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About the author
born 1965, ordained minister of the Lutheran Church in Bavaria, holds a doctoral degree from Heidelberg University and a habilitation degree from Erlangen University. After three years as a visiting professor of systematic theology at Lüneburg University he is professor of theology at Heidelberg University of Education. He was granted the Heisenberg stipend by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Martin Hailer is author of seven books and many articles on theology, philosophy of religion, and ecumenics. During the last years he delivered lectures at Yale Divinity School, Lutheran Seminary of São Leopoldo (Brazil), Oslo University (Norway), Canterbury Christ Church University, and King’s College, Aberdeen. For details and a complete list of publications see author’s website at www.bgmh.de.
Summary
The book presents major fields of ecumenical debate of our day and draws key conclusions for the difficult questions of how to do ecumenical theology. Exploring dialogues between the Lutheran Church and the Anglican Communion (featuring the office of oversight), the Roman Catholic Church (debate on faith and reason), Baptists and Mennonites (baptism), and the Orthodox tradition (deification and righteousness), Hailer draws conclusions on how to do ecumenical theology. The author focuses on the concept of mutual gift exchange as key metaphor. An analytical overview of that kind does not yet exist nor do the conclusions concerning ecumenical hermeneutics provided by the final chapter.
