Father Arthur Carl Kreinheder, C.S.C. (October 1, 1905 – October 13, 1989) was an American
Lutheran
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
monk and founder of a Lutheran religious order, The Congregation of the Servants of Christ.
Biography
Kreinheder was born in
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center ...
. His father, Oscar Carl Kreinheder (1877-1946), was a pastor of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the president of
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University (Valpo) is a private university in Valparaiso, Indiana. It is a Lutheran university with about 3,000 students from over 50 countries on a campus of . Originally named Valparaiso Male and Female College, Valparaiso Universit ...
from 1930 to 1939.
After a successful career as a businessman, Arthur Carl Kreinheder went 1950 to study theology at
Lund University
, motto = Ad utrumque
, mottoeng = Prepared for both
, established =
, type = Public research university
, budget = SEK 9 billion St. Laurence Foundation.FKE:s historia Already before he had been in touch with
Taizé Community
The Taizé Community is an ecumenical Christian monastic fraternity in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. It is composed of more than one hundred brothers, from Catholic and Protestant traditions, who originate from about thirty countrie ...
in formation. Briefly, in 1955, he became a novice in the Taize Community.
Kreinheder was ordained to the priesthood in 1956 in Lund by Bishop
Anders Nygren
Anders Theodor Samuel Nygren (15 November 1890, Gothenburg – 20 October 1978, Lund) was a Swedish Lutheran theologian. He was professor of systematic theology at Lund University from 1924 and was elected Bishop of Lund
List of (arch)bishop ...
and Bishop Gustaf Aulen "for ecumenical work in the United States among Lutherans."
"The Congregation of the Servants of Christ", a Lutheran Benedictine community, was established at St. Augustine's House in 1958 when some other men joined Father Arthur in observing the monastic life and offices of prayer. Through father Arthur there was right in the beginning a connection with Östanbäck Monastery in Sweden after its foundation.
Father Arthur was involved in
Christian ecumenism
Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...
and he was the U.S. secretary of the League for Evangelical-Catholic Reunion.
At the age of 84 Father Arthur Carl Kreinheder died (on Friday, October 13, 1989) in a Pontiac, Michigan, hospital. He had never recovered fully form a stroke suffered in the preceding July. He is buried in the cemetery at St. Augustine's House.
References
*Don Ranly: "Vigil for Unity, The Story of Fr. Arthur Kreinheder, C.S.C., Lutheran Monk," Pio Decimo Press, St. Louis, MO, 1964.
Saint Augustine's House http://www.staugustineshouse.org/