Essays Published on Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The following booklet contains a collection of two essays presented at the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Conference held on February 3 and 4, 2006 on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. The occasion for the conference was Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s one-hundredth birthday. The presenters at this conference were Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto and Dr. Charles Ford, both important scholars on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the German situation during the Third Reich. Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto is a well-known journalist who is now the director of the Institute on Lay Vocation, at Concordia Seminary St. Louis. Dr. Charles Ford, is a professor from St. Louis University in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

The Conference began on Friday evening with the PBS produced Film on Bonhoeffer entitled "Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace" that was aired for the first time on 14 June 2000. This much-acclaimed film of about 90 minutes served as an excellent introduction into the life and times of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for all those who were unfamiliar with his person. After the film a panel discussion was held which was joined next to Dr. Ford and Dr. Siemon-Netto by a third guest, Dennis A. Claus. Dennis A. Clauss now retired lives in Appleton, Wisconsin. He was a long time executive for AAL and Thrivent Financial and had been responsible for initiating and developing the film: "Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace."

On Saturday morning, it was our two presenters’ turn to speak. Dr. Uwe Siemon Netto’s entitled his presentation: "Bonhoeffer: A Bold Sinner," and Dr. Charles Ford spoke on: "Bonhoeffer, Luther and the German Resistance". Both essays are so valuable in their contribution to the research that we decided to provide them in electronic booklet form to the public. A word of thanks goes to Paul Nuss, a student of the seminary, who transcribed the recorded lecture of Dr. Charles Ford and kept much of the natural flow and diction of the presentation.

Klaus Detlev Schulz, Th.D.
Associate Professor and Chairman,
Department of Pastoral Ministry and Missions
Concordia Theological Seminary
6600 North Clinton St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Bonhoeffer Essays - Dr. Uwe Siemon Netto and Dr. Charles Ford