[Cronos]

The Prussian Union is something not taught about. I actually found out about this after I moved to Poland and found the small Lutheran (or Ewangelico Augusburgu) Holy Trinit which was a beautiful Church right next to where I was living (ul. Kredytowa) and the people were quite devout -- quite a surprise after Germany.

It's a beautiful rotunda based Church

anyway, to the point, I asked and found out that the Lutherans in Warsaw were initially offered the rights of German citizens (as were Catholic Poles of German origin), but most German-origin Poles (nearly all in Warsaw) refused.

The church was persecuted and then destroyed (with the rest of Warsaw) in 1944.

The Prussian Union of 1817 forced by Kaiser Frederick Wilhelm II caused two schisms. The Kaiser forced the Lutherans and Reformed to merge (so that the Kaiser had more power). He had already abolished their individual leaders and now the government interfered. He was a Calvinist but the majority of his subjects were Lutheran

By the force of the Prussian king, the Words of union did not proclaim the Real Presence -- which I'm sure caused more than a little disquiet (and moved your great-grandparents too, red)

Then in 1829, the Kaiser forced all Protestant congregations to give up the names Lutheran/Reformed and call themselves Evangelical and basically to ignore the Lord's Supper as having the True Presence.

This caused a pretty big schism -- especially in Wrocław (then called Breslau, but now in Poland's S-W) who believed this rejection to be against God's Will

red -- was this the thing that led to the formation of the LCMS?

I feel this govt interference, ultimately leading to the Unity church becoming a department of the state had a negative effect lasting over a century

[redgolum]

The LCMS was originally formed when a group of Saxons left Germany for Missouri with their bishop. The main reason was the Union, though getting out of “Prussia” (unified Germany) was a big factor also.

That bishop was later found to have having an affair with one of the wives of the congregation, and he was put in a boat and sent to Illinois (rather than hanged as the husband and his wife wanted!). That is the reason for the unique ecclesial structure of the LCMS. It is also the reason there are no more bishops but “presidents”.

My church here has a nice crucifix, though they are not common in newer congregations. That looks like a beautiful church!