A Brief History of the Kokomo Four

Abstract

Raymond Bell’s essay provides a detailed historical and theological account of the “Kokomo Justification Controversy” within the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The dispute centered on the doctrine of objective justification—the teaching that God, through Christ’s resurrection, declared the entire world forgiven of sin. Bell outlines the theological basis for objective justification, its distinction from subjective justification, and its historical roots in Lutheran confessions and writings. The controversy erupted at Faith Lutheran Church in Kokomo, Indiana, when two families (the Hartmans and Pohlmans) publicly rejected four statements summarizing WELS’s teaching on objective justification. Their opposition led to congregational discipline, appeals through WELS leadership, and eventually their removal from fellowship. Bell documents the theological arguments, procedural events, and broader synodical responses, including the role of Prof. J.P. Meyer’s commentary and the involvement of a Southeastern Wisconsin District Panel of Review. The essay concludes by affirming the comfort and necessity of objective justification as a Scriptural doctrine and recounts the lasting impact of the Kokomo case on WELS. —Generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)