The Federation of 1892

Abstract

Richard D. Balge’s historical essay commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 1892 Federation of the Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan Synods. The federation preserved each synod’s autonomy while enabling cooperation in publishing, missions, and worker training. Balge traces the confessional development of each synod, highlighting their gradual shift from unionistic tendencies to firm Lutheran orthodoxy. He details the founding and evolution of key institutions like Northwestern College, Dr. Martin Luther College, and Michigan Lutheran Seminary. The essay also recounts the Michigan Synod’s schism over seminary control, its withdrawal from the Federation, and eventual reunion in 1909. Balge emphasizes the role of shared mission work, especially among Native Americans, and the influence of European-trained pastors. The Federation culminated in the 1917 merger forming a single synod, now the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)