Dr. Eric W. Gritsch

The 3rd Annual Theological Symposium 
(Link to Video below) 

On Saturday, March 12th, 2016 people gathered in the beautiful and historic George Peabody Library on Mt. Vernon Place for the Third Annual Eric W. Gritsch Memorial Symposium hosted by the Board of the Eric W. Gritsch Memorial Fund. The topic was "1517 -  2017:  Commemorating the Reformation in an Ecumenical Age," and we were fortunate to have two speakers that are presently serving on the Lutheran - Catholic Dialogue:  Ashley Hall from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and Michael Root from Catholic University in Washington, DC. 

Both gentlemen shared with the Symposium participants the importance and the challenges for an ecumenical commemoration for this event in church history.  The Board thanks these scholars for their insights and their willingness to participate in this event.

The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau had a presence at the Symposium this year, and the executive director, Paul Sauer announced that the newest work by Eric W. Gritsch entitled WHO GETS TO EAT was available for purchase.   Daniel Biles, a former Gritsch student, was also present with his newest publication, A LITURGICAL CATECHISM. 

Participants from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia found the Symposium informative  and are looking forward to future events sponsored by the Gritsch Memorial Fund.  Everyone enjoyed the breakfast treats provided by the Peabody and the homemade cakes provided by Gritsch Fund Board members and friends. 

A special thank you to the new Board president, Paul Espinosa, curator of the Library, and his staff for making the space available for the Symposium, to Randy Chase , the Fund's webmaster, for the many pictures and videos of the day's events, to Bonnie Brobst, the widow of the late Rev. Dr. Eric W. Gritsch for hosting a dinner for the Board members, speakers, and special guests in her home following the event, to all the Board members who made this Symposium a success, and to the many supportive friends of the Fund who attended the Symposium and who contributed to the work of the Fund.  Many people working and learning together continue to share the work and writing of the late Rev. Dr. Eric W. Gritsch.

Video from This Event is available on the Eric W. Gritsch YouTube Channel

Speaker Ashley Hall,

An Assoc. Prof. of Theology at Creighton University,Omaha, Nebraska. Ordained ELCA pastor. Official Delegate to theLutheran-Catholic Dialogue spoke on "Foundations for an EcumenicalCommemoration in 2017"

Speaker Michael Root

An Ordinary Prof. of SystematicTheology at CatholicUniversity, Washington, DC.Earlier taught at the Institutefor Ecumenical Research, Strasbourg,France. Official Delegate to theLutheran-Catholic Dialogue spoke on “The Challenge of a EcumenicalCommemoration in 2017”