American Lutheranism

JEOPARDY!

By Erin Armstrong and

Dominique McFall Buchholz

Play game

People Places Conflicts MergersOrganized Outreach Bonus

100 100 100 100 100 100

250 250 250 250 250 250

500 500 500 500 500 500

In early colonial settlements, these people were the main impetus for church organizations, due to lack

of ordained ministers from the immigrants’ countries of origin. The importance of these people was often codified in early church organizations such as the Manhattan congregation’s constitution of 1686.

Lagerquist (25)

Who are lay people?

This leader of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod emerged as an influential leader after the exile of Martin Stephan in 1839. He was shaped both by pietist writings and immersing himself in reading Luther and his interpreters. In 1890, he was at the

center of the “Predestination Controversy,” where he held to prioritizing God’s gracious action toward

humanity over a believer’s faith.

Lagerquist (91,96)

Who is C.F.W. Walther?

This author wrote a trilogy of novels detailing the Norwegian immigrant experience during the late 1800s. These novels were unique for their time

because they did not romanticize the “American” experience, but rather looked at the harsh reality of prairie life and the loss of Norwegian culture and

identity. The library at the esteemed St. Olaf College is named after this author and professor.

Who is O.E. Rolvaag?

From the 1600's -1700's, Lutherans in the US first immigrated

predominantly from these places of origin which presented issues for

worship collaboration due to cultural and language differences.

Lagerquist (23)

What are Scandinavia, Germany, Denmark, and the

Netherlands?

The Lutheran church has historically valued higher educaiton, but the General Synod's motivation for this seminary's founding in

1826 was due to a financial and cultural need to prepare ministers with theological

education in the United States. The only other option was sending students abroad to, or

importing students from, Europe. Schmucker was the first and only professor of this

seminary at its founding.

Lagerquist (80-81)

What is Gettysburg?

This city was the home of Concordia Seminary (LC-MS), one of six seminaries established in the merely 38 years between the foundation of

Gettysburg Seminary in 1826 and its rival Philadelphia in 1864. A century later (1974) this city became the central location of American

Lutheran conflict and transition that would define that decade of American Lutheranism. This city still holds the stories of faculty

dedication to the Gospel, exiled students and faculty, and the ecumenical relationships that sustained Seminex.

Kurt K. Hendel February 19, 2004, "The Story of Seminex," lstc.eduLagerquist (81 & 104)

Video Link: http://youtu.be/HFeLZOGbJnA

What is St. Louis?

This controversy was set in motion in 1839 when Samuel Simon Schmucker anonymously released the

“Definite Synodical Platform,” in which he advocated for the General Synod to adopt a revised

or “leaner” version of the Book of Concord. Schmucker proposed changes to articles he felt were adiaphora, and potentially unhelpful for a church in

the changing religious landscape of the United States.

Lagerquist (72)

What is “American Lutheranism”?

This New York pastor epitomized the abolitionist position during the lead up to the Civil War. Though

the Lutheran Church as a whole did not take an official position, this pastor served in a small synod where slave holders were banned as lay leaders, and he advocated for denying them access to the Lord’s

Supper.

Lagerquist (68)

Who is Augustus Hermann Francke?

In response to changing cultural norms in the 1960s, and after years of study of Adam’s Fractured Rib by Margaret Sittler Ermath, two major Lutheran bodies (ALC and LCA) made the decision to ordain these

people in 1970.

Lagerquist (143)

Who are Women?

Muhlenberg was committed to ministry and demonstrated this in his relocation to the U.S. from Europe; building ecumenical relationships; and his

teaching, preaching, pastoral care, and financial regulation of a multi-point parish. It is not surprising

that Mulenberg was foundational person in the creation of this group of ministers comprising the,

"first synod linking American Lutherans to one another beyond local settings," in 1748 (Lagerquist, 52). It was not until the Henkelites that a synod was formed based on theological convictions; this synod

was connected geographically.

Lagerquist (52 & 73)

What is the Ministerium of Pennsylvania?

This synod, founded in 1820, hoped to unite Lutherans throughout the US and included New York, North

Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and the Ministerium of Pennsylvania. It was more focused on organizational

unity than David Henkel - and the Henkelites - prioritization of confessional unity. This group faced

the questions we continue to lift today regarding whether or not to alter our authoritative confessional documents, and how to balance historical Lutheran

tradition and the influence of American culture in the lives of Lutheran churches.

Lagerquist (74)

What is the General Synod?

This Lutheran denomination was birthed from merging three organizations: the Lutheran Church in America, the

Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and the American Lutheran Church. The Association of Evangelical

Lutheran Churches extended the invitation to do so in the midst of much controversy within American Lutheranism surrounding what to prioritize: mission, evangelism, the

centrality of the Confessions, or intrinsic Biblical authority. Out of much division, such as that experienced by Seminex, came an answer to the AELC's invitation in 1976 and five

years of conversation and collaboration to establish an identity that respected the voices of one another regarding the

questions that brought division in the first place.

Lagerquist (149-152)

What is the ...

Since 1836 Lutheran congregations and synods have been organizing social ministry. In 1913 “Lutherans supported sixty-one orphanages, forty-two hospitals, thirty-six old people’s homes, and five homes for the

epileptic, crippled, and feebleminded.” Today, Lutheran social ministry is organized into state

offices sponsored by both the ELCA and LCMS of this organization.

Lagerquist (105)

What is Lutheran Social Services (LSS)?

Beginning in the 1920’s this movement proved to be important to mid-century mergers and the

development of Fredrik A. Schiotz as an ALC leader. It was and is crucial “in developing a new cadre of

leaders for the church.”

Lagerquist (129)

What is Lutheran Student Movement (LSM)?

In the post-World War II time of international cooperation, this organization formed in 1947, with participation from over two dozen nations. Today, there are 144 member churches from 79 different

countries. This organization articulates its mission as “We are a global communion of churches in the

Lutheran tradition on a common journey of renewal. We strive to put our faith into action within and

beyond the communion, and seek God’s Word and Spirit to guide us.”

Lagerquist (132)www.lutheranworld.org

What is the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)?

Luther prioritized that Scripture, from which the meaning held and communicated in rituals, worship, prayer, and hymns, be

available in the vernacular. Reminiscent of Luther's centralization of scripture, Henzel

worked to, "return to the confessional basis of Lutheranism," (Lagerquist, 73). In 1851 - over a century after the establishment of Lutheran churches in the US - this book was printed in

the vernacular of the American Lutheran churches, English.

What is the Book of Concord?

An increase of this many minority members would have been required per year in order to

meet the “Goals and Plans for Minority Ministry,” established by the Lutheran Church in America in 1978. The goal was to establish a racial makeup that was proportionate to that

of the nation as a whole. A focus on multicultural ministry was maintained in the

establishment of the ELCA and this long standing dilemma has yet to be solved as

multicultural membership currently makes up 3% of the ELCA. (Lagerquist, 140) 

What is 15,000 multicultural members?

Scandinavian stereotypes of the Lutheran Church have been perpetuated since

1974 by this radio humorist. This radio personality chronicles the uber

Scandinavian town of Lake Wobegon, sharing glimpses into the norms and

conflicts of congregational life. Recent tension arose due to the transition from Pastor Ingqvist to Pastor Liz, a woman.

Who is Garrison Keillor?

FINAL JEOPARDY

Early Struggles

According to Lagerquist, this was the biggest obstacle for early Lutheran

settlements in establishing long-lasting congregations.

What is lack of ordained clergy?