Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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The Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, commonly called the Norwegian Synod, was founded in February 1853 in Iowa. It included churches in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Through a series of mergers, it became part of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America (later called Evangelical Lutheran Church) in 1917, the American Lutheran Church in 1960, and currently the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

1 History
2 See also
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

1825 saw the beginning of Norwegian migration to America, and among these immigrants were a number of Lutherans. Norwegian-language Lutheran congregations began to be established in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and a Norwegian Lutheran periodical, Kirkelig Maanedstidende (Church Monthly) was launched in 1851.

In 1853 the Synod for the Norwegian-Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (the "Norwegian Synod") was organized at Koshkonong and Luther Valley near Madison, Wisconsin. The Synod adopted the ritual of the Church of Norway. Among the first denominational leaders were Herman Amberg Preus, Jakob Aal Ottesen, and Ulrik Vilhelm Koren.

In the early years Norwegian Synod seminary students were sent to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Luther College was founded near La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1861, and relocated to Decorah, Iowa, the next year. In 1876 the denomination established Luther Seminary in Madison, Wisconsin (later moved to St. Paul).

Desiring unity and cooperation with fellow Lutherans, in 1872 the Norwegian Synod was a co-founder of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America, along with the Missouri, Wisconsin, and Ohio Synods. However, the Norwegian Synod soon experienced internal division over questions concerning predestination and conversion, and during the 1880s about a third of its congregations left. These dissenting "Anti-Missourian Brotherhood" congregations joined in 1890 with the Norwegian Augustana Synod and the Norwegian-Danish Conference to form the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America (Den Forenede Kirke).

Further attempts at Lutheran unity continued into the early 20th century. The 1912 Madison Settlement (Opgjør), agreed upon by representatives of the Hauge Synod, the United Church, and the Norwegian Synod, called for doctrinal discussions and compromises to take place so that Norwegian Lutherans could unite into a single jurisdiction. The result was the Austin Agreement of 1916, and on June 9, 1917, the United Church, the Hauge Synod, and the Norwegian Synod merged to become the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.

After the merger of 1917, a small group who chose not to join the merger for doctrinal reasons, reorganized as the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (sometimes referred to as the "Little Norwegian" Synod). This group committed itself “to continue in the old doctrine and practice of the Norwegian Synod.” In 1957 it changed its name to become the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.