Christian Cyclopedia

(ca. 1556–1625). B. Langwarden, Ostfriesland; Ref. theol.; educ. Wittenberg, Marburg, Geneva; preacher Friesland; prof. dogmatics Franeker. Upheld orthodox Calvinism* in Holland against Arminianism*; took part in 1618–19 Syn. of Dordrecht.* Works include De principiis Christianorum dogmatum; Episolica disceptatio de fide justificante, deque nostra coram Deo justificatione; Declaratio responsionis D. C. Vorstii.

Lübeck, Peace or Treaty of.

See Thirty Years' War.

Lübeck, Vincent

(ca. 1654–1740). B. probably Padingbüttel, near Dorum, Hannover, Ger.; composer; organist Stade 1675, Hamburg 1702–40. Works include cantatas and choral-preludes.

Lubin, Eilhard

(Eilhardus; 1565–1621). B. Westerstede in Ammerland, Oldenburg, Ger.; educ. Leipzig, Cologne, Helmstedt, Strasbourg, Jena, Marburg, Rostock. Traced evil to non-ens. Works include Clavis graecae linguae; Phosphorus, de prima causa & natura mali; commentaries on poets and Pauline epistles.

Lucaris, Cyril

(Lukaris; Kyrillos Loukaris; 1572–1638). Eastern* Orthodox prelate; b. Crete; educ. Padua; ordained; opposed union of E and W Chs.; condemned by several E Orthodox syns.; opposed by E prelates and theologians and by Jesuits; murdered by Turkish soldiers because he was suspected of rousing the Cossacks. Works include Confessio fidei, which shows strong Ref. influence. See also Eastern Orthodox Standards of Doctrine, C.

G. A. Hadjiantoniou(s) (Chatzeantoniou), Protestant Patriarch (Richmond, Virginia, 1961).

Luciani, Albino.

See Popes, 36.

Lucianic Text.

See Lucian of Antioch.

Lucian of Antioch

(ca. 240–312). Mem. of Antioch School (see Exegesis, 4; Schools, Early Christian, 4); martyr; b. probably Antioch or Samosata; educ. Edessa; presbyter Antioch. His theol. traces all to creation; everything, including Logos,* is created out of nothing by an act of God's will. Emphasized literal meaning of Scriptures; his rev. of the LXX and the 4 gospels (called Lucianic text, or Byzantine [or Syrian] text) conflated variants and removed crudities and obscurities and became standard in Syria, Asia Minor, and Constantinople; most surviving MSS of the 4 gospels (thus Textus* Receptus and KJV) embody his text.

G. Bardy, Recherches sur saint Lucien d'Antioche et son école (Paris, 1936).

Lucian of Samosata

(ca. 115–ca. 200). Pagan satirist. Apart from literary significance, important for cultural and religious information; treatment of philos. superficial: regarded Christians with contemptuous indifference and depicted them as kind but credulous. Works include De morte Peregrini; Alexander seu Pseudomantis.

Luciferians.

Schismatic followers of Lucifer (d. ca. 371), anti-Arian bp. of Calaris (Caralis; Carales; now Cagliari), Sardinia; organized on Novatian principles (see Novatianism); returned to ch. ca. beginning of 5th c. See also Gregory of Elvira.

Lucius, Paul Ernst

(Ernest; 1852–1902). Alsatian Luth. theol.; b. Ernolsneim, near Strasbourg; educ. Strasbourg, Zurich, Paris, Jena, Berlin; prof. ch. hist. and miss. hist. Strasbourg; liberal. Works include Bonaparte und die protestantischen Kirchen Frankreichs; Der Essenismus in seinem Verhältnis zum Judentum; Die Therapeuten und ihre Steilung in der Geschichte der Askese; Die Anfänge des Heiligenkults in der christlichen Kirche.

Lücke.

See also Chant; Liturgics.

Luther's Works, Am. ed., LIII, ed. H. T. Lehmann and U. S. Leupold (Philadelphia, 1965), 3–188; WA 12, 31–37; 19, 44–113.

Luther, Martin

(November 10, 1483–February 18, 1546). “Doctor biblicus”; Father of Protestantism; founder of Lutheranism; b. and d. Eisleben, Ger.

1. Information on ancestry is limited. Family name variously spelled, e.g., Chlotar, Luder, Ludher, Luder, Lauther, Lutter. The ancestral lands were at Möhra, near Eisenach, Thuringia. Luther's grandparents, Heine and Margarethe (nee Lindemann) Luder, had 4 sons. The oldest, Gross-Hans (“Big Hans”), married Margarethe Ziegler (some say Lindemann) and moved to Eisleben, at the E foot of the lower Harz mountains, to become a miner. Their oldest son was bap. Martin on November 11, St. Martin's Day, in nearby St. Peter's Ch. The family moved to Mansfeld 1484; industry and thrift improved their circumstances; by 1491 Hans Luther had become an influential citizen.

2. M. Luther's childhood was that of a normal RC boy in a burgher home. His father wanted him to become a lawyer and sent him to 3 preparatory schools (in Mansfeld, Magdeburg, and Eisenach). In Mansfeld he received training preparatory to academy work. It was probably in Magdeburg, under instruction of the Brethren* of the Common Life at the Cathedral School, that he first saw a (Lat.) Bible. in Eisenach he fortunately moved in the Schalbe-Cotta family circles, where he seems to have roomed at the Cottas (see Cotta, Ursula) and boarded at the Schalbes, whose son he tutored. Both families were very devout. A frequent guest was Johann Braun, vicar at St. Mary's Ch. and in charge of the Franciscan monastery at the foot of the Wartburg, a castle near Eisenach; around him gathered a group of young people interested in music and poetry.

3. In spring 1501 Luther entered the U. of Erfurt, which had ca. 2,000 students (see also Trutvetter, Jodocus). In May 1505 he entered the Erfurt Law School; obtained a copy of Corpus* iuris canonici to aid his studies. Then, quite unexpectedly, July 17, 1505, he entered the Black Cloister of the local Augustinian* Hermits (their black garb gave it its name). Later he often spoke of a severe thunderstorm which had wrung from him a prayer to St. Anne and a vow to become a monk.

4. Luther did not find peace of mind and soul in the monastery, but he determined to keep his vows. He was ordained priest in spring 1507, celebrated his 1st mass May 2, 1507, in presence of his father, other relatives, and many friends. He continued his studies 1507–12, acquiring the degrees of Biblicus (or lector), Formatus, Sententiarius, and ThD The more he studied medieval theol. and the more he became involved in the labyrinth of scholasticism,* the more confused he became. The main problem which disturbed him: How may I render God gracious to my soul?

5. Luther was called to Wittenberg 1508 to teach moral philos. He was recalled to Erfurt 1509, perhaps to assist his old Augustinian teacher Johannes Nathin (15th–16th c.) instruct novitiates. In November 1510 Luther and another monk set out on foot for Rome to help settle some matters pertaining to the Augustinian Order. They reached Rome January 1511. The pope was in Romagna. All cardinals except 2 were absent. Few relic chambers were open. Luther was shocked by the worldliness of some of the It. clergy. He climbed the Scala Sancta (see Lateran), praying for his grandparents.

6. Shortly after his return to Ger. he was recalled to the U. of Wittenberg, where he was trained to succeed John Staupitz in the chair of lectura in Biblia as soon as he had earned the doctorate, which was awarded October 18–19, 1512 (see also Frederick III [1463–1525]). While lecturing on Gn, Ps, Rm, Gl, and Heb 1512–18, Luther evolved from a scholastic theol. to a Biblical humanist. Probably in fall 1514, while lecturing on Ps 71, he discovered the key to the entire Bible in the principle of “justification by faith.” He did not fully understand all its implications but realized that he had found the “Gate to Paradise” (WA 54, 186). In course of time he won the whole U. faculty to his point of view. By 1517 the school was becoming a center of Biblical humanism.

7. The “New Theol.,” which was Christocentric and stressed sola* Scriptura, was too dynamic to leave the RC Ch. unaffected. Conflict with traditional scholastic theol. was unavoidable; it began in connection with sale of indulgences.* Luther posted notice of a debate on the school bulletin board (N door of the Castle Ch.) October 31, 1517, listing 95 theses (see Theses, Ninety-Five, of Luther) for discussion. He hoped that an academic debate would clarify the subject of indulgences and determine the position the U. should adopt toward the practice. The theses were in Lat. because that was the academic language of the day. For some unknown reason the debate was never held. But the subject was timely. The theses rapidly spread through Ger. Many agreed with Luther's stand. Financial returns from indulgence sales in Ger. were greatly reduced.

8. This financial loss brought immediate reaction from J. Tetzel,* indulgence salesman in Luther's territory, from Tetzel's fellow Dominicans, and from Albert* of Brandenburg, who was hoping thus to pay his “fee” for appointment as abp. Mainz, which made him holder of 3 ch. positions simultaneously. All these brought pressure to bear on the pope to silence Luther.

9. The processus inhibitorius (Lat. “process of inhibiting”), the RC church's way of silencing its critics, was set in motion. The Augustinian Order was instructed to discipline its recalcitrant mem. But at the Heidelberg* Disputation, April 1518, Luther won many new friends; instead of reprimanding him, the Order asked him to write an elaboration of his original 95 theses.

10. Under influence of the Saxon Dominican provincial, the fiscal procurator of Rome opened Luther's case, charging “suspicion of heresy.” In September 1518 Luther was summoned to appear at Augsburg before the papal legate Cajetan* (see also Augsburg Diet [1518]). Luther was willing to be convinced on the basis of Scripture that indulgences were Biblical. But the differences could not be reconciled. J. v. Staupitz* absolved Luther of the vow of obedience ca. the middle of October 1518. Cajetan recommended to Frederick III that Luther be either banished or surrendered to Rome.

11. On Luther's initiative the Wittenberg U. faculty sent a letter dated November 22, 1518, to Frederick III, attesting complete agreement with Luther's views. Upon this statement of Luther's case and the advice of his court, Frederick III; refused to surrender Luther to Rome before he had been proved a heretic by a neutral tribunal. Luther hoped for solution by a gen. council.

12. RCs connected with the case include K. v. Miltitz* and J. Eck,* the latter known esp. for his part in the Leipzig* Debate 1519. First hopeful of cleansing the ch. of error, Luther began to realize that no reformation of the existing body, permeated with error in head and mems., was possible.

13. After election of Charles* V 1519 Rome again turned its attention to the Luther case. The univs. of Louvain and Cologne had issued condemnations of Luther's theol. 1519. The bull Exsurge, Domine was drafted June 15, 1520: it gave Luther 60 days to recant and required all his writings to be burned. Tension mounted. At Wittenberg, Luther retaliated by burning the Canon* Law and the bull. Rome's reply was the bull of excommunication, Decet Romanum Pontificem, issued January 3, 1521. Considerable pressure was exerted on Charles to condemn Luther. After much pol. maneuvering, Charles summoned Luther to appear at the Diet of Worms* 1521. Luther resisted all efforts to persuade him to recant and privately and pub. reiterated that he could not recant unless convinced of error by Scripture. Lacking necessary support of Ger. princes to secure Luther's condemnation, Charles waited till the Diet had been dismissed, then in a rump session declared Luther a heretic and outlaw who could be killed on sight. Luther's prince, who left the Diet earlier because of illness, anticipated the outcome and arranged to have Luther placed in “protective custody” at the Wartburg.*

14. At the Wartburg Luther reexamined his position and clearly realized that reform of the existing ch. was impossible, that the only solution was a return to the practices and tenets of early Christianity. His Wartburg works include a Ger. NT (see Bible Versions, M).

15. In March 1522 Luther returned to Wittenberg against the wishes of his prince to quiet the confused situation which had developed there under the ill-considered leadership of A. R. B. v. Karlstadt* and G. Zwilling* (see also Luther, Controversies of, d). He preached a series of 8 sermons and began to reorganize ch. services. Hymn singing was introd. and the liturgy revised, providing greater participation by the cong. (see also Luther, Hymns of; Luther, Liturgies of).

16. Other works include the Large and Small Catechisms (see Catechisms, Luther's); postils (see Postil) providing sermon materials for the “emergency preachers” who filled pulpits made vacant by conversion of many congs from RCm to Lutheranism: a Ger. Bible (see Bible Versions, M); tracts; letters; treatises (see also Luther, Chief Writings of).

17. The pol. situation that followed the Diet of Worms was confused. The Edict of Worms* could not be enforced. New economic forces brought on other disturbances culminating in the Knights* Revolt and the Peasants* War. In both cases Luther's writings were misconstrued. When he called on forces of law and order to quell the revolt, he was accused by his enemies of turning against the peasants.

18. When the 1529 Diet of Speyer* nullified an earlier pronouncement permitting a prince to control religious affairs in his realm both factions prepared for violence. The rift which had developed among followers of Luther and those of H. Zwingli* divided Prot. forces. An attempt to resolve their differences at the Marburg Colloquy 1529 (see Luther, Controversies of, g; Lutheran Confessions, A 2) ended in agreement on all points but the Real Presence (see Grace, Means of, IV 3; Lutheran Confessions, A 2 [b]). Other attempts at reconciliation bet. RCs and Prots., include the 1530 Diet of Augsburg (see Lutheran Confessions, A). See also Lutheran Confessions, B 1–2.

19. Never a robust man and beset by many attacks of illness, Luther led an amazingly active and productive life. Late in 1545 he was asked to arbitrate a family quarrel among the princes of Mansfeld. Though old, ill, and loath to undertake an arduous journey of ca. 80 mi. from Wittenberg in winter, Luther went to Eisleben. Adjudicating the family quarrel proved hard. Besides, Luther preached 4 times and helped conduct several services. The quarrel was settled February 17, 1546. That evening Luther felt severe pains in the chest. Despite treatment he died early the following morning in presence of sons Martin and Paul (see Luther, Family Life of), 2 doctors, et al.

20. Testimony of the love and esteem with which he was regarded by the people was the homage given his mortal remains as the funeral cortege returned to Wittenberg, where his body was laid to rest in the Castle Ch. February 22, 1546. EGS

A. H. Böhmer, Road to Reformation, tr. J. W. Doberstein and T. G. Tappert (Philadelphia, 1946) and Luther in Light of Recent Research, tr. C. F. Huth Jr. (New York, 1916); J. Mackinnon, Luther and the Reformation, 4 vols. (London, 1925–30); M. Reu, Luther's German Bible (Columbus, Ohio, 1934): P. Nettl, Luther and Music, tr. F. Best and R. Woods (Philadelphia, 1948); E. M. Plass, This Is Luther (St. Louis, 1948); E. G. Schwiebert, Luther and His Times (St. Louis, 1950); R. H. Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (New York, 1950); W. Dallmann, Martin Luther, rev. ed. (Saint Louis, 1951); P. Althaus, The Theology of Martin Luther, tr. R. C. Schultz (Philadelphia, 1966).

Luther, Music of.

See Luther, Hymns of; Luther, Liturgies of; Music, Church.

Luther, Reformation of.

See Luther, Martin; Reformation, Lutheran.

Luther, Table Talk of

(Tischreden). Many eds. have appeared. Those who recorded M. Luther's* table talk include J. Aurifaber* (1519–75), H. Besold,* C. Cordatus,* V. Dietrich,* A. Lauterbach,* J. Mathesius,* G. Rörer,* J. Schlaginhaufen,* H. Weller.* See also Bell, Henry.

Luther, Works of, Editions of.

Ger. and Lat. (1) Wittenberg 1539–59, ed. G. Rörer, C. Cruciger the Elder, G. Major, C. Walther; 19 vols. (12 Ger., 7 Lat.) plus index vol.; reprint. repeatedly up to 1603. (2) Jena 1555–58, ed. G. Rörer et al.; 12 vols. (8 Ger., 4 Lat.) plus index vol. for the Ger. vols. by T. Kirchner 1564; reprint. several times in whole or in part up to 1615; Eisleben Supplement to Wittenberg and Jena eds., ed. J. Aurifaber, 2 vols. 1564–65, reprint. Leipzig 1603. (3) Altenburg 1661–64. ed. J. C. Sagittarius; 9 vols. (Ger.) plus index vol.; Halle Supplement vol. 1702, ed. J. G. Zeidler. (4) Leipzig 1729–34 and 1740, ed. J. G. Pfeiffer, C. F. Borner, and J. J. Greiff, 22 parts in 11 vols. plus appendix and index in 1 vol. (5) Walch 1 (Halle, 1740–53), ed. J. G. Walch; 22 vols. (Ger.) plus Luther biography and indexes, 2 vols.; enl. and repub. as St. Louis ed. (Walch 2; 1880–1910), 22 vols. plus index vol. (6) Erlangen (1826–86), ed. J. K. Irmischer and J. G. Plochmann; 65 vols. (Ger.) plus 2 index vols. and 38 vols. (Lat. in 3 series); vols. 1–20 and 24–26 repub. as Erlangen-Frankfurt ed. (1862–85), ed. E. L. Enders (Ger.). (7) Weimar (1883– ), begun by J. K. F. Knaake; pub. in 4 sections: Works, vols. 1–54 and 56–58 I (in 68 parts; vol. 55 projected for 2 parts); Tabletalk, 6 vols. (complete); Ger. Bible, vols. 1–12 (in 15 parts); Correspondence, vols. 1–11. (8) Editions of selected works: a. Braunschweig (1889–93), 3d ed. Leipzig 10 vols.; b. Bonn [Berlin] students' ed. (1912–33), vols. 1–4 6th ed. 1966–68, vols. 5–8 3d ed. 1962–66, ed. O. Clemen et al.; c. Munich eds. (1914–27; 1934–39; 1940 [suppl. vol. 1] and 1948–65); d. Luther Deutsch (Berlin, Stuttgart, and Göttingen, 1948–; some vols. in 2d and 3d ed.); e. Calwer (Stuttgart, 1930–40), 6 vols.; f. Volksbibliothek (St. Louis, 1859–76), 30 vols. in 15. Bibliographic keys and indexes comparing collation and contents of eds.: (1) and (2), S. Schwob, Register (Breslau, 1563; Wittenberg, 1564, 3d ed. 1573); (1)–(3), index of Altenburg ed.; (1)–(4), index of Leipzig ed.; (1)–(5), indexes of Walch 1; (5)–(6), index of Erlangen ed.; (5)–(8d), K. Aland et al., Hilfsbuch zum Lutherstudium, 3d ed. (Witten, Ger., 1970).

The two editions of Luther's works acceptable for serious scholarly work and citation of the original language Material are the Weimer and Bonn Editions.

English. (1) Cole (London, 1826), ed. H. Cole; 4 vols. (2) Lenker (Minneapolis, 1903–10), ed. J. N. Lenker; 13 vols. (3) Holman (Philadelphia, 1915–32), ed. H. E. Jacobs; 6 vols. (reprint. 1943). (4) Am. (St. Louis and Philadelphia, 1955– ), ed. J. Pelikan and H. T. Lehman; 55 vols., plus companion vol. (J. Pelikan, Luther the Expositor: Introduction to the Reformer's Exegetical Writings). Bibliographic keys and indexes comparing collation and contents of eds.: G. S. Robbert, “A Checklist of Luther's Writings in English,” CTM, XXXVI (December 1965), 772–792, and XLI (April 1970), 214–220; for (3) and (4), K. Aland et al., Hilfsbuch zum Lutherstudium, 3d ed. (Witten, Ger. 1970).

French. Geneva (1957– ). JAH

“Kurze Geschichte und Charakteristik aller Gesammtausgaben von Dr. M. Luther's Schriften,” Zeitschrift für Protestantismus und Kirche, XIX (1850), 43–59; Bibliotheca Lutherana (Nördlingen, Ger., 1883).

Lutheran.

Term (adjective and noun) derived from the name M. Luther*; refers to his followers and to doctrines and practices of the Luth. Ch.; apparently 1st used ca. 1519 or in the early 1520s, but it may be impossible to determine exactly when and by whom (but first, apparently, by Luther's enemies). William Warham (ca. 1450–1532; b. Okeley, Hampshire, Eng.; educ. Winchester and Exford; abp. Canterbury 1504) used the term of followers of Luther 1521. Luther wrote 1522: “True, by any consideration of body or soul you should never say: I am Lutheran, or Papist. For neither of them died for you, or is your master.… But if you are convinced that Luther's teaching is in accord with the Gospel and that the pope's is not, then you should not discard Luther so completely.… It is on account of the teaching that they attack you and ask you whether you are Lutheran” (WA 10 II, 40). Ap XV 44 (Ger.): “The saving doctrine, the precious, holy Gospel, they call Lutheran.”

Lutheran Academy for Scholarship

(Academia Lutherana Philosophiae; Gk. acronym Alpha Lamda Phi). Assoc. organized March 1942 Chicago, Illinois Membership by invitation: patron, mem., fellow, award fellow. Purposes: to serve (1) as a means whereby professionally trained persons belonging to the Luth. Ch. may jointly confront and discuss the major problems of ch. and soc.; (2) as an instrument providing opportunity for the individual mem. of the Academy to contribute at his level of accomplishment to the thought and life of the Luth. Ch.; (3) as an instrument helping to preserve and develop the distinctive accents of Lutheranism within our pluralistic soc.; (4) as a means of creating opportunities to discuss and to formulate specific ethical concerns of the Luth. Ch. in various academic disciplines and in particular professions. Functions: (1) Pub. a quarterly journal, various symposia of proceedings from colloquies, institutes, assemblies, and conferences; (2) planning and implementation of nat. meetings designed to bring to the attention of selected groups of professional persons the nature and size of various issues of concern to both ch. and soc.; (3) joint work with appropriate bds. and commissions in raising and discussing matters of major concern to persons engaged in educ. coll. and grad. students; (4) selection of certain professions as areas meriting specific and concentrated investigation, analysis, and prescription.

R. Beese, “The First Quarter Century,” The Lutheran Scholar, XXVI (1969), 28–32, 45–61.

Lutheran Bible Institute, The,

Golden Valley, Minnesota Organized 1919 in St. Paul, Minnesota; moved to Minneapolis 1929, to Golden Valley (suburb 4 mi. W of downtown Minneapolis) 1961. See also Golden Valley Lutheran College; Lutheran Bible Institute of California; Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle, The; Lutheran Bible Institute of Teaneck, New Jersey.

Lutheran Bible Institute of California

(formerly The California Luth. Bible School). Est. 1951 in Los Angeles by authorization of the bd. of trustees of The Lutheran Bible Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota; moved to Anaheim 1979. See also Affiliation of Lutheran Movement.

Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle, The.

Began 1944 as a branch of The Lutheran Bible Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota; inc. by 1956; moved to Providence Heights, Issaquah, Washington, 1979. See also Affiliation of Lutheran Movements.

Lutheran Bible Institute of Teaneck New Jersey

Began 1948 as a branch of The Lutheran Bible Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota; issued in Luther Coll. of Teaneck 1968; ceased to function as a coll. 1978.

Lutheran Bible Translators, Inc.

See Messengers of Christ, Inc..

Lutheran Book Concern.

See Publication Houses. Lutheran.

Lutheran Brethren.

See Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America.

Lutheran Brethren Schools.

See Ministry, Education of, VIII C 2, X L.

Lutheran Bureau.

See National Lutheran Council.

“Lutheran Chaplain, The.”

See Armed Services Commission, 3.

Lutheran Charities Association.

See Child and Family Service Agencies, 4.

Lutheran Church.

See Luther, Martin; Lutheran Confessions; Lutheran Theology After 1580; Reformation, Lutheran.

Lutheran Church—Canada.

See Canada, B 28.

Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod.

See Hong Kong.

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Districts of The.

A. North America. Rapid growth soon called for division of the syn. into districts. Great distances, poor traveling facilities, and great expenses of annual conv. trips strained the resources of congs., pastors, and teachers and interfered with full attendance. The problem was noted already by the 1848 conv., but decision was deferred till the convs. of 1852–54, when the syn. was divided into 4 districts (Western, Central, Northern, and Eastern), these to meet 2 yrs. in succession separately and the 3d yr. in gen. conv. (districts 1855 and 1856, gen. conv. 1857, etc.), and dist. meetings as ne-nessary concurrent with gen. convs.

In course of time the original 4 districts were divided, and the no. of districts in North America grew to 38 (as of 1982), including 3 in Can. (Alberta-British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and Ontario).

Districts, with par. nos. in this section:

Alberta and British Columbia: 30
Atlantic: 20
California and Nevada: 17
California and Oregon: 16
Canada: 9
Central: 2
Central Illinois: 23
Colorado: 29
Eastern: 4
English: 26
Florida-Georgia: 40
Illinois: 5
Indiana: 42
Iowa: 8
Iowa East: 36
Iowa West: 37
Kansas: 15
Manitoba and Saskatchewan: 31
Michigan: 10
Mid-South: 46
Minnesota: 12
Minnesota North: 43
Minnesota South: 44
Minnesota and Dakota: 12
Missouri: 45
Montana: 39
Nebraska (old): 13
Nebraska (new): 47
New England: 50
New Jersey: 51
North Dakota: 25
North Dakota and Montana: 25
North Wisconsin: 28
Northern: 3, 6
Northern Illinois: 22
Northern Nebraska: 33
Northwest: 18
Northwestern: 7
Ohio: 41
Oklahoma: 34
Ontario: 9
Oregon and Washington: 18
SELC: 49
South Dakota: 21
South Wisconsin: 27
Southeastern: 38
Southern: 14
Southern California: 35
Southern Illinois: 24
Southern Nebraska: 32
Texas: 19
Western: 1
Wisconsin: 11
Wyoming: 48

1. Western Dist. (Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana). Pres.: G. A. Schieferdecker* 1854–57, J. M. G. Schaller* 1857–63, J. F. Bünger* 1863–75, F. J. Biltz* 1875–91, C. C. Schmidt* 1891–98, Paul Theodore Roesener 1898–1901, John Jacob Bernthal 1901–19, J. H. C. Fritz* 1919–20, Ludwig Friedrich Brust (Acting Pres.) 1920–21, R. T. Kretzschmar* 1921–39, Paul F. Koenig 1939–45, Elfred L. Roschke 1945–51, T. A. Weinhold 1951–57, George W. Wittmer 1957–59, W. J. Stelling 1959–63, Kurt W. Biel 1963–66.

Out of the W. Dist. were carved the Illinois Dist. (see 5) 1874, the Iowa Dist. (see 8) 1878/79, the Nebraska Dist. (see 13) and the Southern Dist. (see 14) 1881/82, the Kansas Dist. (see 15) and the California and Oregon Dist. (see 16) 1887. The W. Dist. divided 1965/66 to form the Missouri Dist. (see 45) and the Mid-South Dist. (see 46).

2. Central Dist. (Ohio and Indiana). Pres.: W. Sihler* 1854–60, H. C. Schwan* 1860–78, W. S. Stubnatzy* 1878–80, J. H. Niemann* 1880–1909, John H. Wefel 1909–15, William E. Moll 1915–19, J. Adam Schmidt 1919–20, John Dietrich Matthius 1920–27, W. F. Lichtsinn 1927–47, J. H. Meyer 1947–51, Ottomar Krueger 1951–63. The dist. divided 1962/63 to form the Indiana Dist. (see 42) and the Ohio Dist. (see 41).

3. Northern Dist. (Michigan and Wisconsin). Pres.: O. Fuerbringer* 1854–72, J. A. Hügli 1872–75. The N. Dist. divided 1874/75; part retained the old name (see 6), the other part was called Northwestern Dist. (see 7).

4. Eastern Dist. (New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and D. C.; later Ont.). Pres.: E. G. W. Keyl* 1854–69, C. Gross* 1869–75, J. P. Beyer* 1875–88, P. Brand* 1888–99, Herman Henry Walker 1899–1915, Franz (Francis) Carl Verwiebe 1915–21 and 1931–38, William Broecker 1921–28, J. K. E. Horst 1928–31, Oscar Adelbert Sauer 1938–39, Paul Fretthold 1939–45, Charles A. Behnke 1944–55, Eric Carl Malte 1955–58, Gustav M. Karkau 1958–66, Herman R. Frincke 1966–. The Eastern Dist. transferred Ont. to the Northern Dist. (see 6) 1874, divided 1906 (part retained the old name, the other part was called Atlantic Dist. [see 20]).

5. The Illinois Dist., carved out of the Western Dist. (see 1) 1874, held its 1st conv. 1875. Pres.: H. Wunder* 1875–91, ???H. H. Succop* 1891–1903, Herman Engelbrecht Sr. 1903–07. The dist. divided 1907/08 to form the N. Illinois Dist. (see 22), Cen. Illinois Dist. (see 23), and S. Illinois Dist. (see 24). See also Illinois, Evangelical Lutheran Synod of, b.

6. The reorganized Northern Dist. (see 3) included Michigan and Ont. (the latter transferred from the Eastern Dist.) and held its 1st conv. 1875. Pres.: O. Fuerbringer* 1875–82. The Can. Dist. (see 9) was carved out of the Northern Dist. 1878/79. The Northern Dist. changed name to Michigan Dist. (see 10) 1881.

7. Northwestern Dist. (not to be confused with the later Northwest Dist.; see 18), formed when the Northern Dist. divided (see 3), included Wisconsin and Minnesota and held its 1st conv. 1875. Pres.: C. J. A. Strasen* 1875–82. The Northwestern Dist. divided 1882/82 to form the Wisconsin Dist. (see 11) and the Minn. and Dakota Dist. (see 12).

8. Iowa Dist., carved out of the Western Dist. (see 1) 1878/79, held its 1st conv. 1879. Pres.: J. Lorenz Crämer 1879–88, Philipp Studt 1888–91, Ludwig Friedrich Brust 1891–94, Ernst Zürrer 1909–09, A. D. Greif 1909–14, Theodore Wolfram 1914–27, Herman A. Harms 1927–36. Then the dist. divided into Iowa East Dist. (see 36) and Iowa West Dist. (see 37).

9. Canada Dist. (name changed to Ontario Dist. 1923), carved out of the Northern Dist. (see 6) 1878/79, held its 1st conv. 1879. Pres.: J. A. Ernst* 1879–81, C. F. (W.) Hochstetter* 1881–83, Frederick Dubpernell 1883–87, G. F. Bente* 1887–93, Johannes Wilhelm Weinbach 1893–1906, C. W. G. Eifrig* 1906–09, William Carl Boese 1909–18, Paul Karl Graupner 1918–19, Reinhard Eifert Sr. 1919–21, Frank Paul Edmund Malinsky 1921–48, Walter Oscar Rathke 1948–60, Philip Fiess 1960–70, Albin Stanfel 1970–.

10. The Northern Dist. (see 3 and 6) changed name to Michigan Dist. 1881. Pres.: M. J. Schmidt* 1882–91, Gustav Ernst Spiegel 1891–1912, T. E. W. Engelder* 1912–14, Emanuel August Mayer 1915–24, John Jacob Frederick Schinnerer 1924–42, Andrew Zeile 1942–57, W. Harry Krieger 1957–65, Edwin C. Weber 1965–69, Richard L. Schlecht 1969–.

11. The Minnesota and Dak. Dist. (see 12) was carved out of the Northwestern Dist. (see 7) 1881/82. The remainder was called Wisconsin Dist. and held its 1st conv. as such 1882. Pres.: C. J. A. Strasen* 1882–85, Henry F. Sprengeler 1885–91, J. H. Herzer* 1891, Bernhard Carl Ludwig Sievers 1892–94, John Conrad Strasen (son of C. J. A. Strasen) 1894–1900, Claus (Klaus) Seuel 1900–06, Samuel William Herman Daib 1906–16. Then the dist. divided to form the N. Wisconsin Dist. (see 28) and S. Wisconsin Dist. (see 27).

12. Minnesota and Dakota Dist., formed 1881/82, when the Northwestern Dist. divided (see 7), held its 1st conv. 1882. Pres.: E. O. Cloter* 1882–85, Frederick J. Sievers 1885–91, F. Pfotenhauer* 1891–1908, Henry Schulz 1908–12, Franz Robert Koehler 1912–18, J. H. W. Meyer* 1918–30, Henry Jansen Bouman 1931–33, Johann Christoph Ludwig Meyer 1933–42, Robert Gottfried Heyne 1942–48, Hugo A. Gamber 1948–57, Ernst H. Stahlke 1957–63.

The South Dakota Dist. (see 21) was carved out of the Minnesota and Dak. Dist. 1905/06; the remainder continued using the name Minnesota and Dak. District. The North Dakota and Montana Dist. (see 25) was carved out of the Minnesota and Dak. Dist. 1910. The Minnesota and Dak. Dist. changed name to Minnesota Dist. 1912. The Alta. and B. C. Dist. (see 30) and the Man. and Sask. Dist. (see 31) branched off of the Minnesota Dist. 1920. The Minnesota Dist. divided 1962/63 to form the Minnesota N. Dist. (see 43) and the Minnesota S. Dist. (see 44).

13. Nebraska Dist. (not to be confused with the later Nebraska Dist.; see 47), was carved out of the Western Dist. (see 1) 1881/82, held its 1st conv. 1882. Pres.: J. Hilgendorf* 1882–1900, Carl Henry Becker 1900–15, C. F. Brommer* 1915–22. Then the dist. divided to form the S. Nebraska Dist. (see 32) and the N. Nebraska Dist. (see 33).

14. Southern Dist. (Texas, Louisiana, and adjoining states), carved out of the W. Dist. (see 1) 1881/82, held its 1st conv. 1882. Pres.: Timotheus Stiemke 1882–88, Gotthilf Heinrich Wilhelm Birkmann 1888–91, Gottfried Johann Wegener 1891–1927, Martin W. H. Holls 1927–54, Paul W. Streufert 1954–57, Edgar Homrighausen 1957–69, Lothar Kleinhans 1969–70, John E. Ellermann 1970–.

The Texas Dist. (see 19) was carved out of the S. Dist. 1905/06, the Florida-Georgia Dist. (see 40) 1947/48.

15. Kansas Dist. (Kansas and Colorado), carved out of the W. Dist. (see 1) 1887/87, held its 1st conv. 1888. Pres.: Friedrich Pennekamp 1888–94, Carl (Karl: Charles) Hafner 1894–1906, Friedrich Christoph Droegemueller 1906–12, Theodore H. Juengel 1912–19, Carl Frederick Lehenbauer 1919–32, W. Mahler* 1932–39, Walter H. Meyer 1939–60, Arlen J. Bruns 1960–.

The Kansas Dist. divided 1920/21. Part retained the name Kansas Dist. and included Kansas, Oklahoma, and N. Mex.. The other part was called Colorado Dist. (see 29). The Oklahoma Dist. (see 34) was carved out of the Kansas Dist. 1923/24.

16. The Pacific Coast had been part of the W. Dist. (see 1) since 1860, when J. M. Bühler* settled in San Francisco, California. The California and Oregon Dist., carved out of the W. Dist. 1887, held its 1st conv. 1887. Pres.: J. M. Bühler* 1887–99. Then the dist. divided to form the California and Nevada Dist. (see 17) and the Oregon and Washington Dist. (see 18).

17. California and Nevada Dist., formed when the California and Oregon Dist. (see 16) divided 1899, held its 1st conv. 1900. Pres.: J. M. Bühler 1899–1901, George P. Runkel 1901–05, George A. Bernthai 1905–20, J. W. Theiss* 1920–24, Arthur Clemens Henry Brohm 1924–45, C. Fickenscher 1945–54, Arthur C. Nitz 1954–59, Paul E. Jacobs 1959–.

The S. California Dist. (see 35) was carved out of the California and Nevada Dist. 1929/30.

18. Oregon and Washington Dist. (Oregon, Washington, and Idaho), formed when the California and Oregon Dist. (see 16) divided 1899, held its 1st conv. 1899. Pres.: Henry August Carl Paul 1899–1903, W. Lüssenhop 1903–06, W. H. Behrens* 1906–09, Ludwig Frederick Emil Stuebe 1909–18, Johann Adam Rimbach 1918–21, Weert J. Janssen 1921–36, Frederick Max Leopold Nitz 1936–48, Carl H. Bensene 1948–70, Emil G. Jaech 1970–.

The Oregon and Washington Dist. changed name 1948 to Northwest Dist. (not to be confused with Northwestern Dist.; see 7).

19. Texas Dist., carved out of the S. Dist. (see 14) 1905/06, held its 1st conv. 1906. See also 29. Pres.: Adolf W. Kramer 1906–09, Charles A. Waech 1909–12, Gotthilf Heinrich Wilhelm Birkmann 1912–20, Henry Peter Studtmann 1920–26, J. W. Behnken* 1926–29, Constantin Martin Beyer 1929–42, Edwin A. Heckmann 1942–48, Oliver R. Harms 1948–50, Roland P. Wiederaenders 1950–59, Albert F. Jesse 1959–63, Carl A. Heckmann 1963–.

20. Atlantic Dist., formed when the E. Dist. (see 4) divided 1906, included the territory of the New York and New Eng. Conf., with the boundary line in New York passing bet. Utica and Rome; 1st conv. 1907. Pres.: E. C. L. Schulze* 1906–18, H. P. L. Birkner* 1918–30, A. J. Brunn* 1930–41, George Charles Koenig 1941–42, Herman John Rippe 1942–60, Karl Frank Graesser 1960–67, Rudolph P. F. Ressmeyer 1967–. The Atlantic Dist. divided 1971/72; part retained the old name, part was called New Eng. Dist. (see 50), part was called New Jersey Dist. (see 51).

21. South Dakota Dist., carved out of the Minnesota and Dak. Dist. (see 12) 1905/06, held its 1st conv. 1906. Pres.: August Frederick Breihan 1906–12, Johann Dietrich Ehlen 1912–18, Ernst Gottlieb Jehn 1918–21, Friedrich W. Leyhe 1921–36, Walter Nitschke 1936–51, Philip H. Mueller 1951–60, Elmer O. Luessenhop 1960–68, Leonard Eberhard 1968–70, Arthur J. Crosmer 1970–.

22. Northern Illinois Dist., formed when the Illinois Dist. (see 5) divided 1907/08, held its 1st conv. 1909. Pres.: Hermann Engelbrecht Sr. 1907–09, W. C. Kohn* 1909–13, Friedrich Heinrich Brunn 1913–27, Alex Ullrich 1927–36, Ernest Theodore Lares 1936–45, Arthur Henry Werfelmann 1945–60, Erwin L. Paul 1963–66, Edmund H. Happel 1966–.

23. Central Illinois Dist., formed when the Illinois Dist. (see 5) divided 1907/08, held its 1st conv. 1909. Pres.: F. Brand* 1907–17, Fred William Brockmann 1917–18, August Friedrich Wilhelm Heyne 1918–27, P. Schulz 1927–32, Philip Wilhelm 1932–33, Walter Ernest Hohenstein 1933–35, John Carl Schuelke 1935–42, Albert Otto Carl Bernthal 1942–48, Emil Frederick Tonn 1948–54, Alvin W. Mueller 1954–63, Lewis C. Niemoeller 1963–70, Rudolph A. Haak 1970–74, Arthur Kuehnert 1974–.

24. Southern Illinois Dist., formed when the Illinois Dist. (see 5) divided 1907/08, held its 1st conv. 1909. Pres.: Fred William Brockmann 1907–09, Ulfert Iben 1909–12, Johannes Gottlieb Frederick Kleinhans 1912–33, C. Thomas Spitz Sr. 1933–45, Erhard H. Bohrer 1945–46, Paul Juergensen 1946–47, Harry C. Welp 1947–57, Walter William Adolf Raedeke 1957–58, W. Theophil Janzow 1958–59, Alfred Buls 1959–67, Herman Neunaber 1967–.

25. North Dakota and Montana Dist., carved out of the Minnesota and Dak. Dist. (see 12) 1910, held its 1st conv. 1910. Pres.: Tietje Hinck 1910–24, Joseph Paul Klausler 1924–41, Albert Jordan 1941–42, Arnold Henry Grumm 1942–45.

The North Dakota and Montana Dist. divided 1944/45 to form the Montana Dist. (see 39) and the North Dakota Dist. Pres. of the latter: Arnold Henry Grumm 1945–50, Walter Henry Theodore Cordts 1950–54, Bernhard G. Mueller 1954–57, Lothar Karl Meyer 1957–61, Harold V. Huber 1961–65, John D. Fritz 1965–67, Alwin M. Reimnitz 1967–.

26. English Dist. (see also Missouri and Other States, The English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of) held its 1st conv. 1912. Pres.: Henry Philip Eckhardt* 1911–12, M. S. Sommer* 1912–15, John Adam Detzer 1915–18, O. C. Kreinheder* 1918–27, Guido R. Schuessler 1927–36, Paul Lindemann 1936–38, M. F. Walker* 1938–45, Herman William Bartels 1945–51, Hugo G. Kleiner 1951–63, Bertwin L. Frey 1963–70, John H. Baumgaertner 1970–74, Harold L. Hecht 1974–.

27. South Wisconsin Dist., formed when the Wisconsin Dist. (see 11) divided 1916, held its 1st conv. (25th in the Wisconsin Dist. series) 1918. Pres.: Edward Albrecht 1916–21, Henry John Andrew Grueber 1921–32, John Frederick Boerger 1932–36, Fred A. Schwertfeger 1936–48, Arthur H. Oswald 1948–53, Herbert W. Baxmann 1953–70, Karl L. Barth 1970–.

28. North Wisconsin Dist., formed when the Wisconsin Dist. (see 11) divided 1916, held its 1st conv. 1918. Pres.: Johann Gotthilf Schliepsiek 1916–18, Samuel William Herman Daib 1918–36, William Louis Kohn 1936–54, Lloyd H. Goetz 1954–74, Henry E. Simon 1974–.

29. Colorado Dist., formed 1920/21 when the Kansas Dist. (see 15) divided, included Colorado and Utah and held its 1st conv. 1921. In course of time the dist. came to include congs. in Page, Arizona; Venango, Nebraska; El Paso, Texas. N. Mex. (see 15) and the Texas Dist. congs. in southern N. Mex. became part of the Colorado Dist. 1941/42. Pres.: Otto Luessenhop 1921–30, Otto K. Hensel 1930–34, Frederick William Obermeier 1934–42, E. Julius Friedrich 1942–50, Henry G. Hartner 1950–54, Herbert H. Hellbusch 1954–60, Walter A. Enge 1960–66, Waldemar E. Meyer 1966–.

30. Alberta and British Columbia Dist. branched off of the Minnesota Dist. (see 12) 1920 and held its 1st conv. 1921. Pres.: August J. Mueller 1921–30, William C. Eifert 1930–51, Carl F. Baase 1951–60, Alfred F. Miller 1960–66, George Rode 1966–.

31. Manitoba and Saskatchewan Dist. branched off of the Minnesota Dist. (see 12) 1920 and held its 1st conv. 1922. Pres.: Paul E. Wiegner 1922–27, Christian T. Wetzstein 1927–30, John H. Lucht 1930–51, Leonard W. Koehler 1951–70, Philip Fry 1970–.

32. Southern Nebraska Dist., formed when the Nebraska Dist. (see 13) divided 1922, held its 1st conv. 1924. Pres.: C. F. Brommer* 1922–24, Wilhelm Heinrich Ferdinand Cholcher 1924–30, Herman Ernst Meyer 1930–36, A. J. C. Moeller* 1936–38, Iddo Charles Heinicke 1938–49, Arthur Frederick Wegener 1949–56, Henry F. Krohn 1956–60, Henry W. Niermann Sr. 1960–70. The S. Nebraska Dist. and the N. Nebraska Dist. (see 33) combined 1969/70 to form the new Nebraska Dist. (see 47).

33. Northern Nebraska Dist., formed when the Nebraska Dist. (see 13) divided 1922, included stations in Wyoming and held its 1st conv. 1924. Pres.: John Frederick William Harms 1922–33, Martin Eugene Mayer 1933–39, Walter E. Homann 1939–57, Frederick A. Niedner 1957–70. The N. Nebraska Dist. and the S. Nebraska Dist. (see 32) combined 1970 to form the new Nebraska Dist. (see 47).

34. Oklahoma Dist., carved out of the Kansas Dist.. (see 15) 1923/24, held its 1st conv. 1924. Pres.: Henry Mueller 1924–39, Carl R. Matthies 1939–40, Edward C. Hauer 1940–42, Paul J. Hartenberger 1942–43, Otto Henry Hoyer 1943–54, Alfred E. Behrend 1954–70, Harold Brockhoff 1970–.

35. Southern California Dist., carved out of the California and Nevada Dist. (see 17) 1929/30, held its 1st conv. 1930. Pres.: Gotthold Herman Friedrich Smukal 1930–42, Walter F. Troeger 1942–48, Armand Elmer T. Mueller 1948–55, Victor Louis Behnken 1955–69, Arnold G. Kuntz 1969–.

36. Iowa East Dist., formed when the Iowa Dist. (see 8) divided 1936, held its 1st conv. 1937. Pres.: Herman A. Harms 1936–38, Carl John Henry Hesse 1938–49, Walter D. Oetting 1949–63, Fred H. Ilten 1963–70, John C. Zimmermann 1970–.

37. Iowa West Dist., formed when the Iowa Dist. (see 8) divided 1936, held its 1st conv. 1937. Pres.: Adolph Schwidder 1936–45, Herbert W. Berner 1945–46, John Theodore Martin Hoemann 1946–48, Gustav W. Lobeck 1948–66, Ellis Nieting 1966–.

38. Southeastern Dist., formed 1938/39 in an area involving esp. the Eastern Dist. (see 4) and the Eng. Dist. (see 26) and including in gen. South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, D. C., and part of Georgia, held its 1st conv. 1939. Pres.: J. George Spilman 1939–45, Oscar Adelbert Saner 1945–48, Rudolph Stang Ressmeyer 1948–54, William H. Kohn 1954–59, Leslie F. Frerking 1959–63, William H. Kohn 1963–67, Martin C. Poch 1967–70, Charles S. Mueller 1970–.

39. Montana Dist., formed when the North Dakota and Montana Dist. (see 25) divided 1944/45, held its 1st conv. 1946. Pres.: Paul M. Freiburger 1945–66, August F. Droegemueller 1966–69, George F. Wollenburg 1969–.

40. Florida-Georgia Dist., carved out of the Southern Dist. (see 14) 1947/48, held its 1st conv. 1948. Pres.: Conrad F. Kellermann 1948–57, Frederick W. Lorberg 1957–63, August Bernthal 1963–74, L. Lloyd Behnken, 1974–.

41. Ohio Dist., formed when the Cen. Dist. (see 2) divided 1962/63, included part of Kentucky and W. Virginia and held its 1st conv. 1964. Pres.: Ottomar Krueger 1963–66, Paul G. Single 1966–69, Edgar M. Luecke 1969–70, Arthur H. Ziegler 1970–.

42. Indiana Dist., formed when the Cen. Dist. (see 2) divided 1962/63, included part of Kentucky and Ohio and held its 1st conv. 1964. Pres.: Edgar C. Rakow 1963–70, Elwood H. Zimmermann 1970–.

43. Minnesota North Dist., formed when the Minnesota Dist. (see 12) divided 1962/63, held its 1st conv. 1963. Pres.: Alfred C. Seltz 1963–70, August T. Mennicke 1970–.

44. Minnesota South Dist., formed when the Minnesota Dist. (see 12) divided 1962/63, held its 1st conv. 1963. Pres.: Ernest H. Stahlke 1963–66, Martin W. Lieske 1966–.

45. Missouri Dist., formed when the W. Dist. (see 1) divided 1965/66, held its 1st conv. 1968. Pres.: Herman C. Scherer 1966–.

46. Mid-South Dist., formed when the W. Dist. (see 1) divided 1965/66, includes Arkansas, Tennessee, and part of Kentucky and held its 1st conv. 1968. Pres.: Wilbert E. Griesse 1966–.

47. The new Nebraska Dist. (not to be confused with the earlier Nebraska Dist. [see 13]), formed 1969/70 by combination of the S. Nebraska Dist. (see 32) and the N. Nebraska Dist. (see 33), includes all Nebraska except the panhandle (the line of division approximately follows the 102d meridian); 1st conv. 1970. Pres.: Frederick A. Niedner 1970–.

B. South America.

1. Brazil. On invitation of a German Luth. missionary, the Mo. Syn. sent a miss., C. J. Broders,* to Brazil 1900; under his dir. a cong. was organized at Sâo Pedro, Rio Grande do Sul. W. Mahler* was sent 1901 as his successor and miss. dir. The Brazil Dist. held its 1st conv. 1904. Work expanded 1921 to the states of Santa Catarina and Paranà. Work was begun in the city of Rio de Janeiro 1929 and in the state of Espírito Santo 1931. Before WW II most work was done in Ger. War hysteria caused persecution in some areas. Port. replaced Ger. as the common language for ch. work.

Broders and others promoted parochial schools successfully. An institute for training pastors and teachers was est. 1903 at Bom Jesus, Sâo Lourenço, Rio Grande do Sul; it was closed 1905, reopened 1907 in Pôrto Alegre, where it was relocated 1921; now called Seminario Concordia. A teacher training school opened in S. Joâo Grande ca. 1947, moved to Baixo Guandu ca. 1951, closed ca. 1957. Instituto Conc. was est. for pretheological training at Rio de Janeiro 1957, moved to Sâo Paulo 1962; closed 1973.

Periodicals pub. by the Brazil Dist. included Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchenblatt für Süd-Amerika (since 1903); Mensageiro Luterano (“Lutheran Messenger”); Igreja Luterana; Em Marcha; O Jovem Luterano; O Pequeno Luterano. Pub. house: Casa Publicadora Concordia, Pôrto Alegre.

The Brazil Dist. divided 1926/27; part kept the name Brazil Dist., the other part was called Argentine Dist. (see 2). January 1, 1980, the Brazil Dist. became a partner ch. of the LCMS called Igreja Evangelica Luterana do Brasil (Ev. Luth. Ch. of Brazil), acronym IELB.

See also Vehse, Carl Eduard.

III. Organization of the Mo. Syn.

1. The draft of the const. drawn up in St. Louis was discussed at a meeting in Fort Wayne in July 1846 (cf. par. I 1). 16 pastors and 5 candidates attended. Saxons included T. J. Brohm, G. H. Löber, C. F. W. Walther. Others included F. W. Husmann,* G. H. Jäbker,* and W. Sihler* from Indiana; J. G. Burger,* J. A. Detzer,* J. A. Ernst,* and P. J. Trautmann* from Ohio; F. A. Crämer* and G. W. C. Hättstadt* from Michigan; C. A. T. Selle* from Illinois The approved form of the const. was submitted to the congs. and pub. in Der Lutheraner, III, 1 (September 5, 1846).

2. The organization meeting was held Sunday, April 25–Thursday, May 6, 1847, in Chicago. 19 pastors attended; 12 (11 present, 1 absent) became voting mems.; 10 (6 present, 4 absent) became advisory mems.; 2 did not join. C. F. W. Walther was elected pres., W. Sihler vice-pres., F. W. Husmann secy., F. W. Barthel* (a St. Louis layman) treas. C. J. H. Fick was elected miss. committee chm. Der Lutheraner became property and official organ of the syn., which elected a pub. committee; C. F. W. Walther continued as ed. Steps were taken with a view to acquiring the schools at Altenburg, Missouri (see par. II 4), and Fort Wayne, Indiana (see Löhe, Johann Konrad Wilhelm), and the Löhe miss. among Indians at Frankenmuth, Michigan (see Crämer, Friedrich August; Indians, Lutheran Missions to North American). C. H. F. Frincke* was appointed Besucher (“visitor”; traveling missionary) to look up Luth. settlers needing services of the ch. The syn. was divided into 6 pastoral conferences.

3. A notable feature already of the 1st const. is a statement of reasons for forming a syn. organization. See also par. IV 1.

4. The syn. adopted as its confessional basis Holy Scripture of the OT and NT as the written Word of God and only rule and norm of faith and life, and all the Luth. confessions as the pure and unadulterated explanation and presentation of the divine Word.

5. The advisory character of syn. in regard to self-government of the individual cong. became a concern of the syn. from the outset (cf. 1847 Proceedings, p. 7; see also par. IV 5 below).

6. Conducting missions, operating educ. institutions for preprofessional ch. workers, certifying pastors and teachers, expanding the syn. territories, publishing ch. periodicals, and carrying on relations with other ch. bodies were matters that belonged to syn.

7. Each cong. was allowed representation in conventions by pastor and elected lay delegate.

IV. 1854 Const. Rev.

1. 1854 const. statement of reasons for forming a syn. organization: “(1) The example of the apostolic church (Acts 15:1–31). (2) The Lord's will that the diversities of gifts be used for the common profit (1 Co 12:4–31). (3) The joint extension of the kingdom of God and the establishment and promotion of special church enterprises (seminary, agenda, hymnal, Book of Concord, schoolbooks, Bible distribution, missionary endeavors within and without the church, etc.). (4) The conservation and promotion of the unity of the pure confession (Eph 4:3–6; 1 Co 1:10) and the common defense against schism and sectarianism. (Ro 16:17). (5) The protection and maintenance of the rights and duties of pastors and congregations. (6) The establishment of the largest possible uniformity in church government.” (Cf. Moving Frontiers, ed. C. S. Meyer [St. Louis, 19641, p. 149)

Syn. was divided into 4 geog. and administrative districts. The dist. pres. was given some functions originally assigned to the syn. pres., esp. that of visiting individual congs. The districts were charged with direct responsibility of maintaining correct doctrine and acceptable practices; overall supervision of doctrine and practice still belonged to the syn. pres. See also Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Districts of The, A.

2. After 1854 the syn. conv. pattern was no longer annual but triennial. The districts met in each of the intervening yrs., and concurrently with the gen. conv. as necessary. Greater participation in gen. ch. matters and better administrative procedures were hoped for as results of the change.

3. Needs of spiritually neglected Luths. in its territory were made concerns of each dist. Conditions were specified under which a dist. could supply a pastor for a mixed cong., i. e., one consisting of Luths., Ref., and so-called Evangelicals or United (Ger. Uniert). (1854 Const., V A 10–11)

4. The 1854 const. continued arrangements for bds. of control of the 2 institutions of higher learning, 1 bd. of electors for choosing professors at these schools, and 2 examining commissions for colloquizing ministerial candidates not trained by the 2 schools.

5. Relation bet. syn. and mem. congs. was defined: “Synod is in respect to the self-government [Selbstregierung] of the individual congregations only an advisory body. Therefore no resolution of the former, when it imposes anything upon the individual congregation as a synodical resolution, has binding force for the latter.—Such a synodical resolution has binding force only when the individual congregation through a formal congregational resolution has voluntarily adopted and confirmed it.—Should a congregation find a synodical resolution not in conformity with the Word of God or unsuited for its circumstances, it has the right to disregard, that is, to reject it.” (1854 Const., Chap. IV A 9; Moving Frontiers, p. 151)

V. Planting, 1847–87.

1. The 1st period of Mo. Syn. hist. extends from its founding 1847 to the death of C. F. W. Walther 1887.

2. This period was dominated by the personality of Walther, syn. pres. 1847–50, 1864–78. The Gesamtgemeinde (“whole parish”) in St. Louis, of which Walther was chief pastor, grew to 4 congs. (Trinity 1839, Immanuel 1847, Holy Cross 1858, Zion 1860) and was the most influential parish in synod. Conc. Sem. moved to St. Louis 1849. Walther was its pres. 1854–87. He ed. Der Lutheraner 1844–65; ed. Lehre und Wehre (professional journal for pastors) from its beginning 1855 to 1860, coed. 1861–64. He was the outstanding preacher, writer, and theol. in the synod. F. C. D. Wyneken, syn. pres. 1850–64, was primarily concerned with planting new congs. During his tenure the syn. divided into 4 districts (see IV 1–3). See also Stephan, Martin, Jr.

3. In 1872 the syn. adopted the delegate pattern, acc. to which congs. in groups of 2–7 elected a pastor and a layman to represent them at the triennial conv.; the 1st delegate syn. met 1874. Growth continued. H. C. Schwan* was syn. pres. 1878–99.

4. The syn. gained many mems. by miss. work among immigrants. See also Immigrant and Emigrant Missions.

5. Many parochial schools, often taught by a pastor, were est. Esp. in large cities they attracted many non-Luths., usually Ger. The syn. produced textbooks. Part-time agencies (e.g., summer schools; Saturday schools) were also used. Instruction before confirmation* and Communion was emphasized (see also Catechetics, 11).

6. A private “teachers' sem.” opened Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1855 by F. J. C. Lochner,* P. Fleischmann,* et al. In 1857 the syn. adopted it and moved it to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and united it with the theol. sem. there (see Löhe, Johann Konrad Wilhelm). In 1864 it moved to Addison, Illinois; to River Forest, Illinois, 1913; 1915 charter name: Conc. Teachers Coll.; name change 1979 to Conc. Coll.; became Conc. U. January 1. 1990. See also Concordia University System; Ministry, Education of, VIII B; Stephan, Martin, Jr.

7. The Ft. Wayne theol. sem. moved to Saint Louis 1861, to Springfield, Illinois, 1875, to Ft. Wayne 1976. The Gymnasium conducted in conjunction with the St. Louis sem. (see Ministry, Education of, VI C; X E) moved to Ft. Wayne 1861. In 1881 preparatory schools were begun in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and NYC The NYC school moved to Hawthorne (other names: Sherman Park, Unionville, Neperan), New York 1894, to Bronxville, New York, 1908–10. The Milwaukee school came under the control of the Mo. Syn. 1887, the Bronxville school 1896. In 1896 the syn. also assumed control of St. Paul's Coll., begun 1884 in Concordia, Missouri See also Ministry, Education of, VIII B, C 2.

8. Educational leaders included A. F. T. Biewend,* J. C. W. Lindemann,* G. Schick,* C. A. T. Selle.*

9. F. A. Brunn* of Steeden, Nassau, Ger., sent students to receive coll. and sem. training in the US 1862–86.

10. Efforts were directed also toward work in English. A. F. T. Biewend and C. H. R. Lange* lectured in English. The Eng. Ev. Luth. Conf. of Missouri was organized 1872, reorganized 1888, renamed 1891 The Eng. Ev. Luth. Syn. of Missouri* and Other States, became the Eng. Dist. of the Mo. Syn. 1911 (see Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Districts of The, A 26).

11. Syn. and dist. convs., the twice-yearly pastoral conferences, and more frequent smaller conferences gave doctrinal discussions priority. Walther's writings were largely doctrinal; his work on pastoral theol., e.g., was grounded in systematic theol. Doctrinal preaching was emphasized. Ch. periodicals featured doctrinal articles. C. Löber,* Evangelisch-Lutherische Dogmatik, and Walther's ed. of J. W. Baier,* Compendium, were widely used. C. F. (W.) Hochstetter,* Die Geschichte der Evangelisch-lutherischen Missouri-Synode in Nord-Amerika, und ihrer Lehrkämpfe, told chiefly about doctrinal controversies.

12. Beginning 1840 the Saxon theologians differed with J. A. A. Grabau* esp. on the doctrine of the ministry (see also Buffalo Synod, 2–5). Difference regarding ch. and ministry led to a break 1853 bet. the Mo. Syn. and Löhe and to controversy with the Ev. Luth. Syn. of Iowa* and Other States. Most severe was the Predestinarian* Controversy (see also VI 1). Polemics against W. Nast,* a Ger. Meth., were sustained.

13. Because of the movement known as American* Lutheranism, Walther issued a call for free* Luth. confs. Four were held: Columbus, Ohio, 1856; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1857; Cleveland, Ohio, 1858; Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1859.

14. Fraternal relations were est. 1857 with The Norw. Ev. Luth. Ch. in Am. (see Evangelical Lutheran Church, The, 8) on the latter's initiative. P. L. Larsen* taught at Conc. Sem., St. Louis, 1859–61. Norw. students attended the St. Louis sem.

15. A colloquy was held with the Buffalo* Syn. 1866 (see Buffalo Colloquy). The Mo. Syn. was represented 1866 at the Reading, Pennsylvania, conv. which preceded organization of the General* Council of the Ev. Luth. Ch. in (N) Am.; it did not join the Gen. Council. A colloquy was held 1868 with the Ev. Luth. Joint Syn. of Ohio* and Other States, on the latter's initiative, at Columbus, Ohio; it led to fellowship 1872. Agreement was reached with the Wisconsin* Syn. 1869, the Ev. Luth. Syn. of Illinois* 1872. See also Synodical Conference, 1.

16. A meeting was held 1871 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which led 1872 to organization of the Synodical* Conf., of which Walther was 1st pres.

VI. Conservation, 1887–1932.

1. The Syn. Conf. suffered severe losses as result of the predestinarian* controversy; the Ohio Syn. withdrew in bitter opposition to the Mo. Syn.; the Norw. Syn. withdrew to preserve its unity and for language reasons but remained in fellowship with the syns. of the Syn. Conf. The controversy seems to have made the Mo. Syn. even more concerned about correct doctrine and wary of entangling alliances. After Walther's death 1887 this concern and wariness became dominant.

2. F. Pieper* was pres. Conc. Sem., St. Louis, 1887–1911, syn. pres. 1899–1911; F. Pfotenhauer* was syn. pres. 1911–35. Both were conservative, emphasized confessionalism, and favored Ger. culture.

3. As a result of immigration, settlement, and expansion the Am. Frontier practically vanished 1890. In an endeavor to keep pace, the ch. used circuit riders. 1884–1935 the Mo. Syn. grew from 348,182 to 1,288,950 bap. mems., faster than the pop. growth rate to ca. 1900 and ca. the same as the pop. growth rate 1900–35.

4. Cultural isolation is reflected in the synod's stand on economic and soc. questions. Life insurance, dancing, and the theater were condemned. Pol. quietism, a rural outlook, and fear of defections became evident. Transition from Ger. to Eng. was resisted by many in fear that surrender to Eng. would mean sacrifice of doctrinal integrity. The language question was settled largely as a result of WW I. The war caused conflict in some communities, hostility against “Ger. Luths.,” destruction of property, and bodily harm. See also Language Question in the Lutheran Church [US].

5. Legislation against parochial schools was successfully resisted in the late 1880s and early 1890s esp. in Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, and Man., Can., and 1920–25 in Nebraska, Michigan, and Oregon

6. School enrollments increased but did not keep pace with ch. membership growth. By 1900 attempts were made to raise scholastic standards; in many schools the school week was increased from 4 to 5 days; instructional materials were improved. A. C. Stellhorn* was Secy. of Schools 1921–60. Dist. supts. were appointed; the first: for N Illinois 1918, Cen. 1918, Michigan. 1919. Conc. Teachers Coll., Seward, Nebraska, was founded 1894 as a preparatory dept. for the school at Addison, Illinois (see V 6).

7. The S. S. movement gained momentum in the syn. ca. 1910. First S. S. materials issued by CPH 1911. By 1935 enrollment was over 250,000. Other part-time agencies included Saturday schools, summer schools, and VBS (see also Christian Education, E 9). Walther* Coll., St. Louis, was founded 1887. Secondary schools were begun in Milwaukee 1903, Chicago 1909. Fort Wayne 1916. Ministerial preparatory schools were est. in St. Paul, Minnesota, 1893; Winfield, Kansas, 1893; Portland. Oregon, 1905; Oakland, California, 1906; Edmonton, Alberta, Can., 1921; Austin, Texas, 1926. Conc. Sem., St. Louis, was relocated 1926 on a new campus in Clayton, Missouri An institute for training pastors and teachers was est. 1903 at Bom Jesus, Sâo Lourenço, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (see also Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Districts of The, B 1). In 1924 a sem. opened at Nagercoil and a Gospel Training School and a Bible Women's Training School at Ambur, India; a teacher training school opened at Ambur 1926.

8. The syn. created a Bd. for For. Miss. 1893 and directed that work begin in Jap. But, under changing circumstances, the 1st missionaries, K. G. T. Näther* and F. E. Mohn,* were sent to India.

9. Miss. work began in Brazil 1901. A miss. to the Isle of Pines was called 1911. E. L. Arndt* organized the Ev. Luth. Miss. for China 1912. F. Brand* became Dir. of For. Miss. 1920.

The syn. adopted E. Dist. missions to Latvians and Estonians 1899, Polish and Lith. miss. 1908, Fin. miss. 1911.

10. The period also saw considerable activity on the part of welfare and benevolent socs. The Am. Luth. Bd. for Relief in Eur. was appointed 1919. Miss. and charitable activities of the syn. show that it was not wholly isolationist.

In relations with other chs. the syn. seemed to stand aloof. It maintained fellowship with syns. of the Syn. Conf. (despite friction with the Wisconsin Syn.) and with the Norw. Syn. but made no move to unite with other Luths.

11. Free* Luth. conferences were held in the early 1900s in an endeavor to heal the rift in the Syn. Conf. caused by the predestinarian* controversy of the 1880s. In 1917 the Mo. Syn. created an Intersyn. Committee which met with representatives of me Wisconsin, Buffalo, Iowa, and Ohio syns. The Chicago* Theses (Intersyn.) were adopted 1925 by representatives of the Buffalo, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin syns., but the Mo. Syn. did not adopt them. The 1929 Mo. Syn. conv. authorized drafting another set of theses; this led to the 1932 Brief* Statement.

12. The syn. presidency became a full-time office 1911. A Bd. of Dirs. was created 1917. The Gen. School Bd. and the Gen. S. S. Bd. were combined 1929 into a Bd. of Christian Educ. (see also VII, 4).

VII. Expansion, 1932 –. 1. Characterized by rapid growth, expansion of Christian educ., miss. outreach, greater lay activity, active efforts toward Luth. union, doctrinal tensions, and increase in syn. centralization and in administration.

2. Bap. syn. membership more than doubled.

3. With an increase in dists., administrative functions and full-time ex. positions increased (e.g., full-time dist. presidents and ex. secretaries of educ., miss., evangelism, and stewardship, or combinations of some of these).

4. On the syn. level, bds. and executives were added. In 1959 the office of ex. dir. was est. The 1st vice-presidency became a full-time office 1950. The Bd. of Christian Educ. (see VI, 12) was renamed The Bd. for Parish Educ. 1944, Bd. of Parish Educ. 1959, Bd. for Parish Services 1981.

5. A 9-mem. committee on higher educ. authorized by the 1929 syn. conv. became a 13-mem. Committee on Higher Educ. 1932, Bd. for Higher Educ. 1938, Bd. for Professional Education Services 1981.

Reports (1959, 1962) of the Syn. Survey Commission created by the 1956 conv. led to divisional administrative structure.

6. Conc. Pub. House (see Publication Houses, Lutheran) was expanded from time to time. KFUO (see Radio Stations, Religious, 3) has provided program materials for stations in the US and abroad. “This Is the Life” TV programs have been produced since 1952 (see Radio and Television Evangelism, Network). Conc. Hist. Institute (see Archives) was designated as the Dept. of Archives and Hist. of LCMS 1959. A Dept. of Pub. Relations was created in 1947.

7. Auxiliary agencies in or related to syn. included (1) The Walther League (see Young People's Organizations, Christian, II 3); (2) The Luth. Deaconess Assoc. (see Deaconesses, 9–14); (3) International Lutheran* Laymen's League; (4) Lutheran* Women's Missionary League; (5) Society* for the Promotion of Mohammedan Missions; (6) Lutheran* Med. Miss. Assoc.; (7) Lutheran* Educ. Assoc.; (8) Nat. Luth. Parent-Teacher League (see Parish Education, J).

8. Parish educ. was promoted vigorously, but parochial schools suffered esp. during the 1930s Great Depression.

9. S. S. enrollment more than tripled. Summer schools became almost totally defunct; Saturday schools decreased sharply in no.; vacation Bible school flourished.

10. The no. of high schools increased from 3 (1932) to 61 in 1982 in N. Am.

11. Valparaiso U. (see Universities in the United States, Lutheran, 6) also grew.

12. Concordia* Sr. Coll., Ft. Wayne, Indiana, dedicated 1958, was phased out 1976–77, Conc. Coll., Ann Arbor, Michigan, was founded 1963. (See also Concordia University System.) Christ Coll. Irvine Irvine, California, opened 1976. Entrance requirements at Conc. Sem., St. Louis, Missouri, were raised in the late 1950s to include a BA degree or its equivalent.

13. During the 1930s Great Depression the sems. produced more candidates than could be placed in ch. work. During WW II the syn. helped supply military chaplains. For. miss. expansion, a trend toward earlier retirement and est. of new congs. led to manpower shortage.

14. More extensive expansion followed WW II. New miss. fields included the Philippines 1946, Jap. and New Guinea 1948, Hong Kong 1950, Taiwan 1951, Venezuela 1951, Korea 1958, the Middle East 1959. Work in India (see VI 7–8) expanded (see also India, 13). A Bible institute at Tokyo, Jap., became a theol. school 1953. Sem. classes began 1952 in Taipei, Taiwan. A sem. est. 1955 in the Philippines at Manila moved to Baguio City 1960. A sem. was est. at Hong Kong 1959. The miss. program included elementary and secondary schools and various part-time agencies. Bible correspondence courses became prominent in for. miss. fields after the middle of the 20th c. Medical missions were fostered in India at Bethesda Hosp., Ambur (opened 1923), Malappuram (work begun 1955; dispensary [child welfare center] opened 1956), Wandoor (dispensary opened 1952; later became a hosp.), and elsewhere; in New Guinea at the Mambisanda Hosp. and related clinics; in the Philippines; in Afr. at Eket, Nigeria. In 1970 the LCMS was active in 11 for. fields. See also Middle East Lutheran Ministry.

15. H. F. Wind* was appointed ex. secy. of the dept. of soc. welfare 1953. “Cooperation in externals” led to est. of Luth. welfare councils, feds., and assocs. in NYC, Chicago, Ohio, Washington state, and elsewhere. The Armed Services Commission (called Armed Forces Commission beginning 1965) cooperated with the National* Luth. Council in maintaining service centers for military personnel.

16. Notable doctrinal statements include A Statement* and Common* Confession. Doctrinal controversies may broadly be said to have revolved around the question of fellowship. Problems in the area of Biblical studies became prominent after the middle of the 20th c.

17. A Committee on Luth. Ch. Union was created 1935. In 1938 the syn. resolved to “declare that the Brief Statement of the Missouri Synod, together with the Declaration of the representatives of the American Lutheran Church and the provisions of this entire report of Committee No. 16 now being read and with Synod's actions thereupon, be regarded as the doctrinal basis for future church-fellowship between the Missouri Synod and the American Lutheran Church” (1938 LCMS Proceedings, p. 231). The 1940 Pittsburgh* Agreement was regarded as inadequate in its statement on Scripture. The Common* Confession was “recognized as a statement in harmony with the Sacred Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions” but was not adopted “as a functioning basic document toward the establishment of altar and pulpit fellowship with other church bodies” (1956 LCMS Proceedings, p. 505). Realignment of Luth. bodies, esp. formation of The ALC 1960 and the LCA 1962 arrested the union movement.

18. The Norw. Syn. of the Am. Ev. Luth. Ch. (name changed 1958 to Ev. Luth. Syn.) suspended relations with LCMS 1955; the Wisconsin Ev. Luth. Syn. suspended fellowship with LCMS 1961.

VIII. In 1965 LCMS resolved to approve the proposed const. of the Lutheran* Council in the USA and became a participating body in that agency. In 1969 LCMS entered altar and pulpit fellowship with The ALC The 1970s brought internal strife and dissension. The 1977 conv. resolved syn. to be in a state of “fellowship in protest” with The ALC; the 1981 conv. terminated the fellowship.

A biennial cycle of convs. was adopted 1962 and ratified by the congs. during the 1962–65 triennium; triennial convs. were readopted 1981, with 3-yr. cycles to begin 1983.

IX. Pres.: C. F. W. Walther 1847–50, 1864–78; F. C. D. Wyneken 1850–64; H. C. Schwan 1878–99; F. A. O. Pieper 1899–1911; F. Pfotenhauer 1911–35; J. W. Behnken* 1935–62; O. R. Harms* 1962–69; Jacob A. O. Preus 1969–81; Ralph A. Bohlmann 1981–1992; Alvin L. Barry 1992–

HQ moved from St. Louis to Kirkwood (a western suburb of St. Louis), Missouri 1982; new internat. center there at 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd. 63122 dedicated May 29, 1983.

W. O. Forster, Zion on the Mississippi (St. Louis, 1953); K. E. Marquart, Anatomy of an Explosion (Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 1977); C. S. Meyer, Log Cabin to Luther Tower (St. Louis, 1965); Moving Frontiers, ed. C. S. Meyer (St. Louis, 1964); C. S. Mundinger, Government in the Missouri Synod (St. Louis, 1947); C. E. Vehse, Die Stephan'sche Auswanderung nach Amerika (Dresden, 1840), tr. R. Fiehler, The Stephanite Emigration to America (Tucson, Arizona, 1975).

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation, The.

See Foundation, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Lutheran Churches of the Reformation.

Fed. organized April 28–29, 1964, at Emmaus Luth. Ch., Chicago, Illinois, by congs. which withdrew from LCMS. Adheres to the Book* of Concord of 1580 and the Brief* Statement of 1932. Cong. autonomy is emphasized in its const. The fed. holds annual delegate meetings and is governed in the interim by a council of 9 or more, one-third of which are pastors. Pub. One Accord.

Lutheran Church in America.

I. Constituent bodies and date of merger. The LCA, result of merger of the AELC (see Danish Lutherans in America, 3–4), Augustana* Ev. Luth. Ch., the Suomi Syn. (see Finnish Lutherans in America, 2), and The United* Luth. Ch. in Am., was organized Detroit, Michigan, June 28–July 1, 1962, in full operation January 1, 1963.

II. History. Discussions leading to the merger were initiated by the ULC and the Augustana Ev. Luth. Ch. 1955; a joint letter dated December 16 was sent by the presidents of these chs. inviting other Luth. bodies in Am. to designate duly authorized representatives to meet to consider organic union, draft a const., and devise organizational procedures to effect union. Favorable responses were received from the AELC and the Suomi Syn. A joint Commission on Luth. Unity was formed December 1956. Negotiations proceeded on the stated assumption that common adherence to the hist. Luth. Confessions provided adequate agreement in doctrine for merger of the chs. In 1960 a proposed const. was drawn up and an Agreement of Consolidation was approved by the 4 chs.

ULC hist. background. The preamble of the 1918 ULC const. included a standing invitation to all Ev. Luth. congs. and syns. in Am. to unite in 1 gen. organization (see also United Lutheran Church in America, The, I). In 1920 the ULC recognized no doctrinal reasons against complete cooperation and organic union with chs. calling themselves Ev. Luth. and subscribing the hist. Luth. Confessions (see Washington Declaration, B). In 1928 the ULC created a Commission on Luth. Ch. Unity and in 1934 directed the ULC pres. to invite the other Luth. chs. in Am. to discussions with a view to closer relationships and set up a Special Commission on Relationships to Am. Luth. Ch. Bodies (see also Savannah Declaration). Discussions with the Mo. Syn. and the ALC (in connection with the latter see Baltimore Declaration; Pittsburgh Agreement) led to neither union nor altar and pulpit fellowship. In 1944 the ULC declared itself to be in fellowship with all other Luth. chs. in Am. which accepted the Luth. Confessions, and invited the other Luth. chs. to make the same declaration. Beginning 1948 discussions were held with The Dan. Ev. Luth. Ch. of Am. (see Danish Lutherans in America, 3) on the possibility of The Dan. Ev. Luth. Ch. of Am. becoming a syn. of the ULC.

Augustana Ev. Luth. Ch. hist. background. In 1948 both the August Ev. Luth. Ch. and the ULC proposed a fed. and/or merger of the 8 NLC chs. On invitation of the Augustana Ev. Luth. Ch., issued by its ex. council through the pres. of the ch., 34 representatives (who became known as The Committee of 34) of most of the NLC chs. met in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 4, 1949, to consider the possibility of organic union or of steps possibly leading to it. A resolution presented by ALC pres. E. F. Poppen,* to the effect that it was the sense of the group that a closer organizational affiliation of the participating bodies in the NLC was desirable and should be sought by all proper means, was unanimously adopted. A Committee of 15 was set up to prepare a structural plan for consideration by the Committee of 34. The Committee of 15 recommended (1) a referendum of the 8 NLC chs. on the question of immediate union; (2) est. of a Nat. Luth. Federation as an intermediate step toward union. But before the September 27, 1949, meeting of the Committee of 34, which was to consider these proposals, representatives of the American* Luth. Ch., The Evangelical* Luth. Ch., and UELC (see Danish Lutherans in America, 5) met (September 16, 1949) and proposed that these 3 chs. begin looking toward union. The Augustana Ev. Luth. Ch. entered into negotiations for this merger. But the following 1952 resolution of the Augustana Ev. Luth. Ch. was presented to the Committee of 45 (9 representatives of each of the ALC chs.) at Minneapolis November 10, 1952: “The Augustana Lutheran Church expresses itself as being unwilling to continue in unity discussions which are not open to all Lutheran general bodies and which do not include the considerations of the subject of ecumenical relations.” The representatives of the ALC, ELC, and UELC replied that they were without authority from their respective chs. to include all other Luth. chs., but that the question of ecumenical relations was still open. The representatives of the Augustana Ev. Luth. Ch. regarded the reply as unsatisfactory and withdrew from negotiations. In 1955 Augustana and the ULC(A) again sought to secure consideration of a merger of Luth. chs. in Am. Efforts toward union finally resulted in formation of the LCA.

III. Doctrinal basis, theol. work, spirit, and tendency.

LCA doctrinal basis: Const. “Art. II. Confession of Faith. Section 1. This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord of the Church. The Holy Spirit creates and sustains the Church through the Gospel and thereby unites believers with their Lord and with one another in the fellowship of faith.

“Section 2. This church holds that the Gospel is the revelation of God's sovereign will and saving grace in Jesus Christ. In Him, the Word Incarnate, God imparts Himself to men.

“Section 3. This church acknowledges the Holy Scriptures as the norm for the faith and life of the Church. The Holy Scriptures are the divinely inspired record of God's redemptive act in Christ, for which the Old Testament prepared the way and which the New Testament proclaims. In the continuation of this proclamation in the Church, God still speaks through the Holy Scriptures and realizes His redemptive purpose generation after generation.

“Section 4. This church accepts the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian creeds as true declarations of the faith of the Church.

“Section 5. This church accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and Luther's Small Catechism as true witnesses to the Gospel, and acknowledges as one with it in faith and doctrine all churches that likewise accept the teachings of these symbols.

“Section 6. This church accepts the other symbolical books of the evangelical Lutheran church, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, Luther's Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord as further valid interpretations of the confession of the Church.

“Section 7. This church affirms that the Gospel transmitted by the Holy Scriptures, to which the creeds and confessions bear witness, is the true treasure of the Church, the substance of its proclamation, and the basis of its unity and continuity. The Holy Spirit uses the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship. As this occurs, the Church fulfills its divine mission and purpose.”

This reflects the gen. theol. spirit and tendency of the LCA. Concentrated attention was given 1964–70 to a study of the doctrine of the ministry. Emphasis has also been laid on the church's responsibility in soc. work. Publications include M. J. Heinecken, The Meaning of the Cross and Christian Teachings: Affirmations of Faith for Lay People; W. H. Lazareth and R. O. Hjelm, Helping Youth and Adults Know Doctrine; G. W. Forell, Understanding the Nicene Creed and The Augsburg Confession: A Contemporary Commentary; J. Sittler, The Anguish of Preaching; J. H. P. Reumann and W. H. Lazareth, Righteousness and Society: Ecumenical Dialog in a Revolutionary Age; J. H. P. Reumann, Jesus in the Church's Gospels; J. A. Scherer, Mission and Unity in Lutheranism: A Study in Confession and Ecumenicity.

IV. Size and organizational structure.

As of January 1, 1970, the LCA had ca. 3,258,000 bap., ca. 2,275,000 confirmed mems.; ca. 6,200 congs., ca. 5,400 pastoral charges, 33 syns., ca., 7,600 ordained ministers.

The biennial conv. is the highest legislative authority. All congs., ministers, syns., officers, the ex. council, bds., agencies (except common agencies), and auxiliaries are bound by all actions pertaining to them taken by a conv. in conformity with the const. A pres., secy., and treas. are elected to 4-yr. terms at a regular conv. The ex. council (the 3 officers, 15 ministerial, and 15 lay mems. elected by the conv.) carries forward the work and policies of the ch. and acts for the ch. bet. convs., subject to review of its action by the following conv.

Congs. retain authority in all matters not committed to the LCA or its syns. by const. provision or by later ch. action. Syns. are agents of the ch. in admitting congs. and ministers to the ch. and in supervising and furthering ch. work in designated areas. Delegates to the convs. are elected by the syns.

A 9-mem. Court of Adjudication deals with questions of principle or practice (including questions involving disputed jurisdiction or interpretation of powers claimed or conferred by the ch.) and questions of doctrine or conscience referred to it. Its decisions are binding unless reversed by a conv. A consultative and advisory Conference of Syn. Presidents meets at least annually with the officers of the ch. to discuss problems, program, and plans affecting the syns.

V. Work. Assistance and service is made available to mem. congs. by various bds., commissions, and agencies. The Yearbook, compiled and pub. by the Bd. of Pub., provides information on organizational structure, on officers, staff, and other personnel, and on the syns., institutions, and agencies. It includes a list of colleges, sems., univs., campus pastors, summer camps, health and welfare agencies, congs., pastors, and information on Am. and World Missions work.

Colleges and univs. related to the LCA and its syns.: Augustana Coll., Rock Island, Illinois; Bethany Coll., Lindsborg, Kansas; California Lutheran Coll., Thousand Oaks, California; Carthage* Coll., Kenosha, Wisconsin; Gettysburg Coll., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Grand View Coll., Des Moines, Iowa (2-yr.); Gustavus Adolphus Coll., St. Peter, Minnesota; Lenoir Rhyne Coll., Hickory, North Carolina; Midland* Lutheran Coll., Fremont, Nebraska; Muhlenberg Coll., Allentown, Pennsylvania; Newberry Coll., Newberry, South Carolina; Roanoke Coll., Salem, Virginia; Suomi Coll., Hancock, Michigan (2-yr.); Susquehanna* U., Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania; Thiel Coll., Greenville, Pennsylvania; Upsala Coll., E. Orange, New Jersey; Wagner Coll., Staten Is., New York; Waterloo Luth. U., Waterloo, Ont., Can.; Wittenberg* U., Springfield, Ohio.

Theol. sems. related to the LCA and its syns.: Hamma School of Theol., Springfield, Ohio; Lutheran School of Theol. at Chicago, Illinois; Lutheran Theol. Sem., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Lutheran Theol. Sem., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lutheran Theol. Sem., Saskatoon, Sask., Can.; Lutheran Theol. Southern Sem., Columbia, South Carolina; Northwestern* Luth. Theol. Sem., St. Paul, Minnesota; Pacific Luth. Theol. Sem., Berkeley, California; Waterloo Luth. Sem., Waterloo, Ont., Can.

Through its Bd. of World Missions the LCA shares in work of affiliated chs. overseas and on miss. fields. Financial assistance and necessary assisting personnel are supplied. Miss. fields have included Argentina, Chile, Ethiopia (radio), Guyana, Jamaica, Hong Kong, India, Jap., Liberia, Malaysia, Peru, Taiwan, Tanzania, Trinidad, Uruguay.

With guidance and assistance of the Bd. of Am. Miss., new congs. are organized in the US and Can. Ministries have been performed among migrants, Am. Indians, and several ethnic groups.

The Bd. of Soc. Ministry is related to soc. miss. institutions and agencies through the syns., which, through committees on soc. ministry, advise and exercise gen. supervision of institutions and agencies approved and supported, directly or indirectly, by the syns. The Bd. of Soc. Ministry supplies consultative services for institutions and agencies, aids in training and placing workers, undergirds ministries to persons or groups with special needs, and helps initiate new work.

VI. Affiliations and relationships. The LCA is a mem. of the Lutheran* Council in the USA (the LCA-Can. Section [see IX] is a mem. of the Can. Luth. Council [see Canada, B 30]), the Lutheran* World Fed., the National* Council of the Chs. of Christ in the USA (the LCA-Can. Section is a mem. of the Canadian* Council of Chs.), and of the World* Council of Chs. Any Luth. ch. fostered by the Bd. of World Miss. which concurs in the LCA Confession of Faith and in its art. on Assoc. Chs. (Const., Art. XXI) is recognized as in filial assoc. An assoc., ch. may send 2 representatives to regular convs., with privilege of seat and voice. See also Fellowship, B.

VII. Official publications. Official LCA organ: The Lutheran. World Encounter is pub. by the Bd. of World Miss., Lutheran Women by the Luth. Ch. Women (LCA auxiliary); Resource is sponsored by the Bd. of Parish Educ.

VIII. Pres.: F. C. Fry* 1962–68, Robert J. Marshall 1968–.

IX. Function of syns. and relationship to gen. body.

The LCA is divided into 33 syns., which serve as agents of the ch. in implementing its program. All syns. except the Slovak Zion Syn. (see IX B 26) are organized on a geographic basis. LCA syns. in Can. constitute the LCA-Can. Section.

Principal function of syns. is shepherding constituent congs. and ministers, including oversight to conserve unity in the true faith and to guard against any departure therefrom, encouragement to the fuller employment of resources, guidance in filling vacancies in pastorates, and intervention and mediation in times of strife and division. The syns. have primary responsibility for recruiting, preparing, and ordaining ministers, receiving congs., and disciplining congs. and ministers. Responsibility for ownership and administration of theol. sems., for provision of Christian higher educ. through ch.-related colleges, for stimulating cong. evangelism and works of mercy, and for maintaining and supporting soc. mission institutions and agencies rests in the syns. Each syn. has jurisdiction in its own affairs; when the LCA deals with internal matters of a syn., the cooperation and consent of the syn. must be secured. A syn. desiring to pub. books of devotion and instruction must first secure permission from a conv. or the ex. council. Syns. may memorialize a conv. on any subject affecting the welfare of the ch.

X. The LCA merged in 1987 with the Association* of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and The American* Lutheran Church to form the Evangelical* Lutheran Church in America.

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