council of Churches from 1990-2000 and St. John Visiting Professor at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in 2006.
In addition to his address, Rasmussen will participate in a panel discussion and question and answer session with Professor of Chemistry Dave Finster and Professor of Economics Dave Wishart at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Ness Auditorium, Hollenbeck Hall.
The Kenneth H. Sauer Symposium is made possible by an endowment established in honor of The Rev. Dr. Kenneth H. Sauer, Wittenberg class of 1952, at the time of his retirement as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran church in America’s Southern Ohio Synod in 1996.
Now in its 33rd year, the Wittenberg Series brings distinguished lecturers and performing artists of national and international prominence to the Wittenberg campus and Springfield community. To make special arrangements, request a Series poster, or become a friend of the Wittenberg Series, contact Nuggie Libecap at libecapn@wittenberg.edu. All Wittenberg Series events are free and open to the public.
