The Protes'tant Conference is a loose association of

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...

churches and churchworkers in the

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. It was organized in 1927 by former members of the

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwauke ...

(WELS) who had been suspended following an intrasynodical controversy. At its height, the Protes'tant Conference comprised twenty-two local congregations, but it had declined to just six by the early 2000s. It is a

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

confessional Lutheran Confessional Lutheranism is a name used by Lutherans to designate those who believe in the doctrines taught in the ''Book of Concord'' of 1580 (the Lutheran confessional documents) in their entirety. Confessional Lutherans maintain that faithfulne ...

Christian group with

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immigrant roots. It published the periodical ''Faith-Life'' as a conference, and formerly operated the Protes'tant Conference website. It does not consider itself as a denomination or a church body, but a loose association of churchworkers and independent congregations.

Orthography

The organization's name includes a single typewriter quotation mark after the second syllable of the word “Protestant,” indicating an accent thereon.

History

The Protes'tant Conference arose out of a controversy in the WELS over a document known as the ''Beitz Paper'' (written by then Wisconsin Synod pastor W. F. Beitz) in 1926–1927. In his paper, Pastor Beitz discussed the doctrinal philosophy then prevalent in the synod. Debate arose over the theological nature of the document and about 40 supporters of Pastor Beitz were subsequently suspended from the Wisconsin Synod as a result. These pastors, teachers, and some congregations organized into the non-centralized Protes'tant Conference''.'' It has undergone three schisms, in 1930, 1952, and 1964. Internally, the Protes'tant Conference sometimes referred to itself as The Protes'tant Conference of the Wisconsin Synod''.'' The name "Protes'tant" was adopted in 1929, on the 400th anniversary of the

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. That diet of the

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had outlawed Lutheranism and resulted in the reformers adopting the name "Protestant" . The name "Protes'tant" was chosen to signify their protest against "synodicalism" on the part of both the Wisconsin and

Missouri Synod Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to th ...

s. While the Missouri Synod did not expel the Protes'tants, it synodically ratified the expulsions in 1927. Hensel, Ph.: "A Brief History of the Protes'tant Controversy", ''Faith-Life'', 73(6):5.

Core beliefs

The Protes'tant Conference taught that the Bible is the only authoritative and error-free source for doctrine. It subscribed to the Lutheran Confessions (the

Book of Concord ''The Book of Concord'' (1580) or ''Concordia'' (often referred to as the ''Lutheran Confessions'') is the historic doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church, consisting of ten credal documents recognized as authoritative in Lutheranism since ...

) not in-so-far-as but because it is an accurate presentation of what Scripture teaches. It taught that Jesus is the center of Scripture and the only way to eternal salvation, and that the Holy Spirit uses the gospel alone in Word and Sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) to bring people to faith in Jesus as Savior and keep them in that faith, strengthening them in their daily life of sanctification.

Notes

External links

Official website

The Beitz Paper

Prof. Fredrich's analysis of the controversy

J.P. Koehler's Rebuttal & Defense
Lutheranism in Wisconsin Lutheran denominations in North America Lutheranism in California Lutheranism in Michigan Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod