The Church in a New Land: First Steps Taken by Norwegian-American Lutherans in Clarifying Their Doctrine of Church and Ministry

Abstract

Jeff Baas explores the formative years of Norwegian-American Lutheranism, focusing on the 1840s as a pivotal period in the development of the doctrine of Church and Ministry among immigrants. Drawing on historical, cultural, and theological contexts, Baas examines how Norwegian immigrants—shaped by rugged individualism, Haugean pietism, and respect for the State Church—struggled to reconcile personal piety with organized ecclesiastical structures in America. The essay profiles key figures such as Elling Eielsen, Clausen, and Dietrichson, highlighting their contrasting approaches to ministry and church organization. Eielsen’s radical pietism, Clausen’s democratic pastoral model, and Dietrichson’s structured ecclesiology each contributed to reshaping immigrant perceptions of church authority and pastoral office. Baas concludes that while early leaders brought both strengths and limitations, their efforts laid the groundwork for a more biblically grounded understanding of Church and Ministry in the Norwegian-American Lutheran tradition. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)