Justus Falckner
Encyclopedia
Justus Falckner was a Lutheran
minister and the first Lutheran pastor to be ordained within the United States. He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints
of the Lutheran Church on November 24 together with Jehu Jones
and William Passavant
.
in Saxony
. In 1693, he entered the University of Halle, where he studied theology under August Hermann Francke
. He completed his studies, but determined that he was not truly prepared to follow a career in the ministry. He went to Rotterdam
, where he and his brother Daniel accepted power of attorney to sell the land of William Penn
in Pennsylvania
.
were sold to Swedish Lutheran Pastor Andreas Rudman
and other Swedish
settlers. After working with Pastor Rudman, Falckner reconsidered entering the ministry. He was ordained on November 24, 1703 at Gloria Dei Church, the Swedish Lutheran Church
in Wicaco, today South Philadelphia. His first pastoral assignment was with the settlers on the Manatawny Creek
in New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania
. On February 23, 1704, King Carl XII of Sweden, issued an order formally confirming Andreas Rudman as Superintendent
of the Swedish Lutheran Church
in America. Shortly thereafter, Falckner was reassigned by Rudman to serve as the pastor of Lutheran congregations in New York
and Albany
. Falckner succeeded Joshua Kocherthal in ministry to German Lutheran immigrants. In 1714, Falckner led worshippers at the founding of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldwick
, New Jersey's oldest Lutheran congregation.
Falckner evidently believed that music was a very important element of missionary work. He wrote to Germany to ask for an organ, which he said would attract more Native American
converts. Falckner wrote hymns such as "Rise, Ye Children of Salvation" (German: Auf! ihr Christen, Christi Glieder) which he composed while a student
at the University of Halle in 1697. Falckner's published works include Grondlycke Onderricht which first appeared in New York during 1708.
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...
minister and the first Lutheran pastor to be ordained within the United States. He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints
Calendar of Saints (Lutheran)
The Lutheran Calendar of Saints is a listing which details the primary annual festivals and events that are celebrated liturgically by some Lutheran Churches in the United States. The calendars of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod are from the...
of the Lutheran Church on November 24 together with Jehu Jones
Jehu Jones
Jehu Jones, Jr. was a Lutheran minister. He founded one of the first African-American Lutheran congregations in the United States, and was actively involved in improving the social welfare of blacks. He is commemorated as a priest in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on November 24...
and William Passavant
William Passavant
William A. Passavant was a Lutheran minister noted for bringing the Lutheran Deaconess movement to the United States. He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on November 24 with Justus Falckner and Jehu Jones...
.
Background
Falckner was the fourth son of Daniel Falckner, a Lutheran pastor at Langenreinsdorf, a subdivision of CrimmitschauCrimmitschau
Crimmitschau is a town in the district of Zwickau in the Free State of Saxony.-Geography:Crimmitschau lies on the River Pleiße in the northern foothills of the Erzgebirge.-Neighboring municipalities:...
in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. In 1693, he entered the University of Halle, where he studied theology under August Hermann Francke
August Hermann Francke
August Hermann Francke was a German Lutheran churchman.-Biography:Born at the German city Lübeck, Francke was educated at the gymnasium in Gotha before he studied at the universities of Erfurt and Kiel - where he came under the influence of the pietist Christian Kortholt - and finally Leipzig...
. He completed his studies, but determined that he was not truly prepared to follow a career in the ministry. He went to Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, where he and his brother Daniel accepted power of attorney to sell the land of William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Career
In 1701, 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land along the Manatawny CreekManatawny Creek
Manatawny Creek is an tributary of the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania in the United States.Manatawny Creek joins the Schuylkill River at Pottstown in Montgomery County.-References:...
were sold to Swedish Lutheran Pastor Andreas Rudman
Andreas Rudman
Andreas Rudman was a pioneer Swedish-American Lutheran minister. He was pastor of Gloria Dei Church and was appointed Suffragan bishop of the Lutheran Church in America.-Background:...
and other Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
settlers. After working with Pastor Rudman, Falckner reconsidered entering the ministry. He was ordained on November 24, 1703 at Gloria Dei Church, the Swedish Lutheran Church
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
in Wicaco, today South Philadelphia. His first pastoral assignment was with the settlers on the Manatawny Creek
Manatawny Creek
Manatawny Creek is an tributary of the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania in the United States.Manatawny Creek joins the Schuylkill River at Pottstown in Montgomery County.-References:...
in New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania
New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania
New Hanover Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,939 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
. On February 23, 1704, King Carl XII of Sweden, issued an order formally confirming Andreas Rudman as Superintendent
Superintendent (ecclesiastical)
Superintendent is the head of an administrative division of a Protestant church, largely historical but still in use in Germany.- Superintendents in Sweden :...
of the Swedish Lutheran Church
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
in America. Shortly thereafter, Falckner was reassigned by Rudman to serve as the pastor of Lutheran congregations in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. Falckner succeeded Joshua Kocherthal in ministry to German Lutheran immigrants. In 1714, Falckner led worshippers at the founding of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldwick
Oldwick, New Jersey
Oldwick is an unincorporated area within Tewksbury Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08858. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 08858 was 177.Oldwick was formerly known as...
, New Jersey's oldest Lutheran congregation.
Falckner evidently believed that music was a very important element of missionary work. He wrote to Germany to ask for an organ, which he said would attract more Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
converts. Falckner wrote hymns such as "Rise, Ye Children of Salvation" (German: Auf! ihr Christen, Christi Glieder) which he composed while a student
at the University of Halle in 1697. Falckner's published works include Grondlycke Onderricht which first appeared in New York during 1708.
Other sources
- Williams, Kim-Eric The Journey of Justus Falckner. 1672-1723. (Delhi, New York: American Lutheran Publicity Bureau. 2003)
- Sachse, Julius Friedrich. Justis Falckner, Mystic and Scholar, Devout Pietist in Germany (Philadelphia: Printed for the author. 1903)