“The
crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who
had authority, and not as one of their scribes” (Matt 7:28)

Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

We
cordially invite you to attend the Second
Baltic Theological Conference, 29-31
October 2007, in Burtnieki, Latvia.

Theme of
Conference:

God’s
Address to Contemporary Man: How do we Speak? What do we Do?

Location:
Burtnieki, Latvia

Time:
16:00, 29 October – 13:00, 31 October 2007

Purpose of
the Baltic Theological Conference:

To foster
and to support the common witness to the Gospel of Christ by the
Evangelical Lutheran churches of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania;

To
encourage and to strengthen the common work of the pastors and church
workers of the Evangelical Lutheran churches of Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania;

To assist
the growth of collegiality and personal relationships between the
pastors and church workers of the Evangelical Lutheran churches of
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

All travel
and room- and -board expenses are covered by the organizers.

To assist us
in planning and reservations, please, contact office of Luther
Academy if you plan to attend. Phone: (371) 29136538

Yours in
Christ,
William C.
Weinrich, ThD, rector of LA

Asukoht kaardil.

Tentative Schedule

BTC II October
29-31, Burtnieki, Latvia

“God’s
Address to Contemporary Man: How do we Speak? What do we Do?”

October 29, 2007

16:00 – 17:00 Arrival, Refreshments

17:00 – 18:30 Holy Eucharist

18:30 – 19:30 Greetings from Archbishop Janis Vanags, Bishop
Mindaugas Sabutis and rector Dr. Weinrich

19:30 Dinner and fellowship

October 30, 2007

8:00 – 8:30 Morning Prayer

8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast

9:30-10.30 Dr. Weinrich “Contemporary mentality”

10:30 – 11:30 Dr. Darius Petkunas “Current trends in practical
Theology.”

11:30 – 12:00 Coffee break

12:00 – 13:00 Estonian presentation on chaplaincy

13:00 — 13.30 Midday prayer

13:30 — 14.30 Lunch

14.30 — 15.30 Dr. Tim Quill “The Contribution of Th. Harnack to
the Renewal of Liturgy and Liturgical Preaching.”

15:30 — 16:30 Dr. S. Gintere “Missionary church in 21st century
West.”

16:30 — 17.00 Coffee break

17:00 — 18:00 Dr. Charles Evanson “The road beyond baptism for
the contemporary man.”

18:00 — 18.30 Vespers

19:00 Dinner and fellowship

October 31, 2007

8:00 – 8:30 Morning Prayer

8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast

9:30 — 10.30 Dr. Kalme

10:30 — 11.30 Dr. Garhl
?

11.30 — 12.30 Veiko?

12:30 – 13.00 Itinerarium

13.00 Lunch and departure

“Lutheran
Worship in the 21^st
Century”

Baltic Theological Conference (BTC)

Baltic Theological Conference is
recently established tradition which grow out of the interest and
necessity of the Lutheran Churches in all three Baltic countries:
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to cooperate, share and support each
other in the lives and service of their churches. As the result, in
April 24. and 25, 2007, about 20 Latvian pastors and evangelists were
able to attend the First Baltic Lutheran Conference “Lutheran
Worship in the 21^st Century” in Vilnus. Latvian
archbishop and bishop of the Lithuanian church were present there.

The idea of BTC
was born when Dr. Evanson (theological advisor of the bishop of Ev.
Luth. Church of Lithuania) and Dr. Petkunas started to lead
continuous education seminars on liturgy for the pastors of Ev. Luth.
Church of Latvia. On the basis of mutual interest, Dr. Petkunas from
Lithuanian side and Dr. Gintere (coordinator of the educational work
of ELCL; responsible also for the continuous education) from Latvian
side, agreed of the necessity of BTC and started to works towards it.

During these days participants
listened and exchanged their thoughts about recent developments in
the Lutheran liturgy. There were two presentations delivered by Dr.
Evanson, and Dr. Weinrich, Dr. Olofsson and Dr. Petkunas delivered
each one presentation.

All the participants celebrated
together the daily office of hours and also participated in the
celebration of the Holy Communion service in the cathedral of Ev.
Luth. Church of Lithuania in Vilnus. Between the lectures and
prayers, there was time for fellowship around the meals and in free
time.

Participants of the BTC agreed that
the conference was very useful and enriching for their worship and
service to their churches. It was also agreed that BTC is an
important new tradition which should be continued. ELCL will host the
next, second BTC in Latvia, Burtnieki 29.-31.Octber, 2007.

The financial assistance, especially
for covering travel expenses are very essential, to enable pastors to
participate. Organizations express their deepest gratitude to the
Lutheran brothers and sisters, who donated money to be used for
covering travel expenses of the Latvian participants to Vilnus.