The Organization of the Congregation in the Early Lutheran Churches in AmericaSchmucker, B. M. (Beale Melanchthon)
History
The Organization of the Congregation in the Early Lutheran Churches in America
Schmucker, B. M. (Beale Melanchthon)
Lutheran Church -- United States -- History
Philadelphia, and it is very possible that he may have given it a
constitution like that of New York and Amsterdam. I do not know whether
the congregations in Sweden have any such arrangement as is found in the
churches on the Delaware. I find the office of Church Wardens mentioned
in the Kirchen-Ordnung of Charles XI. in 1686, but am not sure of the
extent to which the office agrees with that in the Wicaco Church.
Acrelius describes the organization of this last-named congregation in
Sandel's time, p. 216. "Pastor Sandel held a parish meeting, installed
new Church Wardens (Kyrkowaerdar) and Church Councilmen (Kyrkoraeder),
and at the same time explained to each of these their duties. Thus, 1.)
The Councilmen were to have the oversight of the preservation and
improvement of the church and parsonage. 2.) That each in his turn
should look after the life of the people, and if any one should conduct
himself improperly, give timely notice of it to the pastor, so that with
his concurrence and advice, and according to the circumstances of the
persons and their deeds, they might be brought before the Church Council
(Kyrkoraedet), and either admonished, placed on trial, or excluded from
the congregation. The office of the Church Wardens was: 1.) To collect
and pay over the Priests' salary twice a year; 2.) To take up the
collections in the church, and the other church dues, as for marriages,
churching of women, burials, etc.; 3.) To take care of the poor of the
congregation; 4.) To keep the accounts of the church in good order and
exhibit them annually on the 1st of May; 5.) To provide the pay for the
sexton, etc."
This whole arrangement bears a close resemblance to that of the Dutch
Lutheran Churches, and is virtually that found in the German Churches in
Pennsylvania when Muehlenberg came. The Church Council consisted of the
minister, the councilmen and wardens. These lay officers served for a
fixed time, and were installed in their offices; but, unfortunately, it
cannot be learned from this account in what manner they were chosen. The
above arrangement continued in force until, in 1765, Provost Wrangel
prepared a new constitution and secured a charter. In the new instrument
the officers of the congregation are styled Rector, Church Wardens and
Vestrymen, after the Anglican style. This constitution was wrought out
by Wrangel in conference with Muehlenberg, and the mode of selection of
officers is almost precisely the same as in the German Constitution of
1762: twice the number are nominated by those in office, and the
election is by a majority of votes of the congregation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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