Greg Dodds, WWU professor of history and chair of the Department of History and Philosophy, presented a trio of lectures about the history of the Protestant Reformation in Gladstone, Oregon, this summer as part of the camp meeting program for the Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

The series began on Wednesday, July 19, highlighting the events leading up to Martin Luther’s protest and the 95 Theses. The presentation on Thursday was about the events surrounding the posting of the 95 Theses and the Reformation. The final presentation on Friday focused on the legacy of the Reformation and where the Seventh-day Adventist Church fits in that story.

This year marks the 500–year anniversary of the Reformation. The posting of Luther’s 95 Theses is considered by most academics to be the official start of the Protestant Reformation. With the invention of the printing press and the translation of the Bible into the language of the people, ideas spread fast. People began to read and interpret the Bible for themselves.

“The concept of protest and dissent that emerged from the Protestant movement paved the way for later social, political, and religious movements that pushed for greater freedom and rights for common people,” says Dodds.

Dodds was not the only speaker presenting on the Reformation. Pastor Dick Duerkson led morning worships focused on the inspiring lives of the Christian martyrs, and the featured speaker for camp meeting, Ty Gibson, gave presentations on the Protestant teachings of salvation by faith.

Dodds will also speak about events that sparked the reformation for the weekly Walla Walla University campus gathering, CommUnity, on Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. in the University Church at 212 SW Fourth Street in College Place. The CommUnity program is free and open to the public.

Find more information about the WWU celebration and discussion about the Reformation anniversary at wallawalla.edu.

Posted Sept. 20, 2017