American Lutheranism, Volume 2 The United Lutheran Church (General Synod, General Council, United Synod in the South)

A detailed chronicle of early twentieth‑century American Lutheranism, this volume traces the theological currents and organizational moves that led three major bodies—the General Synod, the General Council, and the United Synod in the South—to consider a united front. It explains how scholars and pastors wrestled with questions of doctrinal purity, revivalism, and inter‑denominational cooperation, offering a clear picture of the debates that shaped their identities.

The narrative then follows the practical steps toward merger, describing the joint committee’s work at the 1917 Philadelphia quadricentennial meeting, the drafting of a common constitution, and the ratification process among district synods. By the time the new United Lutheran Church in America is formally established in late 1918, readers gain insight into the scale of the enterprise—dozens of synods, thousands of congregations, and a broad network of seminaries and colleges—while still feeling the tensions that fueled the union’s early days.