2009 Survey of Lutheran Pastors in Wisconsin

Abstract

Fred Berger and Brett Krause’s 2009 survey revisits and expands upon Dr. Lawrence Kersten’s 1971 study of Lutheran pastors’ doctrinal beliefs. Originally focused on Detroit-area clergy, Kersten’s survey revealed significant theological divergence among pastors in the LCA, ALC, and LC-MS, while WELS pastors showed doctrinal consistency. Berger and Krause replicated key elements of Kersten’s survey, distributing updated questions to Lutheran pastors in Wisconsin across five synods: ELCA, LC-MS, WELS, ELS, and CLC. Their findings show continued doctrinal unity in WELS, ELS, and CLC, and a marked increase in conservative responses among LC-MS pastors. ELCA responses remained varied, with many pastors expressing discomfort with doctrinal clarity and biblical inerrancy. The paper includes statistical comparisons, commentary from survey participants, and interviews with denominational representatives. The authors conclude that while WELS maintains strong confessional integrity, other synods show mixed trends, with the LC-MS potentially moving toward greater orthodoxy. Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).