Processing History

I've spent the last week wrestling with this writing assignment for Church History class, which seems like it would work in a variety of settings.  It may be too sophisticated for Confirmation classes, plus I do realize that Confirmation classes are often doing something very different.  It may be much more academic than is appropriate for any church setting--and if that's the case, I feel a bit sad.  

But it may be a perfect approach.  I love the way that it required us to look at a vast swath of history and choose our own focus.  I love the way it required us to respond to each other, but not in a "You're wrong!" way.  I loved that it required us to think about the long term implications of Church History.

Later, perhaps I'll share my answers.  For right now, I don't want to post my answers online, for free of triggering the plagiarism software contained in the course shell.

Here's the assignment:

Most of the reading and lecture materials have focused chiefly on the major reformers and movements in the Reformation (Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Cranmer).  But there were other, perhaps lesser-known but nevertheless significant, figures.  Some were later-generation leaders, even successors of the early great Reformers (with names like Theodor Beza, Martin Bucer, John Knox, Oecolampadius).  Others were Anabaptists or more fringe Protestant figures (e.g., Konrad Grebel, Thomas Müntzer, Menno Simons).  In addition, we have seen, or will be seeing Roman Catholics who played a key role (Erasmus of Rotterdam, John Eck, Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples, Thomas More, Teresa of Ávila, Ximenes de Cisneros, to name a few).

Select two figures who you see as having played a positive role in the Reformation, and say why.  One may be a major player (such as the three listed above), but at least one must also be a more minor figure.  (If you have encountered a Catholic Reformation / Counter-Reformation figure that you would like to substitute for one of these, you may do so.)  Be sure to state why you believe that the contribution is significant.   In your reference to each, name at least one key event, document, or council related to that person.  This is due by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, 16 February.

Then, after you post your basic response, reply to one other student (you choose who), and bring it forward to the present:  what lesson or example (this can be positive or negative, either something to imitate, or to avoid) might  the modern Church might one find in one of the two persons that other class member wrote about?  Remember to be courteous in your reply, even (especially!) if you disagree.  (There are two critiques that are out-of-bounds here because they are obvious and I want you to be more subtle and thoughtful: Luther's anti-judaism/anti-semitism, and Knox on women.  Both repugnant -- but choose something else.)  The reply is due by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, 18 February.