At the 2003 Northwestern Ohio Synod Assembly, the Assembly passed a resolution calling for Office of the Bishop to present a program of education to clergy and laity on the subject of Lutheran hermeneutics (Biblical interpretation) in regard to the ELCA's sexuality study.

Bishop Marcus Lohrmann led three events about hermeneutics in November, helping rostered and lay leaders grapple with how we as Lutheran Christians agree and disagree about how to read the Bible and how to use what we read. For lay people, this was an introduction, to learn about and discuss the basics of biblical interpretation. For the pastors, it was an opportunity to reflect together on how differing perspectives on interpretation impact our life and work together.

The discussion agenda included:

• Canonization: The Development of Scriptures
  How did the Bible come into being?
  
  
• Understanding the Context of Biblical Literature
  How do the original and contemporary contexts shape our understanding of the text?
  
  
• Use of Scripture in Early Christian Community
  How did Jesus and the Early Christian Writers Use Scripture?
  
  
• Lutheran Confession - Augsburg IV (Apology)
• Justification Through Faith (Romans 3:21-26 and 4:5) as a "lens" for Interpreting Scriptures
• The Bible and the Sexuality/Homosexuality Study within the Context of a Lutheran Understanding of Scripture

Evaluations from the Day of Prayer and Reflection for lay people are available below (PDF files):

• Saturday, Nov. 1 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church • Bowling Green
• Sunday, Nov. 2 at Saint Paul Lutheran Church • Upper Sandusky

Presentations from the Day of Prayer and Reflection for pastors on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at First Lutheran Church in Findlay:

• Lutheran Hermeneutics Presentation by Rev. Mary Lou Baumgartner
  
  
• The Lutheran Hermeneutic: How It Shapes My Life and Ministry (Personal Observations and Reflections) by Rev. Merlin Hoops
  
  
• The Scriptures as Objective Reality for Pastoral Ministry by Rev. David Nevergall