ADELAIDE BONHOEFFER CONFERENCE

GOD'S “YES” FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW

80 years after Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hanged by the Nazi regime, people from all walks of life and scholarly disciplines continue to mine his deep insights and his “Yes” for today and tomorrow. Out of the disillusionment of the first half of the 20th century, especially the two world wars and the depression, Bonhoeffer distilled much ‘gold’ out of that crucible: Who are we as humans and what is our relationship to both ultimate and penultimate matters?

You are invited to be part of the community that will gather at Immanuel Lutheran Church in North Adelaide, on April 26 and 27, to hear and discuss some of this ‘gold’ as shared by our two key note speakers Rev Dr Mark Worthing and Rev Professor Mark Lindsay, along with the electives being offered. A panel will also consider “The ‘strong man’ political phenomenon in the world today” and Rev Dr Maurice Schild will preach at the worship service on Sunday.

DETAILED PROGRAM

ADELAIDE BONHOEFFER CONFERENCE 2025

God's YES for today and tomorrow

Saturday 26 April

8.30 am REGISTRATION/ COFFEE

9.00 am WELCOME

9.15 am FIRST KEYNOTE LECTURE: Rev Dr Mark Worthing

‘Why Bonhoeffer is still growing in popularity 80 years after his death’

10.30 am MORNING TEA

11.00 am SECOND KEYNOTE LECTURE: Rev Professor Mark Lindsay

‘Bonhoeffer, Babylon, and the ‘Eternal Gospel’: Today’s No Meets Tomorrow’s Yes’

12.15 pm LUNCH

1.15 pm PANEL: Dr Jenny Tilby Stock, Rev Dr Lynn Arnold, Dr Anna Nuernberger

“Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Fuhrer Principle and the Rise of the ‘Strongman’: then and now”

2.30 pm ELECTIVES (choose one from the following four)

‘Lessons on Christian Community gained from the Finkenwalde experience’. Rev Dr Mark Worthing

‘Christian or Christ-like? Euthanasia as responsibly bringing God’s love to a suffering neighbour: in conversation with  Dietrich Bonhoeffer’. Peter Schulz

‘Barth and Bonhoeffer: Freude (Joy) and Hilaritas’. Rev Assoc Professor John Capper

‘Bonhoeffer 101: All questions welcome’.  Pastor Mike Pietsch

3.45 pm AFTERNOON TEA

4.15 pm ELECTIVES (choose one from the following four)

‘The Question of Church Communion: Bonhoeffer’s Ecclesiology in a Divided World’. Rev Professor Mark Lindsay

‘The personal price of costly grace: journeying in theological reflection’. Rabbi Dr Aviva Kipen

‘Bonhoeffer and discerning the necessary deed’. Rev Dr Jonathan Barker

‘Situational Ethics: on contemporary art making and the transformational nature of the Bonhoeffer in Harlem Project’.  John Young AM

5.30 pm CLOSE

6.00 pm DINNER at a nearby restaurant in North Adelaide

Sunday 27 April

9.30 am WORSHIP SERVICE with Holy communion including several of Bonhoeffer’s hymns. In remembrance of Bonhoeffer’s life and with petitions for God’s world. Guest preacher Rev Dr Maurice Schild.

11.00 am MORNING TEA

11.30 pm PANEL RESPONSES: Highlights and issues raised by the weekend: responses from a panel, followed by questions and discussion.

12.30 pm Conclusion of panel session

1.00 pm LUNCH at a nearby restaurant in North Adelaide