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Lutheranism: American Lutheranism
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A unique and ambitious enterprise, Gritsch's A History of Lutheranism is the first-ever attempt at a history of global Lutheranism. In a clear, nontechnical way, noted Reformation historian Gritsch tells the story of how the Christian reforming and confessional movement sparked and developed by Martin Luther survived its first battles with religious practices and teachings. Gritsch then traces the emergence of genuine consensus at the end of the sixteenth century, followed by the age of Lutheran Orthodoxy, the great Pietist reaction, Lutheranism's growing diversification during the Industrial Revolution, its North American expansion, and its increasingly global and ecumenical ventures in the last century. From Wittenberg to Tanzania, from Spalatin to Spener to Schmucker, Gritsch not only tells a good story; he conveys a clear notion of what is at issue and at stake in the many controversies and battles that have marked Lutheran history and offers a sympathetic presentation of the theological insights that emerged along the way. Enhanced with illustrations, photos, maps, bibliography, and chronologies.
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Depending upon the boldness and solidarity of those who are being excluded from Missouri, a major realignment of American Lutheranism could be in the works. For years the idea of "regional churches" has been discussed in some Lutheran circles. It is now possible that disenfranchised Missourians could intensify their cooperative and structural connections with other Lutherans in their regions and move toward bringing the idea to fruition. The consequence could be an American Lutheranism united, if not in one organization, at least in sacrament and mission. Preus's Missouri Synod and the much smaller Wisconsin Synod would then remain in their comer until, as is to be hoped, a resurgence of confessional and catholic consciousness one day persuades them theycannot live unto themselves. Such a realignment through the building of regional churches is at least one option that will be earnestly explored in the months ahead.
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Lutheranism arrived in America with the early European settlers. In 1625 some Dutch, German, and Scandinavian Lutherans settled in New Amsterdam (now New York City). In 1638 another early Lutheran settlement was founded by Swedes in what is now Delaware. At the beginning of the 18th century German Lutherans settled in large numbers in Pennsylvania. In 1742 Pastor Henry Melchior Muhlenberg arrived from Germany and soon founded (1748) the first Lutheran synod in North America. After the American Revolution (1775-1783), each successive group of Lutheran immigrants founded its own churches and synods and conducted its services in the language of its country of origin.
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Lutheranism in America traces its heritage to the Reformation of the sixteenth century in Germany and northern Europe, stressing justification by faith and the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist. While Lutherans may have resided in the Dutch settlements of New Netherland beginning in the mid-1620s, the first Lutheran-majority community was a Swedish colony established on the Delaware in 1638 and subsequently captured by the Dutch in 1655. During the eighteenth century... many German Lutherans settled in Pennsylvania and the southern colonies. In 1742, Henry M. Muhlenberg was sent from Germany and helped unite most Lutheran pastors in North America into the Ministerium of North America in 1748. At the close of the American Revolution, there were 120,000 Lutherans in 300 congregations throughout the new nation.
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De-confessionalization - That is the model which is taking place today in Lutheranism. For the price of de-confessionalization Reformed Christianity today is - as it has been for the most part since the sixteenth century - prepared to acknowledge the Lutheran Church. No one has anything against the Evangelical Lutheran Church taking up its residence in the great house of ecumenical Christianity. Within this house it may foster its own tradition, preserve its confession, nurse its liturgy, its tradition, and pass on its tradition and inheritance to the next generation. That is the position of Lutheranism within the ecumenical movement as represented by the World Council, the position of the Lutheran Churches of Germany within the EkiD, the position which the United Lutheran Church and the Augustana Synod accept within the "National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA," which according to the plans of Stanley Jones and others shall soon develop into an American super-EkiD. It is the position, which the Lutherans are to have in the building of conceived or planned union churches on the mission fields of the world or in the "Reunited Church" in Australia.
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The German-born clergyman and scholar Henry Melchior Muhlenberg (1711–87) is recognized as the founder of Lutheranism in the United States. Three of his sons who became clergymen made their reputations in other fields. John Peter Gabriel (1746–1807) served as a general during the American Revolution and later was elected to Congress.
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American Lutheranism