			Calendar	Photos	Links	Downloads	Library	SEARCH>>
Events	Ministries	Education		Beliefs	Staff	Worship	Youth	Visitors

About the History of the Lutheran Church

Knowing Lutheranism's rich history can help make you a more effective church member.

YOU are a part of your church's heritage.

LET IT ENRICH YOUR LIFE!

We've provided you with a few questions & answers to guide you to a better understanding of the history of the Lutheran Church. You may want to learn more about the history of St. John Lutheran Church. If you have a question, comment, or concern please contact our office so we may assist you.

Why should I know about Lutheran History?
Who was Martin Luther?
What was the reformation in Germany?
How did Lutheranism spread throughout Europe?
How did Lutheranism spread to the "New World"?
Who was the "Father" of American Lutheranism?
How did Lutheranism grow toward church unity?
What is the Lutheran church like TODAY?

Why should I know about Lutheran History

It make being Lutheran more meaningful and helps members better understand the church's beliefs and its origin, respect the church's traditions, feel united in spirit with earlier generations of Lutherans, and appreciate the church's role in daily living.

Who was Martin Luther?

M artin Luther was the leader of the Protestant Reformation during the early 1500s. His teachings became the CORNERSTONE of the church that bears his name. Learn more about Martin Luther by following our links about his early years, teachings, 95 Theses, reforms, career, and seal.

What was the reformation in Germany?

During the 1500s, political economic and social changes, together with a new religious doctrines and practices, formed a true "reformation" in German life. In the years following Luther's clashes with the church, the Reformist movement grew rapidly. More and more people accepted Luther's teachings and those of other reform leaders. Various groups organized and broke away from the Roman Catholic Church. The 1500s were a time of political turmoil, as German princes separated from the Holy Roman Empire to rule their own states. Oppressed peasants began to organize and rebel against feudalism. As a result, changes in Christian doctrine took place in an environment of rapid social change in Germany.

By 1526, Masses were being celebrated in German rather than Latin, and various German territories had established their own churches, separate from Rome. The reformers began to be called "Protestants" when they protested theological rulings made by the Diet of Speyer in 1529. In an attempt to reach a compromise, Catholic and Protestant leaders met at Augsburg in 1530. Philip Melanchthon, Luther's close friend, wrote "The Augsburg Confession" to explain Luther's position and to try to reconcile Catholic and Protestant beliefs. This document later became one of the official doctrinal statements of the Lutheran church. The Peace of Augsburg was signed in 1555, this agreement stated that no member of the empire would make war against another on religious grounds. Each territory would be either Catholic or Protestant, determined by the ruling prince's religion. Subjects were free to move to territories where their religion was practiced. In large cities where both religions had been practiced, people could make a choice.

The Book of Concord is a collection of Lutheran writings that sought to reconcile doctrinal disputes and clarify beliefs. This book contains "The Augsburg Confession," "The Smalcald Articles," "The Formula of Concord," the "Small Catechism," the "Large Catechism," and more. Published in 1580, the Book of Concord helped lay the foundation for modern Lutheranism. Lutheranism soon spread outward from Germany.

Where did Lutheranism spread throughout Europe?

By the end of the 1500s, Lutheranism had become the established church in all of the Scandinavian countries and had gained influence in many other countries as well.

How did Lutheranism spread to the "New World?"

The promise of religious liberty and economic advancement drew many Lutherans to America. The earliest and largest groups of Lutheran immigrants came from Germany and Scandinavia. European Lutherans seeking religious freedom formed new congregations from Georgia to Nova Scotia and began moving to the western frontier. In 1817, the year that marked the 300th anniversary of Luther's "95 Theses," there were already 650 Lutheran congregations and a theological seminary n the United States. In 1820, the first attempt to establish a general, national Lutheran body (the General Synod) took place in Hagerstown, MD. This synod was dominant in the United States. In 1826, soon after the founding of the Gettysburg Seminary in Gettysburg, PA, this school became the main theological seminary for Lutherans. Gettysburg College was established as a separate institution. Both are representative of the Lutheran emphasis on higher education. In 1840, newly arrived Lutheran immigrants who settled in the Midwest organized new synods. These were mainly independent of Eastern churches, in part due to theological differences. In 1847, led by C.F.W. Walther, a group of Saxons (originally settled in Missouri in 1839) joined with other conservative congregations in Ohio and Michigan to form the Missouri Synod. From 1850-1900, new waves of immigrants joined other Lutherans in organizing numerous independent territorial synods. These were largely based on ethnic heritage and geographical location. The 20th Century brought growth toward church unity among the various synods. Many independent church groups merged to form a more unified Lutheran church.

Who was the "Father" of American Lutheranism?

Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711-1787) was the "Father" of American Lutheranism. He arrived in Pennsylvania from Germany in 1742 to serve as pastor for several small Lutheran congregations. His teaching and organizing skills soon made him a respected leader. Among the churches he served was the Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe, PA--today the oldest unaltered Lutheran church building in the U.S. In Philadelphia, Muhlenberg organized the first meeting of Lutheran clergy and laymen in America. The meeting led to the formation of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, which remained a strong influence in the Lutheran community for many years. Muhlenberg was one of the authors of the first Lutheran constitution, which described congregational organization and gave parishioners a voice in church affairs.

How did Lutheranism grow toward church unity?

There were early attempts to unify Lutheran groups. These groups were divided by language, culture, and doctrine. These included: The General Synod (1820), The General Council of 13 synods--Ft. Wayne, Ind. (1867), The Synodical Conference of Midwestern Churches (1872), and The United Synod, South (1886).

In 1888, a common service developed unity further. The order of worship, published in English by the Eastern General Synod and the Midwestern General Council, and the United Synod, South was then used by nearly all American Lutherans. As relations among the synods improved, independent church groups merged to form a more unified Lutheran church.

In 1918, upon the anniversary of the 400th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, was the forming of the United Lutheran Church in America. This united the General Council, General Synod, and the United Synod, South. In 1919, American Lutherans rallied to support the Allies during WWI. The National Lutheran Council was an outgrowth of this effort. (It was later replaced by the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A., which disbanded in 1988 after the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In 1930, the American Lutheran Conference brought together several Midwestern synods, including the Ohio, Iowa and Buffalo synods. They became a block within the National Lutheran Council. In 1960, synods from the American Lutheran Conference (except the Augustana Church and Lutheran Free Church) formed the American Lutheran Church. The Lutheran Free Church eventually joined in 1963.

In 1961, the unification of the United Lutheran Church in America, Augustana Church, the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (Danish) and the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church formed the Lutheran Church in America.

In 1988, the American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church in America and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches joined together as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. With more than 5 million members, the new church became the country 4th largest Protestant denomination.

What is the Lutheran church like TODAY?

Most American Lutherans belong to one of these groups: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, or The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod work together in many areas of Christian service and education.

Lutherans live in North, Central, and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Guinea. Most groups belong to the Lutheran World Federation, founded in 1947. It serves as a worldwide Lutheran organization.

As the church moves toward the 21st century, shared Lutheran goals include: to remain true to the Gospel and to proclaim it to the world, to serve God faithfully in everyday life through loving service to others, and to seek Christian unity while maintaining a Lutheran identity.

Home Contact Site Map Downloads Employment Policies Help

Back