Strangers to Sisters - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Library: Essays

More documents

Recommendations

Info

some joint work in the Synodical Conference Negro Mission and the short-lived Wittenberg Academy 9 there is very little direct contact recorded between the Wisconsin and Norwegian Synods. Moreover, in the years leading up to the Norwegian merger (1911-1917), most references to the Wisconsin Synod by the Norwegian Synod or to the Norwegian Synod by the Wisconsin Synod are negative. For instance, in 1912 John Schaller of the Wisconsin Synod wrote and published in the Quartalschrift a detailed analysis of the weaknesses of the Madison Settlement. Schaller’s article was interpreted as an attack against the Norwegian Synod by H.G. Stub, then president of the Norwegian Synod and the motivating force behind the merger. Stub later filed a protest against Schaller in the Synodical Conference and used Schaller as a straw man in his agenda to distance the Norwegian Synod from the influence of the Synodical Conference. 10 So what brought these two synods, ELS and WELS, so different in culture, language, and historical development and with a touchy history before 1917, into the fraternal and confessional relationship they share today? What made these strangers into sisters? A cursory explanation will credit the Missouri Synod as the force that brought 9 Wittenberg Academy was a joint educational endeavor of the Norwegian, Wisconsin, and Missouri Synods in Wittenberg, WI. The academy only operated from 1901-13. While the majority of students who attended there studied for practical professions, there were also courses designed for students going on to Luther College, Decorah, IA and the Concordia System. Three influential graduates from this institution would be Pastor Adolph Zuberbier (’05), Wisconsin Synod pastor and missionary to the Apaches; Pastor Norman Madson (’06), ELS pastor and the first Bethany Theological Seminary Dean; Pastor Paul Kretzmann (’06), pastor and professor in the LCMS, author of Popular Commentary, and later founder of the Orthodox Lutheran Conference. Of members of the faculty, Wittenberg Academy’s principal, E.J. Onstad would go on to be a charter member of the ELS and teach at Bethany Lutheran College; E.H. Buerger would go on to serve as principal of Milwaukee Lutheran High School for 26 years (1923-1949); J.T. Mueller would go on to serve as a professor at Concordia Theological Seminary-St. Louis and author numerous books including Christian Dogmatics. 10 Schaller (along with Professors Franz Pieper and W.H.T. Dau from the LCMS) had originally been chosen as part of a three-man committee from the Synodical Conference to try to plead with the Norwegian Synod to refrain from the merger. Schaller, due to his article, was replaced shortly afterward by Benjamin Schleutter. 10
these two synods into closer contact with each other. Similarly, Missouri’s subsequent departure from its historic, scriptural, and confessional position had the inevitable effect of drawing these two synods into a more intimate relationship. Yet, the closer this explanation is compared to the available evidence the sooner one sees that Missouri’s role alone cannot explain why the WELS and the ELS grew so close together. This “Missouri-hypothesis” does not explain why the ELS, as a whole, consciously refrained from joining conservative break-off groups from the Missouri Synod, like the Orthodox Lutheran Conference or why a relatively small number of their congregations joined the Church of the Lutheran Confession. It also cannot explain why Wisconsin in 1935 sought out the ELS’ opinion first when discussing how to formulate a reply to the Open Invitation of President Knubel of the ULCA. It also cannot explain why both the WELS and ELS were snubbed by the ALC in its invitation to discuss fellowship with Missouri. It cannot explain the ELS’ vigorous defense of the WELS’ doctrine of church and ministry against conservative LCMS voices in the Confessional Lutheran like John Buenger and Paul Kretzmann. It is the assertion of this thesis, therefore, that what truly has bonded the WELS and ELS together is a common hermeneutical approach to the Holy Scriptures, which makes direct study of the Scriptures primary to the confessional writings or the opinions of the fathers. While both synods greatly valued and upheld the Lutheran Confessions, while they honored the writings of the orthodox fathers, they both realized that the Scriptures alone define the doctrine and practice of the Church. It was this firmly fixed hermeneutical principle that bound these two synods together. As they grew to understand each other, they realized that they talked the same hermeneutical language, 11
Page 1 and 2: WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY STRANGE
Page 3 and 4: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to gra
Page 5 and 6: Yet, the Norwegian Synod suffered h
Page 7 and 8: constitution, the reference to the
Page 9: Minnesota had reservations about th
Page 13 and 14: Part I: Getting to know the Scriptu
Page 15 and 16: strengthening and encouraging the f
Page 17 and 18: University of Leipzig. 18 His main
Page 19 and 20: voice, as in an ecstasy, breathed t
Page 21 and 22: unbelief, in recent times such men
Page 23 and 24: So will we cling fast to the Lord m
Page 25 and 26: Koren sees Kierkegaard as a one who
Page 27 and 28: We acknowledge with gratitude towar
Page 29 and 30: Of the founders of the Norwegian Sy
Page 31 and 32: The Election Controversy was really
Page 33 and 34: ule or judge in matters of faith, n
Page 35 and 36: The Norwegian Synod lived its motto
Page 37 and 38: are sitting, like ourselves, theore
Page 39 and 40: we do? Why stand aloof against a cu
Page 41 and 42: that poor, unscriptural hermeneutic
Page 43 and 44: congregation, not us listeners.”
Page 45 and 46: elieve for them, such as is the cas
Page 47 and 48: Chapter 2 The Wauwatosa Theology Th
Page 49 and 50: Hoenecke developed and passed on to
Page 51 and 52: Third, one dare not limit this auth
Page 53 and 54: For Hoenecke, the way we let Script
Page 55 and 56: It may never be forgotten, that the
Page 57 and 58: inging unity to the various Luthera
Page 59 and 60: A fuller analysis of the Wauwatosa
Page 61 and 62:
One of the chief terms used by orth
Page 63 and 64:
None of this is to say the Wauwatos
Page 65 and 66:
the church unperverted. It thus has
Page 67 and 68:
synods over the years. But as will
Page 69 and 70:
We believe it best to wait until 19
Page 71 and 72:
Finally, the doctrinal controversie
Page 73 and 74:
E.B. Schluetter, and delivered the
Page 75 and 76:
students. Ylvisaker had resigned hi
Page 77 and 78:
teaching English, Norse, Latin, Alg
Page 79 and 80:
Waltonite, and scare ‘em into ret
Page 81 and 82:
DMLC were fraternal visitors at the
Page 83 and 84:
accepted a call to serve his sister
Page 85 and 86:
experiment never really took off, p
Page 87 and 88:
point. Bethany had not been entrust
Page 89 and 90:
the internal shake-up at Bethany an
Page 91 and 92:
growing tense, not only among those
Page 93 and 94:
ehind the back of the Wisconsin Syn
Page 95 and 96:
With such deep sentiments and histo
Page 97 and 98:
weight around, intruded upon a very
Page 99 and 100:
Tjernagel contends vehemently that
Page 101 and 102:
of the ELS, as well as her wariness
Page 103 and 104:
Paul, MN the possibility Ohio and I
Page 105 and 106:
Take for instance the procedure ado
Page 107 and 108:
meeting has lapsed, I am forced in
Page 109 and 110:
Dear Gullixson! I had just sat down
Page 111 and 112:
to them what they should speak and
Page 113 and 114:
conferences. By entering into a rel
Page 115 and 116:
Chapter 2 Relations confirmed and s
Page 117 and 118:
sent out by a Chicago group, I shal
Page 119 and 120:
have good reasons to refrain for ex
Page 121 and 122:
Tjernagel: Today conditions have be
Page 123 and 124:
At the Synodical Conference convent
Page 125 and 126:
The ELS, in her desire to mediate a
Page 127 and 128:
Such remarks are telling not only o
Page 129 and 130:
America, Elling Eielsen. Eielsen in
Page 131 and 132:
But even the faithful few who had l
Page 133 and 134:
establishes all functions of the mi
Page 135 and 136:
2.) By virtue of the work they do,
Page 137 and 138:
Scripture. 257 The ELS, due to its
Page 139 and 140:
Wisconsin, ELS and the faithful of
Page 141 and 142:
Lillegard was the foremost exegete
Page 143 and 144:
“congregation” has a much narro
Page 145 and 146:
this is definitely a Lutheran princ
Page 147 and 148:
What makes the testimony and defens
Page 149 and 150:
terms. He is persuaded now that the
Page 151 and 152:
III. The Fehner Case (1949-1953) Th
Page 153 and 154:
Immanuel during a difficult time. B
Page 155 and 156:
there would not be any scouting at
Page 157 and 158:
Bethany Lutheran College and the Ev
Page 159 and 160:
The trouble makers had then proceed
Page 161 and 162:
pro and some con. To make matters w
Page 163 and 164:
congregation, and that our privileg
Page 165 and 166:
cease such offensive practice.” 3
Page 167 and 168:
teachings of these revered teachers
Page 169 and 170:
pastor’s point of view, that both
Page 171 and 172:
How much of this can be attributed
Page 173 and 174:
alarming rate. The water of controv
Page 175 and 176:
where the one advocating them refus
Page 177 and 178:
Reim: challenges Harms’ limitatio
Page 179 and 180:
gave public testimony to the interc
Page 181 and 182:
efusing to accept the Brief Stateme
Page 183 and 184:
Yet, there does remain a present va
Page 185 and 186:
ecclesiastical details or the weigh
Page 187 and 188:
The study of this era shows that th
Page 189 and 190:
BIBLIOGRAPHY Books Aaberg, Theodore
Page 191 and 192:
Schroeder, Morton A Time to Remembe
Page 193 and 194:
http://www.blts.edu/essays/korenUV/
Page 195 and 196:
Ylvisaker, S.C. “The National Lut
Page 197 and 198:
Harstad, Bjug. “Sermon of Genesis
Page 199 and 200:
Zimmermann, Paul. “Scripture Inte
Page 201 and 202:
C.M. Gullerud to Hugo Gamber, lette
Page 203 and 204:
Gervasius Fischer to C.M. Gullerud,
Page 205 and 206:
John Brenner to Norman Madson, lett
Page 207 and 208:
Minutes of the Meeting of The Commi
Page 209 and 210:
Oscar Naumann to C.M. Gullerud, let
Page 211:
Stuart Dorr to the pastors of the N
show all

Strangers to Sisters - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Library: Essays

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?