J. A. O. Preus II
Encyclopedia
Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus II (January 8, 1920 – August 13, 1994) was a Lutheran
pastor, professor, author, and church president. He served as the president of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
from 1969-1981. He was a major figure in the Seminex
affair which resulted in a schism
in the Missouri Synod.
Preus attended Luther Seminary
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
, graduating in 1945. He was ordained a pastor and served several congregations in Minnesota. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota
in 1951.
In 1958, he moved to Concordia Theological Seminary
, then in Springfield, Illinois
. He became the president of the seminary in 1962.
In 1969, Preus was elected president of the Missouri Synod, upsetting the incumbent, Oliver Harms
. Preus represented a theologically more conservative
wing of the Missouri Synod, and his administration worked to reverse the policies of the more moderate administrations preceding his.
In 1973-74, a battle over teachings at the Missouri Synod's flagship seminary, Concordia Seminary
in St. Louis
, resulted in the suspension of the president of Concordia Seminary, John Tietjen
, and a walkout of seminary professors and students commonly referred to as Seminex
. This resulted in a schism in the Missouri Synod, with a small group leaving the synod to form the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches
. The AELC served as a catalyst for the merger of the moderate and liberal
Lutheran churches in the United States into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
in 1988.
Preus was named President Emeritus of the Missouri Synod in 1992.
Preus was known as a scholar of the Orthodoxy period of Lutheran history, especially of Lutheran theologian Martin Chemnitz
. He translated many of Chemnitz's works into English
, and wrote a biography of Chemnitz, The Second Martin: The Life and Theology of Martin Chemnitz.
Preus' father, J. A. O. Preus
, was a politician who served as Minnesota's
eighth state auditor
and 20th governor
. His brother, Robert Preus
, was a professor at Concordia Seminary and later president of Concordia Theological Seminary. His son, J. A. O. Preus III
, was a professor at Concordia Seminary and is the past president of Concordia University
in Irvine, California
.
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
pastor, professor, author, and church president. He served as the president of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
from 1969-1981. He was a major figure in the Seminex
Seminex
Seminex is the widely used abbreviation for Concordia Seminary in Exile . An institution for the training of Lutheran ministers, Seminex existed from 1974 to 1987. It was formed after a walk-out by dissident faculty and students of Concordia Seminary in St...
affair which resulted in a schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
in the Missouri Synod.
Preus attended Luther Seminary
Luther Seminary
Luther Seminary is the largest seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America . Located in the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood of St...
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, graduating in 1945. He was ordained a pastor and served several congregations in Minnesota. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1951.
In 1958, he moved to Concordia Theological Seminary
Concordia Theological Seminary
The Concordia Theological Seminary is an institution of theological higher education of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod , located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, dedicated primarily to the preparation of pastors for the congregations and missions of the LCMS...
, then in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
. He became the president of the seminary in 1962.
In 1969, Preus was elected president of the Missouri Synod, upsetting the incumbent, Oliver Harms
Oliver Raymond Harms
Oliver Raymond Harms was President of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod from 1962 to 1969....
. Preus represented a theologically more conservative
Conservative Christianity
Conservative Christianity is a term applied to a number of groups or movements seen as giving priority to traditional Christian beliefs and practices...
wing of the Missouri Synod, and his administration worked to reverse the policies of the more moderate administrations preceding his.
In 1973-74, a battle over teachings at the Missouri Synod's flagship seminary, Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary is located in Clayton, Missouri, an inner-ring suburb on the western border of St. Louis, Missouri. The institution's primary mission is to train pastors, deaconesses, missionaries, chaplains, and church leaders for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod . The current president of...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, resulted in the suspension of the president of Concordia Seminary, John Tietjen
John Tietjen
John Tietjen was a Lutheran clergyman, theologian, and national church leader in the United States. He is best known both for his role in the Seminex controversy which roiled the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the mid-1970s, and for his efforts on behalf of Lutheran unity that resulted in...
, and a walkout of seminary professors and students commonly referred to as Seminex
Seminex
Seminex is the widely used abbreviation for Concordia Seminary in Exile . An institution for the training of Lutheran ministers, Seminex existed from 1974 to 1987. It was formed after a walk-out by dissident faculty and students of Concordia Seminary in St...
. This resulted in a schism in the Missouri Synod, with a small group leaving the synod to form the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches
Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches
The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches was a U.S. church body that existed from 1976 through the end of 1987. The AELC formed when approximately 250 dissident congregations withdrew from the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in 1976, and ended as an independent body when it became part...
. The AELC served as a catalyst for the merger of the moderate and liberal
Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
Lutheran churches in the United States into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
in 1988.
Preus was named President Emeritus of the Missouri Synod in 1992.
Preus was known as a scholar of the Orthodoxy period of Lutheran history, especially of Lutheran theologian Martin Chemnitz
Martin Chemnitz
Martin Chemnitz was an eminent second-generation Lutheran theologian, reformer, churchman, and confessor...
. He translated many of Chemnitz's works into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and wrote a biography of Chemnitz, The Second Martin: The Life and Theology of Martin Chemnitz.
Preus' father, J. A. O. Preus
J. A. O. Preus
Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus was an American politician. He served as the 8th state auditor of Minnesota from January 5, 1915 to January 5, 1921, and as the 20th Governor of Minnesota from January 5, 1921 to January 6, 1925. He was a Republican.-Background:He was born in Columbia County, Wisconsin on...
, was a politician who served as Minnesota's
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...
eighth state auditor
Minnesota State Auditor
The Minnesota State Auditor is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. State of Minnesota. The State Auditor is charged with overseeing more than $20 billion spent annually by local governments in Minnesota...
and 20th governor
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
. His brother, Robert Preus
Robert Preus
Robert David Preus was an American Lutheran pastor, professor, author, and seminary president.-Biography:...
, was a professor at Concordia Seminary and later president of Concordia Theological Seminary. His son, J. A. O. Preus III
J. A. O. Preus III
Dr. Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus III is the former president of Concordia University in Irvine, California. He served as president of the university from 1998–2009. Previously, he was a professor at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri...
, was a professor at Concordia Seminary and is the past president of Concordia University
Concordia University, Irvine
Concordia University is a private, liberal arts university located in Irvine, California, United States and affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. It offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in six colleges and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges...
in Irvine, California
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
.
External links
- Concordia Historical Institute
- Martin Chemnitz on the Doctrine of Justification by J. A. O. Preus II
- Preus family shaped U.S. Lutheranism, Robert Ylvisaker, August 29, 2001.