BY KAREN BOSSICK
In 1937 German theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote “The Cost of Discipleship,” a text that would galvanize the discussion about ethics, humanism and civic duty and what it means to follow Christ.
Now, two Hailey churches are co-sponsoring a free discussion series on “The CDst of discipleship.”
It will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Wood River Valley Seventh-Day Adventist church at 705 S. Main St., Hailey. A feature-length documentary film, “Bonhoeffer,” which focuses on the dramatic life of Bonhoeffer will be viewed to provide a framework for “The Call to Discipleship” that will follow the next four weeks.
Free copies of study books will be distributed at the film screening.
The remaining four weekly Thursday study sessions will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday from March 1 to 22 at Valley of Peace Lutheran Church at 704 Wintergreen Drive in Hailey’s Woodside neighborhood.
Though free, those who wish to participate are asked to register so sufficient study materials will be available. To do that, contact Sheree McCandless at shereemccandless@gmail.com or 775-813-7901.
A number of questions will be examined, including: How did a young German come to actively oppose Hitler and German’s National Socialist Party?
“This is a fitting follow-up to the 2017 celebration of the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation,” said Pastor Jerry Reinke, of Valley of Peace Lutheran Church. “As we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday, to review Bonhoeffer’s interpretation of the implications of the ‘theology of the cross’ is timely.”
People today want theology to have clear applications to the problems and tragedies, challenges and opportunities of life on earth, added Pastor Steve McCandless of the Adventist church.
“Bonhoeffer addressed this when he talked about Christ’s call to action in the Sermon on the Mount and the need to keep answering the question, ‘Who is my neighbor?’ ” he added.
The study of Bonhoeffer was organized in response to last year’s screening of “Come Before Winter,” a film focusing on the final weeks of Bonhoeffer’s life before his execution shortly before the end of World War II.
Bonhoeffer was raised in a comfortable upper middle-class German home, received a university education and spent considerable time in Spain, England and the United States before World War II broke out. He wrote several books, in addition to “The Cost of Discipleship,” including “Life Together,” “Ethics” and “Letters and Papers From Prison.”
He chose to return to Germany to stand with his Christian countrymen who opposed Hitler in 1939, forsaking thoughts of safety for his own life. Most other Protestant churches had capitulated, signing an “Aryans only” statement, pledging they would reject any Jew or person with Jewish ancestry from membership in their church.
Bonhoeffer not only was a Nazi resister who openly challenged his church to stand with the Jews in their time of need but he eventually joined a plot to kill Hitler.
VALLEY OF PEACE RECEIVES NEW YOUTH PASTOR
Joel Ripke recently joined the ministry team at Valley of Peace Lutheran Church as director of Youth and Outreach.
He has several years of experience in youth and camp ministry, most recently with Trinity Lutheran Church in Memphis, Tenn. He also has worked at several summer camps, including Camp Perkins near Stanley, Lutheran Haven Ministries in Coeur d’Alene and Lutheran Valley Retreat in Woodland Park, Colo. He attended Concordia University in Seward, Neb.
A native of Lafayette, Ind., he is married to Nicole Ripke, program director at Camp Perkins.