Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe (21 February 1808 – 2 January 1872) (often rendered 'Loehe') was a pastor of the
Lutheran
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched ...
Church, Confesional Lutheran writer, and is often regarded as being a founder of the
deaconess
The ministry of a deaconess is, in modern times, a usually non-ordained ministry for women in some Protestant, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Orthodox churches to provide pastoral care, especially for other women, and which may carry a limited l ...
movement in Lutheranism and a founding sponsor of the
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), also known as the Missouri Synod, is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 1.8 million members, it is the second-largest Lutheran body in the United States. The L ...
(LCMS). From the small town of
Neuendettelsau
Neuendettelsau is a local authority in Middle Franconia, Germany. Neuendettelsau is situated 20 miles southwest of Nuremberg and 12 miles east of Ansbach. Since 1947 it has a Lutheran seminary ( ''Augustana Hochschule'').
Diakonie Neuendettelsau ...
, he sent pastors to North America, Australia, New Guinea, Brazil, and the Ukraine. His work for a clear confessional basis within the
Bavarian church sometimes led to conflict with the ecclesiastical bureaucracy. His chief concern was that a parish find its life in the
eucharist
The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was institu ...
, and from that source evangelism and social ministries would flow. Many Lutheran congregations in Michigan, Ohio, and Iowa were either founded or influenced by missionaries sent by Löhe. He is commemorated on 2 January by the
calendars of both the LCMS and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant Lutheran church headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA was officially formed on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three Lutheran church bodies. , it has approxim ...
.
Birth and early life
Löhe was born on 21 February 1808 in the town of
Fürth
Fürth (; East Franconian: ; yi, פיורדא, Fiurda) is a city in northern Bavaria, Germany, in the administrative division ('' Regierungsbezirk'') of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the ...
in present-day
Middle Franconia
Middle Franconia (german: Mittelfranken, ) is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the west of Bavaria and borders the state of Baden-Württemberg. The administrative seat is Ansbach; however ...
. The son of a shopkeeper, his father died in 1816 and he seemed to have had a very lonely childhood. He received his basic education from C. L. Roth's
gymnasium in
Nuremberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
and was admitted to theological study at the
University of Erlangen
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
in 1826. He was heavily influenced by the
Reformed professors of theology
Christian Krafft
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...
and
Thomas von Kempen. Ultimately, he was introduced to the
Lutheran Confessions
''The Book of Concord'' (1580) or ''Concordia'' (often referred to as the ''Lutheran Confessions'') is the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church, consisting of ten credal documents recognized as authoritative in Lutheranism since ...
and became a Lutheran under the teaching of
David Hollaz. In 1828 he spent a term at the
University of Berlin
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (german: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a German public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. It was established by Frederick William III on the initiative ...
, attracted not so much by the lectures of the professors as by the sermons of the famous preachers. Löhe graduated from the Erlangen in 1830, but waited until 1831 before receiving a pastoral assignment to
Kirchenlamitz
Kirchenlamitz () is a town in the district of Wunsiedel, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated in the Fichtelgebirge, 13 km northwest of Wunsiedel
(; Northern Bavarian: ''Wåuṉsieḏl'' or ''Wousigl'') is the seat of the Upper Franconia ...
in Upper Franconia (Northeastern Bavaria).
Pastoral work
Löhe's work in
Fürth
Fürth (; East Franconian: ; yi, פיורדא, Fiurda) is a city in northern Bavaria, Germany, in the administrative division ('' Regierungsbezirk'') of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the ...
was a troubled one. His fervent
evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being " born again", in which an individual expe ...
preaching attracted large congregations and puzzled the ecclesiastical authorities. A similar experience ensued at
Nürnberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...
, where, as assistant pastor of
St. Egidien (St. Giles), he was often criticized for his sermons and his anti-
pietistic
Pietism (), also known as Pietistic Lutheranism, is a movement within Lutheranism that combines its emphasis on biblical doctrine with an emphasis on individual piety and living a holy Christian life, including a social concern for the needy and ...
leanings. He transferred through a series of parishes before settling in the village of
Neuendettelsau
Neuendettelsau is a local authority in Middle Franconia, Germany. Neuendettelsau is situated 20 miles southwest of Nuremberg and 12 miles east of Ansbach. Since 1947 it has a Lutheran seminary ( ''Augustana Hochschule'').
Diakonie Neuendettelsau ...
, Bavaria, about from Fürth, in 1837 after failing to gain an assignment in an urban setting. He was married that same year.
By most accounts, Löhe was an ideal pastor who interacted well with a variety of different classes of people. He focused his theological studies on the Lutheran Confessions and put considerable thought into the celebration of
Holy Communion
The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instituted ...
as the center of congregational life. Löhe was especially interested in old Lutheran liturgies. Löhe was also noted for his ontological view of the pastoral office, which he believed existed independently of congregational call as a direct appointment from
Jesus Christ
Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label= Hebrew/ Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and relig ...
through
ordination
Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...
, with respect to which position he found himself in opposition to
C. F. W. Walther
Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther (October 25, 1811 – May 7, 1887) was a German-American Lutheran minister. He was the first president of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and its most influential theologian. He is commemorated by that ...
.
He combined all these ideas with a heavy insistence on social renewal. Löhe endured strained relations with the regional authorities over articulating a clear confessional status for the church during a period from 1848 until 1852. At one point, he even considered leaving the church, though ultimately he was able to resolve differences between himself and the church leadership.
Missionary work
Despite being confined to a pastorate in an out-of-the-way village, which he never left, Löhe nevertheless exhibited a keen interest in missionary work. He was particularly concerned about the condition of German immigrants to North America. He solicited funds through a variety of sources to help bolster the spiritual state of the immigrant population beginning in 1841.
In 1843, responding to
F.C.D. Wyneken's ''Die Noth der deutschen Lutheraner in Nordamerika'' (English: The Distress of the German Lutherans in North America), Löhe and Rev.
Johann Friedrich Wucherer established the ''Kirchliche Mittheilungen aus und über Nord-Amerika'' (English: Church News about and from North America) in order to raise support on behalf of the needs of German Lutheran immigrants in America.
Löhe also encouraged the sending of pastors to North America to assist the settlers and help with conversion of the
Native American populations. To this end, he constructed two schools to train missionaries, one of which became
Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and the other which is now
Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Individuals sent by Löhe were instrumental in the founding of the
Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio, though Löhe withdrew his support from that synod in 1845 over doctrinal differences.
Löhe's emissaries were among the founders of the LCMS in 1846. In 1853, Löhe supporters established the
Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Iowa. While Löhe is most well remembered for his encouragement of missionary activity in the United States, he also supported work in Brazil, Ukraine, Australia, and
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torres ...
through his Foreign Missionary Society (german: Gesellschaft für Innere und Äußere Mission im Sinne der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche).
Deaconess community
In addition to being concerned about foreign matters, Löhe retained a concern for domestic social matters. Here he saw the bad situation of many unmarried girls and young women. In the rural society they had a very underprivileged status and suffered from lack of education. In this spirit, he founded the first Deaconess Mother House in 1849. The house became a place of social and education activity, hosting schools, hospitals, and other social agencies. The deaconesses lived in celibacy and in a spiritual-economic community.
Legacy
Löhe died in Neuendettelsau on 2 January 1872 at the age of sixty-three, having influenced the life of the Lutheran Church on five continents. The chapel at
Wartburg Theological Seminary
Wartburg Theological Seminary is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in Dubuque, Iowa. It offers three graduate-level degrees (MA, MA Diaconal Ministry, and M.Div.), a Theological Education for Emerging Ministries certificat ...
in
Dubuque
Dubuque (, ) is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. At the time of the 2020 census, the population of Dubuque was 59,667. The city lies at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, a ...
, Iowa, and an academic building at
Concordia Theological Seminary in
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...
, are dedicated to his memory. He had significant influence on missions, confessionalism, and liturgics as it relates to Lutheranism. He is considered one of the main persons associated with
Neo-Lutheranism
Neo-Lutheranism was a 19th-century revival movement within Lutheranism which began with the Pietist-driven '' Erweckung,'' or ''Awakening'', and developed in reaction against theological rationalism and pietism. This movement followed the Old L ...
.
Writings
''Samenkörner des Gebetes''(this is 4th, out of over 30 ed.)
Seed-grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians(''Samenkörner des Gebetes'' translated into English by H. A. Weller
complete work online
*''Sieben Predigten'' (Nürnberg, 1836)
*''Predigten über das Vaterunser'' (1837)
''Erinnerungen aus der Reformationsgeschichte von Franken'' (Nürnberg, 1847)*Drei Bücher von der Kirche (1845) - his main work, concerning
ecclesiology
In Christian theology, ecclesiology is the study of the Church, the origins of Christianity, its relationship to Jesus, its role in salvation, its polity, its discipline, its eschatology, and its leadership.
In its early history, one of t ...
*''Haus-, Schul- und Kirchenbuch für Christen lutherischen Bekenntnisses'' (Stuttgart, 1845)
*''Agende für christliche Gemeinden'' (1848). - Lutheran service book
*''Die bayerische Generalsynode vom Frühjahr 1849 und das Lutherische Bekenntnis'' (Nürnberg, 1849)
*''Unsere kirchliche Lage'' (Nördlingen, 1850)
*''Kirche und Amt, neue Aphorismen'' (Erlangen, 1851)
*''Der evangelische Geistliche'' (2 vols., 1852–58)
''Etwas aus der Geschichte des Diaconissenhauses Neuendettelsau.'' 3. Auflage. Gütersloh: C. Bertelsmann, 1907.
See also
*
Evangelical catholic
*
William Augustus Mühlenberg
*
Johann Flierl
*
Frankenmuth, Michigan
References
Further reading
* Geiger, Erika. ''The Life, Work, and Influence of Wilhelm Loehe: 1808–1872''. Translated by Wolf Dietrich Knappe. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2010.
External links
Lohe, Johann Konrad Wilhelm(New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. VII)
Löhe, Johann Konrad Wilhelmarticle in
Christian CyclopediaThe Ecclesial Vision of Wilhelm LöheBy David C. Ratke, Lenoir-Rhyne College. April 4, 2002
Lutheran Liturgies from Martin Luther to Wilhelm Löhe (PDF)by Vernon P. Kleinig, Concordia Theological Quarterly, April 1998
Project Wittenberg: Johannes Konrad Wilhelm Löhe, 1808-1872Germany Fed. Rep. 1972 stamp devoted to Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe*Wolf, Edmund Jacob
The Lutherans in America; a story of struggle, progress, influence and marvelous growth.New York: J.A. Hill. 1889.
Wilhelm Löhearticle in de.wikisource
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lohe, Johann Konrad Wilhelm
1808 births
1872 deaths
People from Fürth
German Lutheran theologians
Lutheran writers
Lutheran sermon writers
19th-century German Protestant theologians
People celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendar
German male non-fiction writers
19th-century male writers
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
19th-century Lutherans
19th-century Lutheran theologians