The Church of the Lutheran Brethren

Abstract

Dean Zemple’s essay traces the origins, theology, and practices of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, founded in 1900 by Norwegian Lutherans influenced by Haugean pietism and revivalism. Concerned with spiritual purity and authentic Christian living, the Brethren emphasize personal conversion, conscious faith, and evidence of regeneration in daily life. The essay explores their distinct views on church membership, sacraments, confirmation, and worship, highlighting their divergence from traditional Lutheranism and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Notably, the Brethren practice low-church worship, stress individual testimony, and maintain rigorous standards for communicant membership. Their strong commitment to foreign missions has led to more congregations abroad than in North America. Zemple concludes that while the Brethren share confessional roots with other Lutheran bodies, their pietistic emphasis and unique practices represent a different expression of Lutheran identity. Abstract prepared with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).