The conversation around biblical translation and its influence on faith communities continues to evolve, especially as scholars, pastors, and lay leaders reexamine how language shapes theology, identity, and belonging. At Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, these questions are part of an ongoing commitment to explore scripture with both rigor and compassion.
This fall, a multi-generational audience gathered in Huntington Recital Hall for a special screening of “1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture.” The film offered a vivid entry point into that larger dialogue. Some attendees wore the clothing of clergy, while others wore pride rainbows. The feeling in the room was one of curiosity and friendliness. The nearly full theatre contained students, faculty, alumni, and staff who had come in from the evening sun to watch a movie about biblical scholarship.
The movie explores the origins of Bible passages that pertain to homosexuality. It follows Kathy Boldock, a straight Christian woman, and Ed Oxford, a gay theologian, as they investigate the origins of some translations for the 1946 Revised Standard Edition of the Bible (RSV). The movie also portrays the relationship between lesbian filmmaker Sharon Roggio and her father, a fundamentalist Christan pastor.
The film screening took place during Trinity Days, an annual weekend of lectures, worship, and community conversation. The seminary continues to create spaces for this kind of inquiry, and the screening was part of that ongoing culture of thoughtful engagement.
Dr. E. Wray Bryant, professor emeritus of religion and philosophy, attended the showing to support both Trinity Days and the seminary. He is also currently teaching courses in the Old Testament and Hebrew, where translation and its difficulties are discussed.
“Doing translation is hard,” Bryant said. “And while they made a mistake, sometimes mistakes have huge consequences.”
In the post-screening discussion, Interim Dean Rev. Rachel Wrenn focused on academic discernment. She encouraged attendees to consider not only the film’s compelling storytelling but also the importance of peer review and scholarly consensus in shaping responsible theological claims. The audience weighed the emotional impact of the film against its academic strengths, and some hoped the moviemakers would eventually undergo the peer review process.
“This is a Lutheran university,” Bryant said. “It is a place where you can ask questions. I mean, that was why Luther got started in the first place. He had 95 questions that he wanted debated.”
Noticing many alumni in the audience, Bryant saw an opportunity to keep building connections.
“I was very impressed and interested in Capital alumni wanting to come into Trinity like this,” Bryant said. “They were very excited to come, very excited to see this and be a part of it. This maybe indicates that we need to figure out other events that Capital alumni want to come to.”
Looking ahead, the next Trinity Days, scheduled for October 1–2, 2026, will welcome the Rev. Dr. Mark Allan Powell, professor emeritus of the New Testament, as keynote speaker, continuing the seminary’s legacy of exploring scripture with depth, curiosity, and courage.
To learn more about Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, visit https://www.trinity.capital.edu/.