American Evangelical Lutheran Church
Encyclopedia
The American Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) was one of the many denominations
formed when Lutherans immigrated to America. Originally known as the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (DELCA), the predominantly Danish-American church was informally known as "the Danish Church."
In 1872 Grundtvigian
pastors and lay people from Denmark formed a Church Mission Society. The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was started in 1874 and formally organized as a synod in Neenah, Wisconsin
in 1878. A constitution was accepted in 1879, and the present name was adopted in 1954. In 1962 the AELC–with about 24,000 members–joined the Lutheran Church in America
.
The AELC established Grand View College and Seminary in 1896.
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
formed when Lutherans immigrated to America. Originally known as the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (DELCA), the predominantly Danish-American church was informally known as "the Danish Church."
In 1872 Grundtvigian
Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig
Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig , most often referred to as simply N. F. S. Grundtvig, was a Danish pastor, author, poet, philosopher, historian, teacher, and politician. He was one of the most influential people in Danish history, as his philosophy gave rise to a new form of nationalism in...
pastors and lay people from Denmark formed a Church Mission Society. The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was started in 1874 and formally organized as a synod in Neenah, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 1878. A constitution was accepted in 1879, and the present name was adopted in 1954. In 1962 the AELC–with about 24,000 members–joined the Lutheran Church in America
Lutheran Church in America
The Lutheran Church in America was a U.S. and Canadian Lutheran church body that existed from 1962 to 1987. It was headquartered in New York City and its publishing house was Fortress Press....
.
The AELC established Grand View College and Seminary in 1896.
Presidents
- J. A. Heiberg 1874–1879
- A. S. Nielsen 1879-1883
- T. Helveg 1883–1885
- A. S. Nielsen 1885–1887
- J. Pedersen 1887–1888
- A. L. J. Söholm 1888–1891
- A. S. Nielsen 1891–1893
- O. L. Kirkeberg 1893-1893
- A. S. Nielsen 1893–1894
- K. C. Bodholdt 1894–1895
- P. Kjölhede 1895–1903
- K. C. Bodholdt 1903–1911
- N. P. Gravengaard 1911–1918
- K. C. Bodholdt 1918–1922
- S. D. Rodholm 1922–1926
- H. Jörgensen 1926–1936
- Alfred Jensen 1936–1960
- Anders E. Farstrup 1960–1962
External links
- Wolf, Edmund Jacob. The Lutherans in America; a story of struggle, progress, influence and marvelous growth. New York: J.A. Hill. 1889.
- ELCA predecessor church bodies