Johan Arnd Aasgaard
Encyclopedia
Johan Arnd Aasgaard was an American Lutheran church leader.
. He was educated at St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minnesota
(class of 1898). He graduated from the United Church Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota
(now known as Luther Seminary
). He was ordained a minister in the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, later known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church
.
Aasgaard was pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in De Forest, Wisconsin
from 1901–11. He taught at United Church Seminary from 1906–07. He served as president of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota
from 1911–25. Aasgaard was President of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America
from 1925–1954.
Aasgaard subsequently helped lay groundwork for the merger that resulted in formation of American Lutheran Church
in 1960. The American Lutheran Church resulted from the merger of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (United States) with the United Evangelical Lutheran Church
and a predecessor church body known as the American Lutheran Church.
He was appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1928 and received the Grand Cross 1945. The person papers and files of Dr. Johan Arnd Aasgaard are maintained in the archives of Luther Seminary
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
.
Biography
Johan Arnd Aasgaard was born in Albert Lea, MinnesotaAlbert Lea, Minnesota
Albert Lea is a city in and the county seat of Freeborn County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census....
. He was educated at St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
(class of 1898). He graduated from the United Church Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
(now known as 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...
). He was ordained a minister in the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, later known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church (United States)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church or ELC was formed in 1917 as the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America .-Background:The Norwegian Lutheran Church of America was formed by merger of the Hauge Synod , the Norwegian Synod , and the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America...
.
Aasgaard was pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in De Forest, Wisconsin
De Forest, Wisconsin
DeForest, originally part of the town of Windsor, is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Yahara River. The population was 7,368 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Name:...
from 1901–11. He taught at United Church Seminary from 1906–07. He served as president of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead is a city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, and the largest city in northwest Minnesota. The population was 38,065 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Clay County....
from 1911–25. Aasgaard was President of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America
Evangelical Lutheran Church (United States)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church or ELC was formed in 1917 as the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America .-Background:The Norwegian Lutheran Church of America was formed by merger of the Hauge Synod , the Norwegian Synod , and the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America...
from 1925–1954.
Aasgaard subsequently helped lay groundwork for the merger that resulted in formation of American Lutheran Church
American Lutheran Church
The American Lutheran Church was a Christian Protestant denomination in the United States that existed from 1960 to 1987. Its headquarters was in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon its formation in 1960, the ALC designated Augsburg Publishing House , also located in Minneapolis, as the church publisher...
in 1960. The American Lutheran Church resulted from the merger of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (United States) with the United Evangelical Lutheran Church
United Evangelical Lutheran Church
The United Evangelical Lutheran Church was one of the many denominations formed when Lutherans came to the United States from Europe...
and a predecessor church body known as the American Lutheran Church.
He was appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1928 and received the Grand Cross 1945. The person papers and files of Dr. Johan Arnd Aasgaard are maintained in the archives of 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 Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
.
Selected works
- Quarter Centennial Souvenir of St. Olaf College, 1874-1899 (Northfield News Print. 1900)
- Address at seventieth anniversary of Luther College (Lutheran Herald, Volume 7. 1933)
- Symbols of the Evangelical Lutheran Church - My Christian Faith (Augsburg Publishing House. 1935)
Other sources
- Gullixson, T.F., J.C.K. Preus , E.C. Reinertson (editors) Norsemen Found a Church (Augsburg Publishing. 1953)
- Nelson, Clifford E. Lutherans in North America (Augsburg Fortress Publishers. 1980)
- Lovoll,Odd S.Odd S. Lovoll-Background:Odd Sverre Lovoll was born in Sande, in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. He immigrated to the United States in 1946 and is a naturalized United States citizen. Lovoll received his education both in Norway and in the United States, passing university exams at the University of Bergen in 1961 and...
The Promise of America (University of Minnesota Press. 1999) - Lovoll, Odd S.Odd S. Lovoll-Background:Odd Sverre Lovoll was born in Sande, in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. He immigrated to the United States in 1946 and is a naturalized United States citizen. Lovoll received his education both in Norway and in the United States, passing university exams at the University of Bergen in 1961 and...
Norwegians on the Prairie: Ethnicity and the Development of the Country Town (Minnesota Historical Society Press. 2007)