Hyper-Euro-Lutherans:
Another Self-Extinguishing Social Experiment
By Rev. Jack Cascione

 

There have been a number of Lutheran oriented, social experiments in the United States. Many of them started out as colonies.

Today the social experiment with which most LCMS Lutherans are familiar is the Stephanite migration. Nearly 700 devoted followers of Rev. Martin Stephan migrated from Dresden, Germany to form a commune in Perry County, Missouri in 1838.

At about the same time, another group of nearly a 1000 German immigrants followed Rev. J.A.A. Grabau to Buffalo, New York. Any disagreement with Pastor Grabau was tantamount to a disagreement with God.

One social experiment with which today's Lutherans are least familiar is when Johann Rapp and his followers built New Harmony, Indiana in 1814. The Rappites frowned on procreation because they were waiting for the world to come to an end.

The Rappites were a group of Separatists from the German Lutheran Church and inevitably their movement died out.
http://www-lib.iupui.edu/kade/newharmony/home.html

Inside the LCMS we are now witnessing a new social experiment in Lutheranism called Hyper-Euro-Lutheranism. All social experiments are necessarily, deeply pietistic.

Hyper-Euro-Lutherans appeal to a nostalgic return to 18th Century European Lutheran hierarchy. The basic tenants of this movement in the LCMS are:

  1. It is dominated by clergy and it views the Lutheran pastor as the head of the congregation.
  2. The pastor experiences the sacrament of ordination and undergoes a kind of transubstantiation from God during ordination.
  3. God desires that lay people give unquestioned obedience to their pastor.
  4. Hyper-Euro-Lutherans are fiercely opposed to the authority of voters' assemblies.

The primary advocates of Hyper-Euro-Lutheranism are subscribers to a group called CAT41, which is an acronym for "Confess And Teach For Unity."

In a recent release, they encouraged LCMS clergy to purchase anti-voter and pro Hyper-Euro-Lutheran buttons. The release read as follows:

The buttons I had at the Ft Wayne Symposia can still be purchased. Just in time for your spring pastors conferences. There are three choices

1. "SPEED BUMP"
2. "Hyper-Euro Lutheran"
3. "No to Voters Supremacy"

They are $2 per button or 6 buttons for $10. (This price includes postage and handling.) You can send your orders to risibles@hotmail.com or garygehlbach@hotmail.com
Rev. Gary V. Gehlbach
Triune Lutheran Church
N1584 County Road K
Sharon, Wisconsin 53585
(262) 882-4000 or 296-1804

While the movement continues to attract more LCMS clergy, it has failed to attract significant numbers of lay people.

Hyper-Euro-Lutherans are opposed to the practice and teaching of C.F.W. Walther, the founder of the LCMS, who promoted congregational voter supremacy and taught that ordination was nothing more than the public ratification of a call from the voters' assembly.

The movement has failed to recognize that without government support of Lutheran Churches and government recognition of Lutheranism as the official state religion, the clergy will not be able to control the laity in America.

Despite the dismal following they experience among the laity, Hyper-Euro-Lutherans are convinced their cause is worthy of suffering and God will bless them.

The movement suffered a significant setback at the 2001 LCMS Convention when Montana District President George Wollenburg led the Convention to a 73% to 27% agreement to support C.F.W. Walther's teachings on church and ministry.

"How to Start or Keep Your Own LCMS Church," a book written especially for lay people by Jack Cascione, was sent to every 2001 Convention delegate. It is available from CN at cnmail@fidnet.com.


Rev. Jack Cascione is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS - MI) in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He has written numerous articles for Christian News and is the author of Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS: How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran. He has also written a study on the Book of Revelation called In Search of the Biblical Order.
He can be reached by email at pastorcascione@juno.com.

March 5, 2002