Grace and Peace: The Election Controversy in Oshkosh, WI

Abstract

Paul W. Alliet’s essay, Grace and Peace: The Election Controversy in Oshkosh, explores the local impact of the broader Synodical Conference election controversy of the 1880s. While the theological debate was largely shaped by Prof. F. A. Schmidt and Dr. C. F. W. Walther, Alliet focuses on Pastor Christoph Dowidat of Oshkosh, whose congregation became a flashpoint in the conflict. The essay details how doctrinal disagreements over election led to congregational unrest, culminating in Dowidat’s removal and the formation of a new church, Gnadengemeinde. Alliet traces the biographies of Schmidt and Dowidat, outlines the theological positions at stake, and examines how the Oshkosh case influenced the Wisconsin Synod’s alignment with Missouri. The controversy not only fractured local congregations but also solidified doctrinal unity among the remaining Synodical Conference members. —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)