A tribute to the monumental influence of John Calvin in the 500 years since his birth. / What legacies, still enduring today, have John Calvin and Calvinism given to the church and society in Europe and North America? An international group of scholars tackles that question in this volume honoring Calvin's 500th birthday. These chapters together provide a comprehensive and accessible introduction to Calvin's life and thought, the history of the Reformation in Switzerland and worldwide, and his continuing relevance for ecclesial, social, and political questions today. / Contributors: Philip Benedict, James D. Bratt, Emidio Campi, Wulfert de Greef, Christopher Elwood, Eva-Maria Faber, Eric Fuchs, Ulrich H. J. Krtner, Christian Link, Christian Moser, Andrew Pettegree, Christoph Strohm, Mario Turchetti./ The essays in this book fit beautifully together to provide a solid, complete work that gives precise insight into the many different facets of Calvin and Calvinism. The high-level research found here clearly shows the great impact that Calvin has had on both church and society. It is a great pleasure to see Calvin here anew. Eberhard Busch / University of Gttingen / That John Calvin made a deep and lasting impact on many aspects of history is common knowledge but the character of the man and the nature of his influence are perhaps as controversial as any that can be named. It is thus a challenge to examine even a fraction of the many ways that Calvins life and thought have contributed to the shaping of later ages in both church and society. This volume offers essays on key points from an appropriately international group of authors appreciative but critical, drawing on a rich range of recent scholarship, presented in a pleasing and accessible form. It is a fine place for the new reader of Calvin to get a glimpse of his impact, while offering a fresh summary of some significant issues for more advanced students of the Reformer. Elsie Anne McKee / Princeton Theological Seminary / Hirzel and Sallmann have succeeded in gathering essays by an illustrious circle of experts both historians and theologians on important areas of Calvins thought and impact. Ranging from an insignificant city at the edge of the Swiss Confederation in the 1530s to the Accra Confession of 2004, these essays will serve to correct popular misconceptions. A fine introduction for a broader readership that wants more than mere armchair theology. Peter Opitz / University of Zurich

Die Frage nach der Zukunft der Kirche ist so alt wie die Kirche selbst. In pluraler Gesellschaft stellt sie sich heute unter ganz eigenen Vorzeichen. Der Sammelband zu Ehren von Pfarrer Dr. h. c. Thomas Wipf greift die Fragestellung aus interdisziplinarer und okumenischer Perspektive auf und diskutiert zentrale Herausforderungen gegenwartiger, zukunftsfahiger Kirche. Die Autorinnen und Autoren beleuchten das komplexe Thema aus theologischer, kirchen- und gesellschaftspolitischer Sicht. Mit Beitragen von Michel Bollag, Bischof Prof. Dr. Michael Bunker, Pfr. Dr. h. c. Peter Bukowski, Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Ingolf U. Dalferth, Christine Egerszegi-Obrist, Thomas Flugge, Mgr. Prof. Dr. Peter Henrici, Pfr. Dr. Martin Ernst Hirzel, Dr. Hella Hoppe, Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Wolfgang Huber, Rev. Dr. Dr. h. c. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Rifa'at Lenzin, PD Dr. Frank Mathwig, Pfr. Rudiger Noll, Prof. Dr. Rene Pahud de Mortanges, Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Parmentier, Dr. Silvia Pfeiffer, Bischof Martin Schindehutte, Dr. h. c. Peter Schmid, Andre Schneider, Pfr. Paolo Tognina, Rev. Dr. Olaf Fykse Tveit, Dr. Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf. Peter Schmid, Dr. theol. h. c., Jahrgang 1951, ist seit 2003 Mitglied des Rates des SEK. Frank Mathwig, PD Dr. theol., Jahrgang 1960, ist seit 2005 Beauftragter fur Theologie und Ethik am Institut fur Theologie und Ethik des SEK. Martin Ernst Hirzel, Pfr. Dr. theol., Jahrgang 1965, ist seit 2006 Beauftragter fur Okumene und Religionsgemeinschaften des SEK. Thomas Flugge, dipl. theol., Journalist (FJ S), Jahrgang 1978, ist seit 2007 Beauftragter fur Offentlichkeitsarbeit des Schweizerischen Evangelischen\x0D\x0AKirchenbundes SEK.