Subseries 6: Correspondence, 1949 - 1973

Sub-Series

Identifier: B003.01.06.0001

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The subseries includes several different varieties of correspondence regarding the issues in Missouri and the differences between the two synods. Along with the last subseries, this is a significant portion of this collection. These letters provide a very personal look at some of the difficulties that people had to deal with regarding this issue.

Of course, Pastor Dahlke's correspondence here is very significant. Dahlke, as a WELS pastor, found himself in opposition to the decisions the Synod reached in 1957 and 1959, and therefore, he resigned his position as First Vice President of the Western Wisconsin District. His correspondence helps give an insight into the difficult decisions that WELS pastors faced as they tried to sort through all the different facets.

Among the other correspondence, the letters regarding Pastor Tiefel provide a fascinating look at the challenges this issue created far away in our world mission fields. Also, the "open letters" regarding this issue give a very honest and frank evaluation of the situation in Missouri from a lay perspective.

File folders found in this subseries are:

46 Dahkle Correspondence (1952, 1962, 1973)

47 Dahkle Correspondence (1954-1956)

48 Dahkle Correspondence (1957)

49 Dahkle Correspondence (1958,1959)

50 Correspondence Regarding Pastor Tiefel in Japan (1957)

51 Correspondence between Wisconsin and Missouri (1949-1951)

52 Correspondence between Wisconsin and Missouri (undated)

53 Open Letters Reacting to the State of the Missouri Synod