Friedrich Pfotenhauer (April 22, 1859, Altencelle, Kingdom of Hanover – October 9, 1939, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) was the fifth president of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, from 1911 to 1935.

Friedrich Pfotenhauer
Born(1859-04-22)April 22, 1859
DiedOctober 9, 1939(1939-10-09) (aged 80)
EducationConcordia Seminary
SpouseHelene Brauer
ChurchLutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS)
OrdainedNovember 7, 1880
Writings
  • Fuenfzehn Ansprachen
  • Predigten
Congregations served
Offices held
  • President, LCMS (1911–1935)
  • 1st vice-president, LCMS (1908–1911
  • President, LCMS Minnesota & Dakota District (1892-1908)
President Pfotenhauer at the LCMS convention in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1923

Pfotenhauer emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1875 and attended Concordia College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon his ordination on November 7, 1880, in Odessa, Minnesota, he served as a missionary in Minnesota and the Dakota and Montana territories from 1880 to 1887. On October 10, 1882, he married Helene Brauer in Crete, Illinois.[1][2]

He was the pastor of congregations in Lewiston, Minnesota (1887–1894), and Hamburg, Minnesota(1894–1911). He also served as the president of the Minnesota and Dakota District of the LCMS from 1891 to 1908).[2]

In 1908, he was elected to a three-year term as first vice-president of the LCMS.[1] He was then elected president of the LCMS in 1911 and held that office until 1935, at which point the LCMS named him honorary president.[2]

Pfotenhauer died on October 9, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois. He and his wife are buried in Bethania Cemetery in Justice, Illinois.[1]

Among his writings are Fuenfzehn Ansprachen (Fifteen Speeches) in 1914 and Predigten (Sermons) in 1938.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "President Pfotenhauer". Concordia Historical Institute. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Lueker, Erwin L.; Poellot, Luther; Jackson, Paul, eds. (2000). "Pfotenhauer, Johann Friedrich". Christian Cyclopedia (Online ed.). St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House. Retrieved October 6, 2017.

External links edit

Religious titles
Preceded by President
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

1911–1935
Succeeded by