EF 3207 The LCMS/WELS Split: an interview with Pastor Armin Schuetze

Abstract

This oral history project, conducted by Aaron Boehm in 2003, features an in-depth interview with retired Pastor Armin Schuetze on the historical split between the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). Schuetze offers personal insights into doctrinal tensions, particularly surrounding Scouting, military chaplaincy, and fellowship practices, which culminated in WELS suspending fellowship with LCMS in 1961. The interview is structured around a comprehensive set of questions submitted in advance, covering theological, historical, and personal dimensions of the split. Schuetze emphasizes the importance of doctrinal integrity over institutional unity, famously stating, “Unity is something you recognize—you can’t create it.” His reflections provide valuable context for understanding the WELS’s confessional stance and its implications for future generations. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)