In Sympathy: Martin Deppe
Rev. Martin Deppe, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026.
A Time for Burning Showings and Conversations
CA2BC hosted discussions about the 1966 film A Time for Burning during the summer of 2026.
An extremely passionate and moving documentary, William C. Jersey's A Time for Burning explores the civil rights issue from one of the least likely of vantage points (a white, middle-class congregation in Nebraska) and reveals some of the more powerful observations about race and equality to come out of the '60s. Jersey's focal point is the Reverend L. William Youngdahl, who attempts to inspire his parishioners, all white and Lutheran, to reach out and make a connection with black Lutherans in the state. Youngdahl quickly finds himself at the center of a conflict that mirrors the nationwide struggle, with representatives from the church, community, and protest movements speaking for and against his desire to unite those of a common faith. Rejected by all three networks, Burning's unflinching exploration of the state of race relations in the United States and the human heart earned it an Academy Award nomination in 1968, and a place on the National Film Registry in 2005.
CA2BC is pleased to announce that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will be partnering with CA2BC on the showing of A Time for Burning. The ELCA has copyright ownership over A Time for Burning and has approved the CA2BC to show this film publicly.
Watch trailer for A Time for Burning
Watch A Time for Burning on PBS
Locations and dates for the discussions
- Sun., Aug. 16, 11 a.m.
Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Unity Temple Community Center, 1019 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL - Sun., Aug. 23, 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
United Methodist Church of Libertyville, 429 Brainerd Ave.
This free event will include lunch and discussion. Learn more and register. - Tues., Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Library, 393 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn - Thurs., Sept. 3, 6:45 p.m.
Congregations Networking for Social Justice, and Together is Better Alliance
Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., Oak Park, IL - Additional sites are forthcoming.