On November 11th, 2012, during the 6th International Theological Seminar of the Lutheran World Federation, Pastor Stephen J. Pietsch (watering the tree) planted a field maple tree on behalf of the Lutheran Church of Australia.
On September 18, 2017, the Planting Ceremony for the partner tree was held in the ecumenical garden of St. Marks National Theological Center, an Anglican Theological College concentrating on ecumenical work. Framed by speeches from representatives of various churches, the planting was done jointly by Bishop Edwards, Anglican Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn, and Bishop John Henderson, Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia. Rev. Dr. Stephan Pietsch (pictured), representing the Australian Lutheran College, describes: “This symbolism of the thriving tree is a powerful picture of how God’s word is first planted, then grows and then finally bears fruit, and is one of Luther’s favourite ways of describing how the Gospel works and grows, in the church, the world, and in the human heart.[…]For Luther a tree was living proof that God does miracles and creates from nothing. So it is a fitting way to commemorate the Reformation – not as a piece of past history but as a living and fruitful reality in the world today.”
by Cicero Design