Five hundred years ago this Oct. 31, the young monk Martin Luther posted a long list of debating points, known as the “95 Theses,” on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther chose that date to post his ideas, not because it was Hallowe’en, as we know it, but because it was the eve before All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1, when most people would attend church and see the notices posted.

He never wanted a church separate from the Roman church. He never disrespected his monk’s vows. He never ever wanted a church to be named after him.

Printers took hold of Luther’s statements and saw to it that they were reproduced in Latin and German and sent all over the Roman Catholic domain. It should be noted that many of the concerns stated a half-millennium ago have been heard and rectified by the Roman Church. Few people understand why they were significant then, but they started a movement which splintered the Roman church into the many denominations and non-denominations we have today.

Luther emphasized God’s willingness to forgive people for their wrong-doing and that other people, including the church, did not have to intervene in that relationship of forgiveness. We often call the forgiving love God has for God’s creation: Grace … undeserved, freely given, undemanding.

Luther contended, with St. Paul, that we are made right with God by faith in God’s grace. And that Jesus, the living Word of God, offers us the best way to understand God. We learn of Jesus from the scriptures and not from doctrines that people have devised based on traditions and church councils.

Thus were born the “Three Solas” that Luther proclaimed along with his love of Jesus Christ: Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura. Grace alone, faith alone, scripture alone.

Luther is remembered for translating the Bible and the worship service into the language of the people (German), for writing hymns and encouraging congregational singing, for encouraging clergy to marry and raise families. His household, managed by his wife Katharina (“Katie”), was known for hospitality, song, children, and welcome offered to students and traveling scholars.

Today, the Lutheran church of which I am a part (the ELCA, or Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) seeks to remember the good of the Reformation while retaining the good of the mother Roman Catholic church.

The local congregation I serve as interim pastor (Dungeness Valley Lutheran) is known in the community for its generosity toward the community and for its unconditional welcome to all.

We celebrate this important anniversary in our church history, while remembering that the church — alive in Christ — is always reforming.

Rev. Beth Orling is Interim Pastor at Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church.