The priests of the Diocese of Salt Lake City gathered for their annual fall convocation to engage in a week of fellowship and faith formation. This year's theme centered on soteriology, which is the theology regarding the doctrine of salvation.
Brandon Peterson, an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Utah, served as the speaker for the convocation. Peterson, who holds a doctoral degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame and is a Cathedral of the Madeleine parishioner, delivered seven presentations based on his book, Christ the Savior: Historical Models for an Ecumenical Future. Co-written with Robert Krieg, the book uses various Catholic and Protestant theologians to address the question of why the cross is significant.
Peterson noted that while many theologians have addressed the mechanics of salvation and atonement, there has been no ecumenical council of the Catholic Church that has explicitly defined how salvation or atonement works. He stated that the message of salvation is central to the Gospel and involves understanding how God encounters human beings and how that encounter changes them.
The presentations prompted discussion among the clergy regarding how to minister to people. Father David Bittmenn, the pastor of Saint George Parish in St. George, noted that the question of why the cross exists is a significant one that can be pondered for a lifetime. Bittmenn observed that the talks included references to theologians such as Augustine, Anselm, and Abelard, and noted that the Christian doctrine of salvation involves a mixture of mercy, love, justice, and the will of the Father.
The convocation serves as an ongoing formation opportunity for priests. Father Martin Diaz, a retired priest for the diocese who continues to oversee ongoing formation, said the gatherings allow priests to revisit studies from many years ago to refresh their preaching and their understanding of God.
