Lutheranism

Some of the most famous Lutherans today are:. Not to be forgotten:. See the complete List of famous Lutherans. The Spurs have advanced to the NBA Finals for the third time in franchise history, and currently are tied 2-2 in the series against the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons. Unless otherwise noted, these figures are from the Lutheran World Federation (http://www.lutheranworld.org/Welcome.EN.html) (LWF) homepage. In the postseason thus far, the Spurs have defeated the Denver Nuggets 4-1, the Seattle Supersonics 4-2 and the Phoenix Suns 4-1.
. With the acquisitions of Brent Barry from Seattle, Nazr Mohammed from New York, and veteran Glenn Robinson from free agency, alongside defensive specialist Bruce Bowen, international phenom Manu Ginobili, lightning quick Tony Parker, clutch shooter Robert Horry, and MVP candidate Tim Duncan, the Spurs finished the 2004-2005 season ranked number two in the Western Conference with a 59-23 record, finishing with the best record in the Southwest division.

Total World – 82.6 million. Duncan was named both the NBA Regular Season and Finals MVP for the season. Latin America – 1.1 million. The Spurs won the series 4-2, giving them their second NBA Championship in franchise history. Asia & Pacific – 7.5 million. The series against the Nets marked the first time two former ABA teams would play each other for the NBA Championship. Africa – 10.5 million. In the playoffs, the Spurs defeated the Suns, Lakers and Dallas Mavericks en route to facing the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals.

North America – 14.2 million. Mixing the inside presences of Duncan and Robinson with the newer outside threats, the Spurs earned a 60-22 record. Europe – 49.3 million. Second-year French star Tony Parker was now the starting point guard for the Spurs and the squad featured a variety of three-point shooters including Stephen Jackson, Danny Ferry, Bruce Bowen and Argentina product Manu Ginobili. Few Lutheran pastors achieve their pastoral care in foreign countries such as France. The Spurs had remade their team in an attempt to dethrone the three-time defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Norwegian and Finnish) to provide aid, social opportunities and pastoral care for visiting seamen — in their own language. This version of the Spurs was very different from the team that had won the title a few years earlier.

Many major seaports contain the outposts of the respective Nordic Lutheran churches (e.g. Entering the 2002-2003 season, the team knew it would be memorable for at least two reasons, as David Robinson announced that it would be his last in the NBA and the Spurs would begin play at their new arena (approved in 1999 by County voters), the SBC Center, named after telecommunications giant SBC whose corporate headquarters were located in San Antonio. Due to large agreements like the Concorde de Leuenberg (1962), involving many churches raising from the Reformation the training for students in theology embraces a wide range of theologies including modern and contemporary movements in biblical criticism and theology. The Spurs finished with 58-24 records for both the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 seasons but found themselves suffering playoff ousters in both seasons from the eventual NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. Except in Northern Europe (see above), very few seminaries are state-supported. The longterm viability of the Spurs franchise in San Antonio was however achieved during the 1999-2000 season, as Bexar County voters approved increases on car rental and hotel taxes which would allow for the construction of a new arena to be constructed near Freeman Coliseum. The Lutheran confirmation training usually constitutes the largest exposure of Northern Europeans to Christian doctrines. The Spurs were not able to capitalize on their success during the 1999-2000 season. Although they finished with an overall record of 53-29, the Spurs lost in the first round to the Suns primarily due to an injury to Duncan which kept him out of the playoff series.

Confirmation is treated seriously and is usually delayed until the end of the high school courses. The victory by the Spurs was not only the first NBA title to be won by a former ABA team, but also was the first Finals appearance by a team from the ABA. So, in northern Europe many attend religious services only for baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals and possibly at Christmas. Duncan was named the Finals MVP. Most people feel it is more important to attend to the lot of conference and training and Biblical studies. They faced the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals and won the series and the franchise's first World Title four games to one on the Knicks' home court of Madison Square Garden. The church attendance on Sunday is not decisive and houses offices are still perennial, particularly in southern Europe. The team was just as dominant in the playoffs, rolling through the Western Conference with a record of 11-1.

Notably, the European churches have very low attending memberships at the offices; due to the history of those European churches, most parts of them knew persecution during the 17th and 18th centuries. Playing a shortened 50-game season, the Spurs ended up with a 37-13 record. Modern mobility and a decrease in religiosity have, however, been instrumental in shifting the demographic situation, as did the movements of German refugees from areas lost to Poland and Russia as a result of World War Two. The season was delayed over three months until resolution on a new labor agreement was reached in January 1999. Certain parts of Germany are traditionally Lutheran (generally towards the north and east) while others are historically Catholic (especially Bavaria and areas along the Rhine). Prior to the beginning of training camps however, the NBA owners led by commissioner David Stern locked out the players in order to force a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA Players Association (NBAPA). Members of the predominant churches in Germany, whether Lutheran, Reformed or Catholic are also required by the state to pay a church tax in addition to their normal income tax. With a healthy Robinson and Duncan and the additions of playoff veterans such as Mario Elie and Jerome Kersey, the Spurs looked forward to the 1998-1999 season.

Lutheranism is also prominent in Estonia, and Latvia. While both Duncan and Robinson played low-post roles, the two seamlessly meshed on the court. The church is no longer supported by taxes, but the fees are collected along with taxes. He was named First Team All-NBA while winning Rookie of the Year honors. The team ended up at 56-26 but once again lost to the Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals. In Sweden, Lutheranism was the state religion up until the year 2000. Duncan quickly emerged as a force in the NBA during the 1997-1998 season, averaging 21.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as a power forward. With the extension of the European Union, the status of state churches is largely revised; they remain a State Church but win greater autonomy. The Spurs used their pick to select Wake Forest University product and consensus All-American Tim Duncan.

Priests are educated at the Faculties of Theology of the state universities. With the third-worst record in the league, the Spurs won the NBA's draft lottery which gave them the top pick in the 1997 draft. The church tax, an income tax of about 1–2%, is collected only from the members of the church, but the church also gets its share from other taxes such as the municipal corporation tax. Although the 1996-1997 season was not successful on the court for the Spurs, the offseason proved to be the opposite. In these countries, the churches are supported directly by taxes. Hill only lasted 18 games that season, eventually being replaced by Gregg Popovich, who had once been an assistant for the Spurs during Larry Brown's coaching turn. Lutheranism is the state religion of several Scandinavian countries in Northern Europe, including Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. After an injury that limited Robinson to six games during the season, the Spurs wound up with a 20-62 record, the worst in franchise history.

English-language publishers of books on Luther and Lutheran theology. Few observers could have predicted how far the Spurs would fall during the 1996-1997 season. As a result of doctorinal differences, cooperation between different denominations varies: there is collaboration on some forms of outreach (for example, Lutheran World Relief); in worship practice, however, the conservative demoninations typically practice closed communion, limiting celebration of the eucharist to those within their own denominations out of concern for doctrinal differences. The Spurs finished the next season (1995-1996) under Hill at 59-23 and lost in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Jazz. The LCMS and WELS follow the traditional "historical-grammatical" method of interpreting the Scripture text, which seeks to understand the text as it is written within the context of history, culture, and language. Throughout the season and particularly in the playoffs there appeared to be friction developing between Rodman and several Spurs' teammates, most notably Robinson, and Rodman was traded after the season to the Chicago Bulls. Many members of the ELCA believe that such higher criticism represents the best efforts of modern scholarship. The Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals, but lost to the eventual NBA Champion Houston Rockets.

The ELCA subscribes to the "Historical-Critical Method" of Scripture interpretation, which attempts to interpret the text while taking account of the historical, cultural, and scientific limitations or biases imposed by the original writers. Elliott returned to the team after an uneventful season with the Pistons and the team finished with the best record at 62-20 while David Robinson was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Doctrinally, the differences are primarily based on the degree of authority denominations place on the written text of Scripture. Lucas was replaced by former Pacers coach Bob Hill for the 1994-1995 season which would turn out to be the Spurs' most successful season to date. denominations differ on doctrine and practice. Prior to the season the Spurs traded fan-favorite Elliott to the Detroit Pistons in return for rebounding star Dennis Rodman. U.S. The following season, the Spurs first in the newly built Alamodome, Lucas led the Spurs to a 55-27 record but the team suffered a loss in the first round of the playoffs to the Utah Jazz which led to the immediate firing of Lucas as head coach.

There are at least 20 smaller Lutheran Denominations in the U.S., with many of them being cultural or doctrinal offshoots of the main three. The 1992-1993 season also marked the last that the Spurs would play in Hemisfair Arena. Strict adherence to this requires members to refrain from all worship, including prayer, with those not in fellowship with WELS. His coaching propelled the team to a 39-22 finish over the rest of the regular season and the team reached the Western Conference semifinals, losing to the Phoenix Suns. WELS teaches the "Unit Concept" of fellowship. The Lucas era started out successfully. WELS does not support women's suffrage in the church. It was Lucas' first NBA coaching assignment although he had gained recognition in league circles for his success in helping NBA players rehab from drug abuse.

As with the LCMS, it permits only qualified men to serve as pastors and adopts similar positions on homosexuality and marriage. After Rex Hughes filled the coaching shoes for one game, NBA veteran John Lucas was named head coach. The WELS is also divided into districts. The Tarkanian experiment proved a flop, as the coach was fired 20 games into the 1992-1993 season with the Spurs record at 9-11. The LCMS teaches "Levels of Fellowship," closed communion (also called "close" communion), and has undergone recent internal struggles regarding participation of its clergy in interfaith "events." Particularly controversial was the post-911 event "A Prayer for America", held at Yankee Stadium, in which the church's Atlantic District President offered a Christian prayer alongside representatives of various non-Lutheran Christian, and non-Christian faiths. McCombs made national headlines during the summer of 1992 with the hiring of former UNLV head coach Jerry Tarkanian. The LCMS does not permit active homosexuals to serve in the ministry, and it has affirmed an exclusively heterosexual definition of marriage. The team became a perennial playoff presence although were never able to advance further then the second round of the NBA Playoffs under Brown's tutelage. Late in the 1991-1992 season, McCombs fired Brown and replaced him with Bob Bass who finished the season as interim head coach.

In 2004, the synod decided that women may also "serve in humanly established offices" such as congregation president, reader, or usher. The Spurs began the 1990's with great optimism. It encourages women to be active in the church and has affirmed women's suffrage within congregations since 1969. Robinson had one of the most successful rookie seasons for a center in NBA history, finishing the season as Rookie of the Year while averaging 24.3 points and 12.0 rebounds. It permits only qualified men to serve as pastors. The Spurs eventually lost in the Western Conference semifinals after losing a seven-game series to the eventual Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers. The LCMS is divided into 35 districts, including 2 non-geographical districts. Led by Robinson along with the newly added Terry Cummings and 1989 draftee Sean Elliott, the Spurs achieved the biggest one-season turnaround in NBA History, finishing with a record of 56-26.

The ELCA ordains both men and women to the pastoral office, and is currently studying the issue of homosexuality, and will decide at its 2005 Churchwide assembly whether to bless same-sex marriage and clergy in active same-sex relationships or not. As the 1980's ended, the 1989-1990 season proved to be the rebirth of the Spurs franchise. The ELCA has established relationships of full communion with The Episcopal Church, the Moravian Church, the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Reformed Church in America and an interim agreement with the United Methodist Church. Additionally, the 1988-1989 season featured the debut of Larry Brown as the Spurs head coach who moved to San Antonio after winning the NCAA National Championship with the University of Kansas in 1988. The ELCA is divided into 64 geographical and one non-geographical synods (the Slovak Zion Synod). It was the first season of full ownership for Red McCombs, who was an original investor in the team and helped solidify local ownership for the team. Local congregations contribute funds to support them and receive services and materials. Denominations help to start new congregations affiliated with them. Although the 1988-1989 season was the worst in Spurs history at 21-61, it was notable for several reasons.

These denominations provide seminaries, pastoral care, and Sunday School and liturgical materials. Although drafted in 1987, the Spurs would have to wait until the 1989-1990 season to see Robinson actually play due to a two-year commitment he had to serve with the United States Navy. The three largest Lutheran bodies in the United States are, in order of size: the least conservative Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the more conservative Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and the most conservative of the three, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The Spurs used this selection on United States Naval Academy standout David Robinson. In the U.S., congregations are grouped into over 20 different denominations. The lone bright spot during this period was the Spurs' being awarded the top pick in the 1987 NBA draft through NBA Draft Lottery. The largest organizations of Lutheran churches around the world are the Lutheran World Federation and the International Lutheran Council, which include the great majority of Lutheran denominations around the globe. The next four seasons were a dark time in Spurs' history, with the team having a combined record of 115-215 from 1985-1986 till 1988-1989. The losing seasons and dwindling attendance caused the Spurs to often be mentioned as a potential candidate for relocation to another city.

However, more conservative varieties of Lutheran strive to maintain historical distinctiveness, emphasizing doctrinal purity over ecumenical outreach. After the 1984-1985 season, Gervin, who arguably had been the Spurs' biggest star, was traded to the Chicago Bulls in what effectively signaled the end of the era that began when the Spurs first moved to San Antonio. For that reason, a number of modern Lutheran denominations, now largely separated from state control, are reaching out to other Lutheran denominations as well as other Christian denominations. Despite their regular season success, the Spurs were unable to win any NBA championships, losing in the Western Conference playoffs to the Houston Rockets in 1981 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982 and 1983. This belief is ingrained in the Lutheran confessions, and reflects the history of Lutheranism as a reform movement rather than a separatist movement. For the first few seasons of the decade, the Spurs continued their success of the 1970's with records of 52-30 in 1980-1981, 48-34 in 1981-1982, and 53-29 in 1982-1983. Lutherans believe in the idea that there should be a single Christian church, and a single Christian faith. The decade of the 1980's marked both highs, then lows, and an eventual high.

The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod recently approved a new hymnal, Lutheran Service Book, which will be available in the fall of 2006. The Spurs would go on to capture 5 division titles in their first 7 years in the NBA and became a perennial playoff participant. The most widely uses are: Christian Worship (WELS), The Lutheran Book of Worship (ELCA), The Lutheran Hymnal (LCMS and WELS)and Lutheran Worship (LCMS). Although there was some initial skepticism in league circles regarding the potential success and talent levels of the incoming ABA teams, the Spurs would prove worthy of NBA inclusion during the 1975-1976 season with a record of 44-38, good for a tie for fourth place overall in the Eastern Conference. Lutheran Churches in the United States use a number of hymnals. The NBA however decided to admit four ABA teams into the league, with the Spurs being one of them along with the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and the New York Nets. Lutheran pastors may marry and have families. Even though playoff success would elude the team in the ABA, the Spurs had suddenly found themselves among the top teams in the ABA. In 1976, the ABA folded, threatening the future of San Antonio's sole professional sports franchise.

Pastors almost always have substantial theological educations, including Greek and Hebrew so that they can refer directly to the canonical Christian scriptures in the original language. The early Spurs were led by ABA veteran James Silas and bolstered by the acquisition in early-1974 of future NBA Hall-of-Famer George Gervin from the Virginia Squires. In the U.S., some congregations and synods traditionally taught in German or Norwegian, but this custom has been in significant decline since the early/middle 20th century. The team quickly made themselves at home at San Antonio's HemisFair Arena playing to increasingly large and raucous crowds. Pastors usually teach in the common language of the parish. The team's primary colors were changed from the red, white, and blue of the Chapparrals to the now familiar silver and black motif of the Spurs. Lutheran pastors and staff are repeatedly reminded that most evangelism occurs within the church, with children. The team was acquired by a group of 36 San Antonio businessmen, led by Angelo Drossos and Red McCombs who actually leased the team from the original Dallas ownership group, relocated the team to San Antonio, Texas and renamed them the Spurs.

Almost all maintain Sunday Schools, and many host or maintain private nursery-schools, primary schools, regional high schools and universities. After missing the playoffs for the first time in their existence in 1972-1973, the team was put up for sale. Children's ministries are considered fundamental in most Lutheran churches. In fact, during the 1970-1971 season, the name "Dallas" was dropped in favor of "Texas" and an attempt was made to make the team a regional one, playing games in Fort Worth, Texas as well as Lubbock, Texas but this proved a failure and the team returned full-time to Dallas in time for the 1971-1972 season. Johann Sebastian Bach, a devout Lutheran, composed music for the Lutheran church. The team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in Dallas. Many Lutheran churches have active music ministries, including choirs, hand-bell choirs, children's choirs and sometimes carillon societies (to ring bells in a bell tower). The San Antonio Spurs started out as the Dallas Chaparrals of the original version of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967.

Lutheran hymns are sometimes known as chorales, and Luther himself composed hymns and hymn tunes, the most famous of which is "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" ("Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott"). The San Antonio Spurs are a National Basketball Association team based in San Antonio, Texas. Lutherans generally place great emphasis on a liturgical approach to worship services; music also forms a large part of a traditional Lutheran service. 50 - David Robinson. House, 1950-1957. 44 - George Gervin. Saint Louis, Mo. : Concordia Pub. 32 - Sean Elliott.

Christian Dogmatics. 13 - James Silas. LCMS Perspective: Pieper, Franz. 00 - Johnny Moore. ELCA Perspective: Braaten, Carl E., Principles of Lutheran Theology Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983. Chuck "The Rifleman" Person. For an overview of Lutheran theology, see:. Malik Rose.

Most Lutherans also teach:. Terry Cummings. They teach that, at death, Christians are immediately taken into the presence of God in Heaven, where they await the resurrection of the body at the second coming of Christ. Steve Kerr. Lutherans believe that all who trust in Jesus alone can be sure of their salvation, for it is in Christ's work and his promises in which their surety lies. Avery "The Little General" Johnson. In His death, death is destroyed, our debt paid for and our sins forgiven. Sean "Ninja" Elliott.

Because He is a man, He could die. Willie Anderson. Because He is God, He is sinless and so a worthy sacrifice, without spot or blemish. Alvin Robertson. In the person of Jesus Christ, Lutherans believe God and Man meet. Johnny Moore. Lutherans teach that salvation is possible only because of the birth, perfect life of obedience, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Artis "The A-Train" Gilmore.

Even faith itself is seen as a gift of God, created in the hearts of Christians by the work of the Holy Spirit when they hear God's Word proclaimed, and when they are baptized. James "Captain Late" Silas. Lutherans believe that individuals receive this gift of salvation by faith alone -- a full and complete trust in God's promises to forgive and to save. David "The Admiral" Robinson. God has intervened in this world because He loves sinners and does not want them to be damned to Hell, and, by His grace alone -- His free gift of mercy -- a person is forgiven, adopted as a child of God, and given eternal salvation. Moses Malone - 2001. Every human thought and deed is colored by sin and sinful motives. George "The Iceman" Gervin - 1996.

Lutherans teach that sinners cannot do anything to satisfy God's justice. G-#11 Mike Wilks (Rice). What condemns them is that they are sinful from the start. G-#14 Beno Udrih (Slovenia). For Lutherans, it is not actual sins -- the sinful acts committed by an individual -- that damn someone. F-#3 Glenn Robinson (Purdue). Because of this Original Sin -- the sin from which all other sins come -- all descendents of Adam and Eve (thus, all humans) are born in sin and are sinners. C-#8 Radoslav "Rasho" Nesterovic (Slovenia).

However, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, trusting in their own strength, knowledge and wisdom. F/C-#34 Tony Massenburg (Maryland). Lutherans believe God made the world, humanity included, perfect, holy and sinless. F/C-#4 Sean Marks (California). The central teaching of Lutheranism is the doctrine of salvation by God's grace alone (Sola Gratia), through faith alone (Sola Fide) for the sake of Christ's merit alone (Solus Christus). F-#43 Linton Johnson III (Tulane). Those who hold to the former reject modern liberal scholarship, while those that hold to the latter embrace it. F/C-#5 Robert Horry (Alabama).

Some Lutheran church bodies also teach Biblical inerrancy. Others adopt the viewpoint that the Bible contains God's Word, but is essentially a human document, subject to error in non-spiritual matters. G-#23 Devin Brown (Texas-San Antonio). For this reason, Lutherans who follow the Book of Concord closely, especially conservative Lutherans, often refer to themselves as Confessional Lutherans. Other Lutherans, who agree with the main teachings of the Lutheran Confessions, but may take exception to some of its doctrine, subscribe to the Book of Concord in so far as they are in harmony with Holy Scripture. G-#17 Brent Barry (Oregon State). Traditionally, Lutheran pastors, congregations and church bodies agree to teach in harmony with the Book of Concord because it teaches and faithfully explains the Word of God. PG-#9 Tony Parker (France). Lutherans also hold that the Holy Scripture is explained and interpreted by the Book of Concord -- a series of Confessions of faith composed by Lutherans in the 16th Century. SG-#20 Emanuel "Manu" Ginobili (Argentina).

One of the signature teachings of the Lutheran Reformation is the teaching named Sola scriptura -- "Scripture alone." Lutherans believe that the Bible is divinely inspired and is the only standard by which teachings and doctrines can be judged. C-#2 Nazr Mohammed (Kentucky). Thus, approximately 1 out of every 20 Christians in the world is a Lutheran. SF-#12 Bruce Bowen (Cal State-Fullerton). Today, approximately 1 out every 4 Christians in the world is a Protestant, and 1 out of every 5 Protestants in the world is a Lutheran. PF-#21 Tim Duncan (Wake Forest). Because Luther sparked this mass movement, he is known as the father of the Protestant Reformation, and the father of Protestantism in general.

In the years and decades following Luther's posting of the 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg church, large numbers of Europeans left the Roman Church, including the vast majority of Germanic people (the only Germanics who remained in the Catholic church were those under the domain and/or influence of Catholic Austria and Bavaria or the electoral archbishops of Mainz, Cologne, and Trier). Luther and his followers began a large exodus from the Catholic Church known as the Protestant Reformation. This book is still used today, and is referred to as the Book of Concord. This document is known as the Formula of Concord, and in 1580, all documents were bound and distributed in a volume titled The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

In 1577, the next generation of Lutheran theologians gathered the work of the previous generation to define the doctrine of the persisting Lutheran church. However, the Lutheran movement was far from defeated. After the conclusion of the Schmalkald War, Charles V attempted to impose Catholic religious doctrine on the territories that he had defeated. These princes would ally to create the Schmalkaldic League in 1531, which lead to the Schmalkald War that pitted the Lutheran princes of the Schmalkaldic League against the Catholic forces of Charles V.

Several of the German princes (and later, kings and princes of other countries) signed the document to define "Lutheran" territories. At the Diet, Philipp Melanchthon presented a written summary of Lutheran beliefs called the Augsburg Confession. Lutheranism would become known as a separate movement after the 1530 Diet of Augsburg, which was convened by Charles V to try to stop the growing Protestant movement. But the 1529 session, also meeting Speyer, the decision the previous Diet of Speyer was reversed — despite the strong protests of the Lutheran princes and free cities (giving rise to the term protestant).

At the 1526 session of the Diet, meeting that year in Speyer, it was decided that, until a General Council could meet and settle the theological issues raised by Martin Luther, the Edict of Worms would not be enforced and each Prince could decide if Lutheran teachings and worship would be allowed in his territories (Cuius regio, eius religio). The conflict would erupt even further into a religious war, fueled by the political climate of the Holy Roman Empire and strong personalities on both sides. What had started as a strictly theological and academic debate had now turned into something of a social and political conflict as well, pitting Luther and his German supporters against the king of Spain (the francophone Charles V who also ruled the Low Countries, the New World and the Holy Roman Empire -- of which Germany was then a part), and the Italian Pope, as well as the supporters of the latter two. Shortly after Luther escaped, Charles V issued the Edict of Worms, which outlawed Luther and his followers, declared Luther and his followers heretics, and banned Luther's writings.

Luther remained in hiding for some time, all the while continuing to write and develop his ideas. Luther had been granted a Safe Conduct to travel to and from his trial, but remembering how a similar promise had been violated in the case of Jan Hus, Luther's supporters prevailed upon him to escape from Worms in the dark of night, before he too could be seized and executed. So help me God, Amen!" --Martin Luther, April 16, 1521. Here I stand, I can do no other.

I cannot and will not retract .. Unless therefore, I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture .. Luther went to Worms (pronounced Vorms), but when called upon by Catholic officials to recant, Luther made a historic stand, saying the following: "I cannot submit my faith either to the Pope or to the Councils, because it is clear as day they have frequently erred and contradicted each other. So instead, Luther was to be summoned to appear before the Diet of Worms, where he was to recant his ideas publicly.