Dr Maurice Schild
Emeritus Lecturer
About
Maurice Schild was born in 1936 at Eudunda, SA, and grew up at Point Pass, the original home of Immanuel College.
He studied at the University of Adelaide from 1954 to 1957, and concurrently at Immanuel Theological Seminary in 1954 and 1957. On the recommendation of Hermann Sasse, he received a Deutscher Academischer Austauschdienst grant to study at Heidelberg University in West Germany, and travelled there in 1958. Two years later, he received an LWF scholarship to study in the area of Historical Theology. He completed his studies in Heidelberg in 1964.
After his return from Europe, he served as a pastor at Doncaster, Victoria, from 1965 to 1969. Maurice and Beryl, nee Engler, were married in 1966. They have two sons, Basil and Derek. Beryl was the first deaconess in the UELCA, and was a social worker when she and Maurice married.
He was called to lecture in church history at Luther Seminary in 1970. He lectured in medieval, Reformation and modern church history, in Lutheran confessional theology, comparative symbolics, liturgical history, the history of Australian Lutheranism, and ecumenical theology.
Maurice's scholarship is attested by the extensive list of his published writings. His publications in German indicate his standing as a scholar overseas.
Outside the seminary Maurice has made valued contributions by serving on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations (1968–75) and, subsequently, on some of its subcommittees. He was a member of the Department of Liturgics (1971–87) and a member of the Commission on Social and Bioethical Questions (1988–2000).
Maurice's ecumenical concern is documented also by long-standing membership in the Adelaide Theological Circle, by occasional lecturing in the Adelaide College of Divinity and editorship of Colloquium, the journal of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Theological Studies (1980–86). He has also shown a passion for social justice and reconciliation.
Maurice retired from lecturing at the Seminary in 2000. He has edited the Journal of Friends of the Lutheran Archives since 2006. In his retirement, he has continued to serve the German-speaking congregations that meet in the North Adelaide and Bethlehem Churches.
ALC positions held
- Lecturer in Church History
Qualifications in detail
- Bachelor of Arts (University of Adelaide, 1957)
- Universitaets-Examen in Evangelischer Theologie, (Heidelberg University, West Germany, 1961)
- Doctor of Theology, (Heidelberg University, West Germany, 1964)
Papers and publications
Books
1996
The Lutherans in Australia: Religious Community Profiles. Edited by P.J. Hughes. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing.
1970
Abendländische Bibelvorreden bis zur Lutherbibel, vol.39 of Quellen und Forschungen zur Reformationsgeschicht., Gütersloh: G.Mohn.
Articles
2016
‘Hermann Sasse: a life in three cities.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 50, no. 1: 29–39.
2015
‘Gospel and canon in Luther’s Bible Prefaces.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 49, no. 2: 60–73.
2009
‘Bibles and the Luther Bible: Scriptures at the Lutheran Archives, Adelaide.’ Journal of Friends of the Lutheran Archives 19: 53–62.
2007
‘The Aranda and Loritja tribes in Central Australia, by Carl Strehlow: the centenary of publication.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 41, no. 3: 180–182.
2006
Review: Jahrbuch für Schlesische Kirchengeschichte. Journal of Friends of the Lutheran Archives 16: 86–87.
‘Temporal power and Christian limits.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 40, no. 2: 80–87.
2005
‘Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the burden of discipleship in contemporary Australia.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 39, no. 2&3: 169–180.
2004
‘Neuendettelsau Pastors and Australian Lutheranism.’ Journal of Friends of the Lutheran Archives 14: 19–32.
‘Postwar rejuvenation, 1945–1970.’ in Herbert Mees, ed. A German church in the garden of God: Melbourne Trinity Lutheran Church 1853–2003, Historical Society for Trinity German Lutheran Church, 327–356.
‘Trinity in a multicultural setting, 1970–2003.’ In A German church in the garden of God: Melbourne Trinity Lutheran Church 1853–2003, edited by Herbert Mees. Historical Society for Trinity German Lutheran Church, 377–405.
2002
‘Lutheran identity in crisis? an extended review.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 36, no. 2: 89–96.
2000
‘Carl Strehlow’s work on the Aranda and Loritja tribes—a plea to publish.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 34, no. 3: 147–153.
1999
‘An Australian Lutheran perspective on church fellowship.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 33, no. 1: 3–16.
1998
‘Hermann Sasse’ in Profile des Luthertums: Biographien zum 20. Jahrhundert, ed. Wolf-Dieter Hauschild, Gütersloher Verlaghaus, Gütersloh, 591–604.
1997
‘Kierkegaard’s attack on Christendom.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 31, no. 1: 11–19.
‘Remembering Melanchthon.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 31, no. 3: 99–104.
1996
‘Luther as Comforter.’ Perspectives on Martin Luther: Papers from The Luther Symposium, ed. Mark Worthing, Luther Seminary, North Adelaide, 9–20.
1995
‘Bugenhagens De coniugio episcoporum et diaconorum.’ In Kirche in der Schule Luthers: Festschrift fur Joachim Heubach, Martin Luther Verlag, Erlangen, 281–90.
‘Sasse and Bonhoeffer: churchmen on the brink.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 29, no. 1: 3–10.
‘Betrothed and in prison: the correspondence of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Maria von Wedemeyer.’ Colloquium 27, no. 1: 30–39.
‘Social Justice.’ In Good Question! Edited by Brian Schwarz. Adelaide, SA: Openbook.
1994
‘Historic heritage—lively hope: forces in Lutheranism transported to Australia.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 28, no. 1: 3–11.
1993
‘On the threshold of Pietism – Spener’s Frankfurt letters.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 27, no. 3: 122–126.
1992
‘Approaches to Bugenhagen’s Psalms Commentary (1524).’ Lutheran Theological Journal 26, no. 1: 63–71.
“‘Funeral sermon for Dr Daniel Overduin”.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 26, no. 3: 147–149.
‘Bonhoeffer, Berlin and beyond.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 26, no. 3: 175–178.
1991
‘Thomas Müntzer translated and reassessed: a review essay.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 25, no. 3: 172–178.
1990
‘Being a Christ to the neighbour: Luther and the development of human rights.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 24, no. 1: 11–17.
1989
‘Euthanasia and the Church.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 23, no. 2: 51–60.
1988
‘More frequent communion.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 22, no. 1: 41–43.
1986
‘Observations on Osiander’s Catechism sermons.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 20, no. 2&3: 97–107.
1985
‘John Bugenhagen: theological existence and practice.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 19, no. 1: 2–11.
1984
‘Notes on the reformation of Catholic Luther interpretation in Germany: a correction from the pulpit.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 18, no. 1: 29–36.
1983
‘Luthers Gedankengut und seine Ausprägung in Australien: Erwartung und Möglichkeit.’ In Hat Luther uns erreicht?, edited by H. C. Knuth & C. Krause. Hannover: Lutherisches Verlaghaus.
1982
‘Ehe/Eherecht/Ehescheidung.VII. Reformationszeit.’ In Theologische Realenzyklopädie, vol.9, Berlin: W. de Gruyter, 336–46.
‘Tributes to theology at Tübingen.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 16, no. 2: 107–113.
1981
‘Die Bedeutung des lutherischen Bekenntnisses für eine Diaspora Kirche’ in Luther und die Bekenntnisschriften, vol.2, Erlangen: Martin Luther Verlag, 9–19.
‘Christian beginnings in Australia.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 15, no. 1&2: 69–78.
1980
‘Marriage matters in Erasmus and Luther.’ Reformed Theological Review 39: 69–75.
‘Reflections on Prof. G. Seebass’s lectures on the Book of Concord.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 14, no. 3: 127–129.
‘Confessional Studies on the Continent.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 14, no. 1: 30–36.
1979
‘Lutheran Confessions and Australian Diaspora.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 13, no. 2&3: 57–67.
1978
‘Luthertum im Spannungsfeld des australischen Pluralismus.’ Lutherische Kirche in der Welt 25: 130–44.
‘Reformation—dialogue—confession. European impressions 1977.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 12, no. 2: 77–81.
1976
‘Praying the Catechism and defrocking the devil: aspects of Luther’s spirituality.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 10, no. 2: 48–56.
‘The new rite of the mass and western liturgical tradition.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 10, no. 3: 97–105.
1975
‘A decade of dialogue: Roman Catholic and Lutheran conversations in the USA, 1965–1975.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 9, no. 2: 54–66.
1973
‘The primacy of love and the disqualification of disunity: a letter of Luther to the preachers of Nuremberg, 20 July 1533.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 7, no. 1: 38–41.
‘Theological literature and church salaries.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 7, no. 1: 41–42.
1971
‘Leading Motifs in some western Bible Prologues.’ Journal of Religious History 7: 99–109.
‘Patterns of Pentecostal ism: an introductory sketch.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 5, no. 2: 51–58.
1970
‘The Gospel as Prologue to Holy Scripture.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 4, no. 2: 49–56.
1969
‘On Luther’s understanding of the Word and history.’ Reformed Theological Review 28: 90–100.
1968
‘A translator interprets: Luther’s prologues in Tyndale’s New Testament.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 2, no. 2&3: 149–160.
1967
‘Luther’s doctrine of justification.’ Compass 1: 83–86.
‘On Luther and Justification.’ Lutheran Theological Journal 1, no. 1: 17–25.
