Today in History: Lutherans!

The first Lutheran church body in America, the Pennsylvania Ministerium, was founded on this date in 1748.  There were Lutherans in North America before this date.  Click here for the Web site of the Lutheran Church of the Ascension, a Savannah, Georgia congregation dating from 1741 and housed in a beautiful building in the city's historical district.  The Pennsylvania Ministerium was important, though, because it marked a first effort at wide-scale organization and a common liturgy.  German immigrant pastor Henry Muhlenberg was central in this effort.  A historical feature I've written including a profile of Muhlenberg will be published in the November 2014 issue of The Lutheran magazine.  Will link when that appears.