# Der Lutheraner_Frankfurt am Main_Mai 1949_S56
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Page 56                                            May 1949                                            Number 5

suffers from a lack of instruments (who will donate some?). Practice was diligent, so that there are already more brass players than horns available. Even before the end of the semester — prompted by a church-music conference — a choir of the college was formed, which also includes persons from outside the student body. It has already served us at several worship services and took part in a richly arranged church-music evening at the close of the semester.

On March 4th we concluded the busy winter semester with a devotional service held by the Rector. What its yield is lies only partly before our eyes. The best that grows out of the work of a theological training institution grows invisibly, like seed entrusted to the maternal earth. Perhaps it will only become effective in the future pastors' ministry. That such growth is present, of that we are certain. For the Gospel — even when presented in the strict form of theological scholarship — does not remain without fruit. How much fruit it is, we do not know, and that is probably good. But for what the LORD our God has let us see as yield, we are heartily thankful. His grace has granted us that we have not pursued the entrusted work in vain. It was not for nothing that we called to Him, and the prayer of those who stand behind our college with folded hands has also not been in vain.

On Him, the LORD of the Church, we shall have to place our hope even more than before in the coming semester. The number of students is growing. Our worries are growing even faster. This report must not conceal it: the continuation of our joint college has, for external, economic reasons, become so difficult that our congregations will have to exert all their strength in order to carry the work through the coming period. How, indeed, should so young an institution already be able to sustain itself predominantly on its own! Therefore the report may well close with this request: Do not forget us in our distress, which is already touching the danger zone. Remember that it belongs to the most noble tasks of the Church to train up shepherds who are capable of leading the office of the New Testament and of shepherding the congregation of God, which He has acquired through His own blood.

Oberursel, April 1949
Church Councillor Lic. Kiunke, current Rector

For the congregations of the Ev.-Luth. Church of Old Prussia

The Becoming of a Congregation

What is meant is the parish of Alfeld/Elze, the youngest congregation of the Ev.-Luth. Church of Old Prussia. A year ago everything was still completely uncertain. All that was known was that, through the war and its effects, many refugees from Łódź and some from Breslau had been scattered into the area mentioned. They lived in the scattered towns and villages, lonely and deeply forsaken. Separated from relatives, plagued by sorrow, need, and heartache, they led an unreal, shadowy existence. They likewise felt spiritually lonely and unhappy, like sheep without a shepherd. They did seek to attach themselves to the local congregations, diligently attended the worship services, filled the wide and empty church rooms; but they could not grow warm. Everything felt strange, indifferent, cold to them. A homeland — a church homeland — was lacking. Their hearts remained closed, because there was no one there able to address them. But this was to change.

Pastor Bittner made a visit to Alfeld. Deacon Dams went through the villages and places, sought and gathered; the undersigned addressed an appeal to the fellow countrymen. The first worship services could be held. The beginning had been made. But the way to the founding and formation of a new congregation was still long. Rooms for worship services, to secure the services, had to be sought and found. The disposition of the territorial-church offices had to be ascertained. Misunderstandings had to be cleared out of the way, a residence had to be found for the pastor. The religious and confessional awareness of the future congregation members had to be deepened, false conceptions corrected, exaggerated hopes removed. The multiplicity and diversity of the people had to be ordered and related to one another, so that a congregation could take shape. It cost much labor, great and small, much insight and patience, forbearance and love. But it came to be. The LORD of the Church did not withhold His blessing. The congregation of Alfeld-Elze has become form and reality. And on March 6th of this year, on Sunday Invocavit, the installation of the church elders into office could be carried out.

The solemn act, which is equivalent to the founding and coming-of-age of the congregation, was performed by the superintendent of the diocese, Pastor Heinzelmann-Essen. This was at the same time the first official visit of the representation of our Church, and thereby congregation and Church entered directly into personal fellowship — evidently, for both, an experience of deep joy.

Indeed, the young congregation is not lacking in cares. It is a child of our time and must bear the whole distress of our time. It possesses no church of its own, no room of its own: apart from a small crucifix and an altar Bible it possesses nothing that it could call its own. But it consists of members who have a warm heart and are firmly resolved to remain faithful to the undiminished heritage of Martin Luther and the Lutheran Church. It knows itself as the youngest member of the great family of our Ev.-Luth. Church, intimately connected with all its older siblings and borne up by their especial, caring love. For the rest, it commends itself and its future to the grace and mercy of God. Hitherto God has helped us; God helps; God will continue to help.

Badke

Pastors' Retreat in Guben
from February 22 to 25, 1949

The Upper Church Council had called together nine pastors of the Eastern Zone for a retreat at the hospitable Deaconess House in Guben. The theme was: Our Stance toward Holy Scripture. Church Councillor Lic. Schulz gave a paper on "The Doctrine of Scripture in Recent German Dogmatics." Only few are to be found today who grant the Bible divine authority in its full extent. Against this it is necessary to hold fast that the Bible, even though written by human beings, is nevertheless God's Word for us — both as a whole and in its individual utterances. The trust that the Christian brings to his LORD applies also to the Word that presents Him to us. (The lecture conveyed above all the presentation of the Bible question in Althaus, Elert, and Barth.)

On the "Position of Jesus toward the Old