Strangers to Sisters - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Library: Essays

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mission field in Madison. So troubled was Tjernagel that he spent the better part of his 6- hour train ride back to Lawler, IA composing a letter to Pastor Bergholz. His chief intent was getting the Wisconsin men to realize their wrong against his Synod. Tjernagel’s correspondence with Pastor Bergholz gives a glimpse into the wounded psyche of the pastors of the reorganized Norwegian Synod. The entire first page of the letter is spent trying to explain to Pastor Bergholz their sensitivity to Wisconsin’s intrusion upon their historic mission field, It may be that you can not fully understand my sensitiveness and that of my brethren in the Norwegian Synod on this point, you may be inclined to judge us as super-sensitive, yes, even tempted to suspicion it all as a subterfuge. 188 But there is something else that worried Tjernagel. Do the Wisconsin men realize that such high-handed tactics, no matter how well intentioned, will be used to create a spirit of distrust among those who had lost so much in their confessional stand? Do they not realize that many Norwegian men might question, “If this is how my brother treats me, the enemy might be preferable!” I believe I can include all of my Norwegian brethren and say “we” all bear wounds of conscience dating back to the tears before the Norwegian merger which are healed or only partly healed, according to the measure of faith in the forgiveness of sins through Christ our Savior as possessed by the Old Norwegian Synod… As I look back over the period of some 15 years before the lamentable merger of 1917 I can easily discern the lack of brotherly love as the poison gas that finally caused the fall of the brave regiment in God’s army to which I belong… I am frank and bold to state that the smell of that deadly gas is strong within the Synodical Conference. 189 188 H.M. Tjernagel to Julius Bergholz, letter, December 3, 1925, ELS Presidential Files: 1920s. Evangelical Lutheran Synod Archives, Mankato, MN. 189 Ibid. 98
Tjernagel contends vehemently that this matter is not simply a case of miscommunication. The Wisconsin men had erred against the Norwegian brothers working in that area by intruding in their field of labors without so much as a brotherly conversation. This error and its recognition was the primary concern of the Norwegian men. They wanted a public recognition that the Wisconsin men had erred in their practice. Until they receive this, any talk about practical matters must be put aside. Tjernagel makes it clear that his goal is not to win a victory over Wisconsin, but “a victory over our common enemy, he who seeks to destroy our souls. For what are such troubles as have arisen between us brothers but the insidious machinations of our foxy foe, the devil?” 190 To further demonstrate this, Tjernagel, anticipating that the Western Wisconsin District would fully acknowledge their sin and repent, suggests that they take over the area completely, but as an English mission. Tjernagel’s generosity is evidence of his humility of spirit and his fervent desire to have good relations with his Wisconsin Synod brethren. 191 Bergholz replied to Tjernagel in a letter dated December 7, 1925. In his response, Bergholz clearly shows he repents of the hurt that the Wisconsin Synod men had caused the Norwegian brethren. In his response to Tjernagel (which he also forwarded to Abelmann and Thurow), Bergholz personally admits that the standard protocol had been violated. In addition, Bergholz shares the same worry that Tjernagel has about the Synodical Conference. But of more significance are his comments (in German) to 190 Ibid. 191 Ylvisaker to Tjernagel, letter, December 8, 1925, ELS Presidential Files: 1920s. Evangelical Lutheran Synod Archives, Mankato, MN. Tjernagel’s suggestion was perhaps too much for the Norwegians pastors in Madison. Ylvisaker was uncomfortable with the offer to turn over work to the Wisconsin Synod. To him, such an offer seemed to be bargaining for the repentance of Wisconsin. Ylvisaker also did not believe that the suggestion of turning over the field to Wisconsin would be accepted by the members already gathered under his auspices. 99
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WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY STRANGE
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to gra
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Yet, the Norwegian Synod suffered h
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constitution, the reference to the
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Minnesota had reservations about th
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these two synods into closer contac
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Part I: Getting to know the Scriptu
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strengthening and encouraging the f
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University of Leipzig. 18 His main
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voice, as in an ecstasy, breathed t
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unbelief, in recent times such men
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So will we cling fast to the Lord m
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Koren sees Kierkegaard as a one who
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We acknowledge with gratitude towar
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Of the founders of the Norwegian Sy
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The Election Controversy was really
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ule or judge in matters of faith, n
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The Norwegian Synod lived its motto
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are sitting, like ourselves, theore
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we do? Why stand aloof against a cu
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that poor, unscriptural hermeneutic
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congregation, not us listeners.”
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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: weight around, intruded upon a very
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
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terms. He is persuaded now that the
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III. The Fehner Case (1949-1953) Th
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Immanuel during a difficult time. B
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there would not be any scouting at
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Bethany Lutheran College and the Ev
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The trouble makers had then proceed
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pro and some con. To make matters w
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congregation, and that our privileg
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cease such offensive practice.” 3
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teachings of these revered teachers
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pastor’s point of view, that both
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How much of this can be attributed
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alarming rate. The water of controv
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where the one advocating them refus
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Reim: challenges Harms’ limitatio
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gave public testimony to the interc
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efusing to accept the Brief Stateme
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Yet, there does remain a present va
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ecclesiastical details or the weigh
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The study of this era shows that th
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BIBLIOGRAPHY Books Aaberg, Theodore
Page 191 and 192:
Schroeder, Morton A Time to Remembe
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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
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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
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Oscar Naumann to C.M. Gullerud, let
Page 211:
Stuart Dorr to the pastors of the N
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