The Oldest Church in the WELS: A History of St. Paul's in Columbus, OH

Abstract

Tim Wilkens’ essay traces the rich and complex history of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio—the oldest congregation in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), founded in 1821. The essay chronicles St. Paul’s journey through multiple denominational affiliations, theological controversies, and structural changes. Originally a joint Lutheran-Reformed congregation, St. Paul’s experienced divisions, independence, and affiliations with the Joint Synod of Ohio, the American Lutheran Church (ALC), and eventually the WELS. Key figures such as Rev. Konrad Mees and Rev. John Lang played pivotal roles in shaping the church’s confessional identity. After decades of independence and gradual doctrinal alignment, St. Paul’s formally joined the WELS in 2007. Wilkens highlights the congregation’s resilience, commitment to biblical inerrancy, and contributions to pastoral education. The essay concludes by affirming St. Paul’s unique status as both the oldest and one of the newest members of the WELS. —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)