The Eric W. Gritsch Memorial Fund thanks the writers, artists and presenters who have allowed their words and works to be shared  here. Some creators retain rights to their work and should be contacted directly for permission to reprint any of their content.
Comments, Questions, & Submissions are welcome.

2018 Letter from the board to the friends of the fund

Lutherfest 2018 Speaker

Rev. Dr. Joseph Vought spoke on Luther's Birthday on
Gravitas, Grace & Good Humor: Luther's Theology of the Cross & Vocation
including a tribute to Dr. Eric W. Gritsch.

PHOTOS   TEXT   VIDEO

 2018 Theological Symposium Presentations

          Dr. Jane Strohl                              Dr. Martha Stortz

           Presentation        Video                   Presentation    Video 

The Archived Twitter feed from The Eric W. Gritsch Memorial Fund's  Fellowship winner Thomas Santa Maria's March 2018 ecumenical research in Rome.

Bibliomania: 150 Years of Collecting Rare Books at the George Peabody Library

The exhibit charts the 19th Century bibliomaniacal craze for rare and important editions by collectors abroad and locally in Baltimore, and how their collecting helped contribute to the acquisition of some of the most important and beautiful books in the collection today. 

Lecture and Tour

2017 Theological Symposium Presentations

                   Gordon Laythrop                     Susan Wood

           Photos    Video    Full Text           Photos    Video   Full Text

Luther Medals &  Numismatic Art

Thanks to the Rev, Dr. Frederick Schumacher and the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, for sharing this beautiful and historic art form through our archives.

See Special Items Presented at Symposium 2017 

A Display of Historic Luther Medals with Slideshow: 

A Display of Luther Medals of the Modern Era with Slideshow:

 A Display of New 500th Reformation Medalions With Slideshow:

 Available From: The Martin Luther Medal Countdown Project

of the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau

From Conflict to Communion
The First Joint Commemoration of the Reformation
Lutherans and Roman Catholics Together 

- Article By Fred Schumaker

Eric W. Gritsch Memorial Fund 2016 Essay Contest 

American Lutheran Publicity Bureau 500th Anniversary Medallion


THE WINNING ESSAYS of 2016
  Details  Video 

• 1st Place Winner: Shane Brinegar               FULL TEXT
• 2nd Place Winner: Kristopher Coffman   FULL TEXT
• 3rd Place Winner: Molly Hartshorn           FULL TEXT

Eric W. Gritsch Memorial Fund Essay Contest 2015

The Winning Essays:

• 1st Place Winner:  Paul Flo 

• 2ndPlace Winner: Joshua K. Warfield M.A.

• 3rd Place Winner: Andrew Christiansen

Presidential Message Archives 

(from  Former Founding President
Ralph E. Vordemberge)

Artistic Advisor Ray Ridenour & Bonnie Brobst
with original art from Lutherfest 2014

Eric W. Gritsch Memorial Fund Essay Contest 2014
The Winning Essays:

• 1st Place Winner: James E. Smith
  
• 2nd Place Winner: Justin Tigrerman
• 3rd Place Winner: Brach Jennings
  Thank You! To ALL of the seminarians who shared their writings. 

GRITSCH BEER ARCHIVES

(Dr. Gritsch Loved Good Beer!)

Zion Church and Baltimore's First Brewer

The Brewers of Zion Church 1748-1920 

 2018 Brewer's Talk ( A Gritsch Special Event)

   A brief Vimeo video from Michael Ivan Schwartz and Mark Duerr 

(About John Leonard Barnitz and Elias Daniel Barnitz and their Baltimore Brewing.) 

The following two papers were submitted
by Richard T. Egtvedt who's work inspired
SIN BOLDLY, the new beer premiered
at LUTHERFEST 2014:

BEER, BREWING, and ECONOMIC HEALTH with KATHARINA VON BORA in the LUTHER HOUSEHOLD

RICHARD T. EGTVEDT

 In this paper I will explore brewing and Katharina von Bora’s role as an interpretive lens to understand her vital role to the economic health of the growing Luther household.

HONORING LUTHER

RICHARD T. EGTVEDT

 In this paper I will explore brewing traditions and styles from Martin Luther’s era in order to develop a beer to honor him during the upcoming Reformation Week activities.   This beer would be brewed in conjunction with the Appalachian Brewing Company for release during the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg’s 2013 Fall Academy (October 28-November 2) 

Memorial Sermon for   Rev. Dr. Eric W. Gritsch 

 Pastor Holger Roggelin

Delivered at Zion Church of the city of Baltimore on March 2nd, 2013.

A Review of Bremer's "Cross and Kremlin: 

A BriefHistory of the Orthodox Church in Russia"

(Translated by Dr. Eric W. Gritsch)