Many Protestant churches honor in these days the life and thoughts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was born 100 years ago.  He died at the age of 39, executed in a concentration camp a month before the end of World War II.  Bonhoeffer's thought and life, rooted in his own time, have inspired many to think about the way his legacy helps to engage crucial issues of our time and culture.

Bonhoeffer was a public theologian, affirming that theology and the Bible were as pertinent to the public life of institutions and nations as to the personal life of individual believers.  He explored the relevance of Christian faith for work, for government, and also for the public responsibility of the church.
 
Under German National Socialism, Bonhoeffer saw that a church co-opted by ideology and nationalism was not a help to society.  Only a church which is truly free - including free to be a critic of its society - can serve the world well.
Bonhoeffer was a leader in the ecumenical movement which worked for greater unity among Christian churches, and he challenged them to deeper commitments to peace and social justice.  He believed that differences between denominations belong to the past.

Bonhoeffer outgrew anti-Jewish attitudes.  He became an advocate for and rescuer of  Jews in Nazi Germany.  His life ended  
sharing the same fate as the victims of the Holocaust.   As a young theology teacher, he adopted the rare position of pacifism, based on his reading of the Sermon on the Mount.  His participation in the plot to kill Adolph Hitler and overthrow Nazism was not a rejection of his pacifism.
            
In 1930 to 1931 Bonhoeffer was a student in America.  He confronted and repudiated racism in the U.S., and especially in the racial anti-Semitism of the Third Reich.  Churches and societies that transcend the divisiveness of racism and nationalism reflect Bonhoeffer's spirit.

For me, Bonhoeffer’s story resonates most powerfully within the biblical tradition of prophecy.  Like the ancient prophets who risked all to rail against corrupt kings and priests, he recognized that God calls us to not only to care for the poor, oppressed and vulnerable, but to challenge any religious or secular power that perpetrates injustice.  His life exemplifies the prophetic call to action.  Bonhoeffer’s life demonstrates the transformative impact a single person can make in  the world.  His example points to values shared by Christian and Jewish traditions:  the sanctity of human life, compassion, peace and justice.
         
On February 5th, I will preach on the life and legacy of Bonhoeffer; during the month of February we will continue to discuss his writing, and we will see movies about his life.   Please contact me if you have questions or for additional information.   Talking about Dietrich Bonhoeffer addresses the question:  What does God ask of us?
 
          Grace and peace,
     
          Rev. Wilfried
          Rev. Wilfried Glabach
          minister@sanfranciscoucc.org

 
Agenda items include deciding on any changes in membership status and voting on whether to accept the building contractor’s negotiated contract and bid amount to begin construction on the new church. 
   

After months of searching and discussion about where to meet when we tear down our current building, most members wanted to try to maintain a presence on "Our" block of Polk Street.  This required a reorganization of our office, storage or selling of unused items and moving pews.
   
Our first worship meeting at 1323 Polk will be February 5th.  We had the final meeting in 1302 Polk in January.  Come join us in our new "intimate" reorganized space at 1323 Polk!

 
A panel of preliminary readers of the Rev. Wilfried Glabach's dissertation gave very favorable comments, making only suggestions for a few minor changes to make it more publishable.
    
In March, Wilfried will take it to his advisor in Germany for final approval. Once she signs it, he will have completed all of his requirements for his Doctorate of Ministry Degree, which he will receive in May at the graduation ceremony at  San Francisco Theological Seminary.

The Pacific, the newspaper of our UCC conference, is now online at the Northern California/Nevada Conference web site and is linked from the home page at http://www.ncncucc.org/.   This month's issue -- February/March 2006 --  has information about Annual Meeting May 18th to 21st, including the registration form and tentative schedule.  There are also some nice pieces on page 8 on forgiveness, and a tribute to our beloved former Conference Minister, Mineo Katagiri.   Active church members  may also sign up at for a free subscription, but anyone may read it on line.

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