Eielsen Synod
Encyclopedia
The Eielsen Synod was a Lutheran church body
. It was founded in 1846 at Jefferson Prairie Settlement
, Wisconsin
by a group of Haugean Lutherans
led by Elling Eielsen
.
. Elling Eielsen and his supporters continued the synod under the 1846 church constitution in Jackson
, Minnesota
.
The Eielsen Synod emphasized the importance of repentance, conversion and lay preaching. It opposed ritualism, formal worship, clerical vestments, and clerical authority.The Eielsen Synod had 1,500 members in ten churches by 1953. In 1971, it had 75 members scattered among churches in French Lake
and Jackson, Minnesota
, Centerville, South Dakota
, Taylor
and Lodi, Wisconsin
.
In 1985, there were approximately 50 members at just three churches: Stall Norwegian Church in Jackson, Minnesota
Bethania Lutheran (Lodi / Eau Claire WI) and Immanuel in French Lake, Minnesota. The synod
is still actively seeking ordained men following the Original Lutheran Constitution to assist w/ spreading the Gospel of Jesus. As of 2007, Immanuel Lutheran Church is one of two churches still active that are affiliated with the Eielsen Synod. Immanuel is now an independent Lutheran church. Please note the Eielson Synod is still in existence with a minister ordained on May 10, 2008 by the presiding president of Bethania ELCA-Eielson Church. Martin Leroy Bystol was the active President of such ministry of the Eielsen Synod - faithful until his death and eternal rest w/ Jesus Christ - his Lord and Savior. Rev Orvin L. Bystol is an ordained minister and resides in Eau Claire, where the church is located also. (Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church of America- Eielsen Synod Eau Claire WI)
Rev O.L. Bystol is prayerfully interested in any other ordained ministers that would hold true to the confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and would follow the original constitution of the Eielsen Synod to contact him any time to help spread, and share in reviving congregations of the Eielsen Lutheran Synod and share the Gospel of Christ in these last days.
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
. It was founded in 1846 at Jefferson Prairie Settlement
Jefferson Prairie Settlement
Jefferson Prairie Settlement was a pioneer colony of Norwegian-Americans located near the village of Clinton, in Rock County, Wisconsin. This site and the nearby Rock Prairie settlement outside Orfordville, Wisconsin served as a center for both Norwegian immigration and developments within the...
, 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...
by a group of Haugean Lutherans
Haugean
Haugean was a pietistic state church reform movementintended to bring new life and vitality into a Norwegian State Church which had been often characterized by formalism and lethargy....
led by Elling Eielsen
Elling Eielsen
Elling Eielsen was an American minister and Lutheran Church leader.-Background:Eielsen was born on the farm of Sunve in Voss, Norway and brought up in the religious tradition of Hans Nielsen Hauge...
.
Background
There were church splits in 1848, 1856 and a large split in 1876. In 1876 the synod founded by Eielsen numbered 24 pastors, 59 congregations, and 7,500 members. That year a split occurred and many of the clergymen and congregations left the Eielsen Synod and organized the Hauge SynodHauge Synod
The Hauge Synod, was the name of a Norwegian Lutheran church body in the United States in the late 19th century and early 20th century.-Background:...
. Elling Eielsen and his supporters continued the synod under the 1846 church constitution in Jackson
Jackson, Minnesota
Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.-Geography:...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
The Eielsen Synod emphasized the importance of repentance, conversion and lay preaching. It opposed ritualism, formal worship, clerical vestments, and clerical authority.The Eielsen Synod had 1,500 members in ten churches by 1953. In 1971, it had 75 members scattered among churches in French Lake
French Lake Township, Minnesota
French Lake Township is a township in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,130 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
and Jackson, Minnesota
Jackson, Minnesota
Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.-Geography:...
, Centerville, South Dakota
Centerville, South Dakota
Centerville is a city in Turner County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 882 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Centerville is located at ....
, Taylor
Taylor, Wisconsin
Taylor is a village in Jackson County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Trempealeau River. The population was 513 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Taylor is located at ....
and Lodi, Wisconsin
Lodi, Wisconsin
Lodi is a city in Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the census of 2000, the population was 2,882. The city's estimated 2005 population was 2,929...
.
In 1985, there were approximately 50 members at just three churches: Stall Norwegian Church in Jackson, Minnesota
Jackson, Minnesota
Jackson is a city in Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jackson County.-Geography:...
Bethania Lutheran (Lodi / Eau Claire WI) and Immanuel in French Lake, Minnesota. The synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
is still actively seeking ordained men following the Original Lutheran Constitution to assist w/ spreading the Gospel of Jesus. As of 2007, Immanuel Lutheran Church is one of two churches still active that are affiliated with the Eielsen Synod. Immanuel is now an independent Lutheran church. Please note the Eielson Synod is still in existence with a minister ordained on May 10, 2008 by the presiding president of Bethania ELCA-Eielson Church. Martin Leroy Bystol was the active President of such ministry of the Eielsen Synod - faithful until his death and eternal rest w/ Jesus Christ - his Lord and Savior. Rev Orvin L. Bystol is an ordained minister and resides in Eau Claire, where the church is located also. (Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church of America- Eielsen Synod Eau Claire WI)
Rev O.L. Bystol is prayerfully interested in any other ordained ministers that would hold true to the confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and would follow the original constitution of the Eielsen Synod to contact him any time to help spread, and share in reviving congregations of the Eielsen Lutheran Synod and share the Gospel of Christ in these last days.
Other sources
- Preus Jr., J. A. O. Protesting Norwegians (America's Lutherans. Ed. Omar Bonderud and Charles Lutz Columbus OH: Wartburg Press 1958)
External links
- History of Immanuel Lutheran Church and Eielsen Synod (2007) Updated version of below article
- History of Immanuel Lutheran Church and Eielsen Synod (1998)
- The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod Christian Cyclopedia
- Eielsen Synod Membership numbers
- Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod article
- A Little Lecture on Little Little-Known Lutheran Synods by Edward C. Fredrich (PDF)
- Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-Eielson Synod in Portage