Overview of American Lutheran Synods

In the history of America and Lutheranism we see the rise, fall, mergers, and splits of synods. The reasons for the variety of synods are varied. Immigrants from a wide variety of nations speaking a wide variety of tongues means that many synods form along cultural and language lines. Mergers and affiliations are made among groups of similar cultures and languages, with cross-cultural unions coming when the two World Wars hasten the demise of native languages for English language services and instruction.

To be sure there are many synods with ethnic names. There are also many with state names. The practice of a state-named synod is carried on in ELCA which calls its districts "synods." These synods retained autonomy in the General Synod and General Council. That autonomy no longer exists.

In the coming weeks I will have brief looks at the various synods in American history, beginning with the Pennsylvania Ministerium and going through to the 1988 merger that created the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). A comparision of beliefs will also be presented.

Following is a timeline of American Lutheran synod history.

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Year	Event
	American Lutheran	World
1400's
1483		Birth of Martin Luther in Eisleben.
1492		Columbus discovers America.
1500's
1517		Luther nails the 95 Theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg.
1600's
1618		The Thirty Years War begins.
1639	Reorus Torkillus becomes first Lutheran pastor in New Sweden (along the Delaware River).
1643	Torkillus dies in an epidemic. John Campanius succeeds Torkillus.
1647	Lars Lock, a Finn, begins a 40-year ministry along the Delaware River.
1648		Thirty Years War ends.
1657	John Ernest Gutwasser, a Saxon Lutheran pastor, sails to New Netherland (along New York's Hudson River). Gutwasser stays two years but is forbidden by the Dutch Reformed to preach or conducted any services. Gutwasser was deported in 1659.
1669	Jacob Fabritius, from Silesia, is the first Lutheran pastor allowed to serve in New Netherland.
1671	Bernard Arnzius is installed as pastor in Albany (winters) and New York (summers).
1691	Fabritius resigns for health reasons and Arnzius dies. For six years there would be no Lutheran pastors in North America.
1697	After almost a decade with no pastor in New Sweden, Andrew Rudman and Eric Bjork arrive from Sweden. Rudman settles in Philadelphia and Bjork settles in Wilmington.
1699	Trinity Church is completed in Wilmington. The church still stands today.
1700's
1700	Gloria Dei Church is completed in Philadelphia. The church still stands today.
1702	Rudman begins ministry among Lutherans in Albany and New York. A year later he would return to Philadelphia.