A Reading List of LCMS History

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) was founded on April 26, 1847, when 12 pastors representing 14 congregations from Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, New York and Ohio signed the church body’s constitution at First St. Paul Lutheran Church, Chicago. Since that time, the LCMS has endured many trials and triumphs — all by the grace of God.

As our church body celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2022, now is an excellent time to learn more about the LCMS. The following resources, all available from Concordia Publishing House, delve into the Synod’s founding, doctrine and notable moments.

At Home in the House of My Fathers: Presidential Sermons, Essays, Letters, and Addresses from the Missouri Synod’s Great Era of Unity and Growth. Matthew C. Harrison (2019).

Black Christians: The Untold Lutheran Story. Jeff Johnson (1991).

Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod (adopted in 1932). (1968).

A Century of Grace: A History of the Missouri Synod 1847–1947. Walter Baepler (1947).

C.F.W. Walther, Churchman and Theologian (2011).

The Chief Divine Service. Friedrich Lochner (2020).

Essays for the Church: Duties of an Evangelical Lutheran Synod. C.F.W. Walther.

Government in the Missouri Synod: The Genesis of Decentralized Government in the Missouri Synod. Carl Mundinger (1947).

Heritage in Motion: Readings in the History of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. August R. Suelflow, ed. (1998).

In the Footsteps of Phoebe: A Complete History of the Deaconess Movement in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Cheryl Naumann (2009).

An Introduction to the Foundations of Lutheran Education. William Rietschel (2000).

An Introduction to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Samuel Nafzger (2009).

Light in the Dark Belt. Rosa J. Young (1950).

Moving Frontiers: Readings in the History of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Carl S. Meyer, ed. (1986).

Selected Writings of C.F.W. Walther: Editorials from “Lehre und Wehre.” C.F.W. Walther (1981).

Selected Writings of C.F.W. Walther: Walther on the Church. C.F.W. Walther (1981).

A Seminary in Crisis: The Inside Story of the Preus Fact Finding Committee. Paul Zimmerman (2007).

Servant of the Word: The Life and Ministry of C.F.W. Walther. August R. Suelflow (2000).

A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles (1974).

The True Visible Church and the Form of a Christian Congregation. C.F.W. Walther (2005).

Walther’s Hymnal: Church Hymnbook for Evangelical Lutheran Congregations of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession (An English translation of the first official LCMS hymnal). Matthew Carver, trans. (2012).

Zion on the Mississippi: The Settlement of the Saxon Lutherans in Missouri, 1839–1841. Walter Forster (1990).

Learn more about the Synod’s 175th anniversary at lcms.org/175.