# Der Lutheraner_Frankfurt am Main_Januar 1950_S5
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Number 1                                                       January 1950                                                       Page 5

"...served." Even after he finally moved to Berlin, he served the congregations there with Word and Sacrament in joyfulness to the very end. He had already been suffering for some time from an insidious illness, which was not recognized until 1947. An operation was no longer able to remove the root of the affliction. Without complaint, he bore it patiently until God called him home.

It was a great blessing that, in the dark years after the collapse, Kirchenrat Ziemer — first from Jabel and then in Berlin — was still able to render the most valuable service to our so severely shattered church as President of the Oberkirchenkollegium, and to help in its reconstruction. He also lived to see, with joy, the union with the Sächsische Freikirche.

To those who knew him more closely, the venerable patriarchal figure of the departed will remain unforgettable.

On October 2, 1949, the sorely tried man was permitted to close his eyes. The burial of his earthly remains took place on the morning of October 7 at the quiet Dahlem Forest Cemetery in Grunewald. At the graveside, Kirchenrat Lic. Kiunke, with the word of Philippians 3:20–21, pointed to the believing certainty of the future transfiguration of our body. In a long procession, the pastors present in their robes stepped up to the grave with their words of tribute; they were followed by the bereaved family members and the large company of mourners.

"How will it be, how will it be, when we enter into Salem!" — thus the farewell service came to its close.

Now the faithful servant rests in the peace of his Lord. The heartfelt thanks of many souls and of an entire church follow him into eternity.                                                                                        Grube

Under severe physical suffering, Kirchenrat Lic. Dr. Ernst Ziemer (Berlin), who went home to the Lord on October 2, 1949, wrote the following closing words a few days before his death, in the meditation requested of him for the "Feste Burg" calendar for December 31, 1951:

"But nevertheless, let us go our way rejoicing. For we do not go alone — no, Jesus goes ahead of us on the path of life. Yes, He goes with us. God's grace in Christ Jesus is our shield and protection. Therefore it may and must always be said among us: "Depart, you spirits of mourning, for my master of joy, Jesus, is entering in…" "Yet You remain with me even in sorrow, Jesus, my joy." Jesus never leaves us alone. Therefore be joyful, ever joyful, for I am blessed in Jesus. To this end may God the Lord bless our way, as in the old year, so in the new!"                                                                                        Joh. Ziemer

On the Union of the Lutheran Free Churches

In the work of uniting the Lutheran Free Churches in Germany, the establishment of church fellowship between the "Evang.-Luth. Freikirche" (Sächsische Freikirche) and the "Selbständige Evang.-luth. Kirche" (of Baden, Hesse, and Lower Saxony) is a further significant step.

"It may surprise some that the Lutheran free churches did not find their way to one another for long decades. The decisive reason for this was not delight in separatism and self-seeking obstinacy, but rather that they wished to be certain of their churchly path (Psalm 119:133) and strove, in the fear of God, "to have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men always" (Acts 24:16). Had the free churches been able to content themselves with the observation that the Lutheran confessional writings hold legal validity among them all, their union would have been easy. According to the Word of God, however, it is required that "the gospel be preached unanimously according to a pure understanding of it" (Augsburg Confession VII), and it stands firm that "for the preservation of pure doctrine and for a thorough, lasting, and godly unity in the church it is necessary not only that pure doctrine be maintained, but also that those who contradict it and teach otherwise be censured" (Preface to Part II of the Formula of Concord). This complete unanimity in doctrine and practice, necessary according to God's will, has been established between the free churches named. In this present time of doctrinal confusion, in which every theologian claims the self-evident right to pursue his own theology, this is a great gift of God.

Prayer and work have gone into this union. After thorough discussions in past years had made clear the unanimity in doctrine between the "Hannoversche Freikirche" and the "Sächsische Freikirche," negotiations were now also taken up with the remaining parts of the "Selbst. Ev.-luth. Kirche," which concerned in particular the lofty articles of Christian doctrine on the church and church governance, congregation and the office of the ministry. Precisely because no union was sought at any price for reasons of church politics, but rather a clear and firm foundation of confession was sought together, these efforts at union carried a promise. Thus it has become a genuine union, and "our comfort is this, that we have a good conscience" (Hebrews 13:18), and our joy is that all the congregations have given their assent.

The union of the Lutheran free churches signifies a de facto rejection of all spurious, unionistic alliances of our time. The free churches stand by their declaration of July 1948 with regard to the union-bound churches of the EKD. Their conscience allows them no other way. This becomes especially painful where a cooperation between territorial-church and free-church foreign missions has hitherto existed. Thus in the Hannover region the question of the Hermannsburg Mission — which, under the leadership of the late Ludwig Harms and his brother Theodor Harms, who later belonged to the free church, was carried by the love and the gifts of both churches — has, alongside the great blessing God has granted, also caused much distress, and finally led to the founding of a new free-church foreign mission (Bleckmar). The free-church congregations still involved in the Hermannsburg Mission find themselves, according to their declarations, in a "state of confession" and seek, in steadfastness and patience, a clear path, without violating their confession through a false union.

The union of the Lutheran free churches is not merely a matter for German Lutherans, but sends its waves across to America, Africa, and Australia. Wherever Lutheran churches are at work in the world — for the most part they are free churches — they seek the way to one another. It would be a heartfelt joy to the Lutheran free churches in Germany if, through their union, they could also render a service to their fellow believers out in the world who have shown them so much love in time of need. The ecumenical idea is enormously strong today. One church world congress chases after another. People want to become united, but for the most part they go about it the wrong way. Instead of the foundation of the building, they build first the roof truss and the handsome porches. Right churchly union does not begin with joint worship services and celebrations of Holy Communion and the planning of joint works of mission and social ethics, but with the search for truth and for unanimity in doctrine and in faith. God grants the fruit once it has become ripe.

The German free churches regard their union as a precious gift of God. Now they can together, and joyfully, take up the great tasks that God sets before them. Given the diversity of their origins and of the paths they have followed until now, they will learn from one another, work with one another, and grow in brotherly love and faith in the body of Jesus Christ.

May God grant and preserve to the Lutheran Church a "thorough, lasting, and godly unity!"                                                                                        Die Schriftleitung.

Announcement from the Publisher

The Evang.-Luth. Volkskalender for 1950 is in press and is expected to be delivered in January.

Unfortunately, not all congregations have yet placed their order with us. We ask that this be made up as soon as possible, so that we can request the necessary quantity from the publishing house.

Booklet 6 of the "Tägliche Hausandachten," for the period from Septuagesima to the Wednesday after Palmarum, by G. Haertwig and Theo Willkomm, will soon appear under the title:

The Word of the Cross.

We ask that orders be placed here too as soon as possible.

To all previous subscribers of the Hausandachten, Booklet 6 will be sent immediately upon publication without a new order.

Anyone who has not previously subscribed to the Hausandachten is requested to order immediately.

                                                                    Lutheraner-Verlag G. m. b. H.
                                                                    Frankfurt am Main, Taunusstraße 43