“Why did these Lutherans separate themselves?” I ask you. The story of the Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche Dresden begins with a quest for unwavering faith. This church stands as a testament to those Lutherans who sought to preserve what they believed to be the true teachings of Martin Luther.
Let’s step back to the 19th century. Liberal tendencies were growing within the established Lutheran Church in Saxony. Some theologians felt that practices like allowing non-Lutherans to take communion contradicted core beliefs. The Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche Dresden emerged from those tensions.
In 1871, like-minded congregations started leaving the state church. They yearned for a church that held fast to the traditional interpretation of scripture. These independent congregations joined forces in 1876. They formed the Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche in Sachsen. This marked the first use of the term “Freikirche” or Free Church for independent Lutheran congregations.
The Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche Dresden is part of a larger network. Other churches from across Germany joined the initial group. Even some Danish Lutherans joined the Freikirche in 1911. The church also fostered close ties with the Missouri Synod. This was a large Lutheran church in America founded by German immigrants. Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther. He was a theologian from Saxony and accompanied the ELFK’s development. He became the first president of the Missouri Synod.
After World War II, the Iron Curtain divided the Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche. The West German branch eventually merged with another Lutheran church. But the East German branch maintained its independence. It briefly partnered with another Lutheran church in East Germany. But that collaboration ended due to disagreements over biblical interpretation.
Today, the Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche Dresden remains committed to its founding principles. It emphasizes the Bible as the inspired and infallible word of God. The church also adheres to the Lutheran Confessions. They are collected in the Book of Concord of 1580. These documents are considered the correct interpretation of scripture.
The Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche distinguishes itself through its conservative stance. It maintains a closed communion table. It also opposes the ordination of women. Moreover, the church values the separation of church and state. It focuses on proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Each congregation within the Freikirche enjoys considerable autonomy. A synod meets every two years to oversee church administration. The synod elects a Prases, or president to a four-year term. The Prases leads the synod and a council.
Though small, the Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche supports its own theological seminary in Leipzig. This ensures the training of future pastors. It also operates the Concordia-Buchhandlung. It is a Christian bookstore in Zwickau. Also it supports the Dr. Martin Luther Grundschule. It is an elementary school also in Zwickau.
So, as you stand before the Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche Dresden, remember its story. It is a story of conviction and a commitment to preserve a particular understanding of Lutheranism. A dedication to scripture guides this small but resolute community.