# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S892
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

892 MISSIONS

A special problem is the fact that there is no parsonage in
Copenhagen, and at the present time Pastor Michael and his family
are sharing one and one half rooms in the home of one of his
members. The Free Church has done its utmost to solve this
problem by collecting $1,645 for the purchase of a parsonage.
A loan of $1,800 would give them the necessary additional sum to
provide a home for the pastor in Copenhagen. Eventually further
loans must be made to provide a church building on the Island of
Langeland.

E. Finland
THE Finniso State Cuurca

Lutheranism in Finland is as old as the Reformation itself, for
during Luther’s lifetime a student at Wittenberg, Agricola, returned
to his home in Finland and began the reform of his native Church.
Because Agricola was able to win the co-operation of the Bishops
of Finland, the Reformation proceeded quietly, without disturbing
the outward organization of the Church. The confessional position
of the Lutheran Church in Finland was established by law in 1686
in the recognition of the Book of Concord as its confessional
standard. When in the middle of the nineteenth century Liberal-
ism swept through the theological circles of Finland, the law was
modified in 1869 to an extent that the official doctrinal and confes-
sional standard of the Finnish Church can no longer be called
Lutheran. However, the ordination vow demanded of every pastor
has remained strictly Lutheran, even though it is not regarded as
seriously binding the consciences of the individuals taking it.

Lay Movement Wirnin rue Finnisa Srate Cuurcy

While the attitude of the theologians in the Finnish Church
changed with the current theological fashions of the time, the simple
Christians were not seriously affected by these changes; in fact,
out of the laity there grew powerful movements of opposition
against the liberal attitude of pastors and theologians. Among
these lay movements one finds the Gospel Society, the most strongly
organized and conservative of these groups. This society has repre-
sentatives and organized groups in almost every parish throughout
the Finnish Church; has “mission houses” within very many
parishes, where the members assemble for worship and instruction
in accordance with Scriptural principles; and has strong national
headquarters, which conduct a publication house, young people’s
work, popular high schools, and a mission in Japan.

THe Becrnnincs of THe Finnish LuTaeran Free CHurcu

In the early part of the present century there existed in the
Gospel Society a very strong separatistic tendency. The members
of the society avoided the services of the State Church and cul-