I finished up my classes for the semester a few weeks ago, but I thought it might be interesting to share a few historical tidbits that I found.
I knew German-Americans were under pressure during WWI and WWII, but I didn't realize the extent of it. I knew Lutheran churches started placing American flags in the church to relieve the pressure, but I didn't realize Budweiser changed its label (removed a German eagle and switched the German-language motto to English). That may sound somewhat humorous and a minor thing, but it was prompted by the fact that German-American brewers were brought before Congress as part of an investigation into their loyalty.
And, again, that may seem to be only a "German" thing and not necessarily a "Lutheran" thing, but the KKK executed a plan in Texas to "Americanize" Lutheran churches during that time period. Not only were they forced to stop preaching in German, but were pressured to give up any messages that didn't fit the KKK idea of American Christianity. The pressure was intense enough that German-Americans began moving out of Texas (the second such movement, with the first occurring during the Civil War).
I would like to think the Confessional theology of the LCMS remained intact through all of that, but I do wonder what other peripheral things were affected.
I knew German-Americans were under pressure during WWI and WWII, but I didn't realize the extent of it. I knew Lutheran churches started placing American flags in the church to relieve the pressure, but I didn't realize Budweiser changed its label (removed a German eagle and switched the German-language motto to English). That may sound somewhat humorous and a minor thing, but it was prompted by the fact that German-American brewers were brought before Congress as part of an investigation into their loyalty.
And, again, that may seem to be only a "German" thing and not necessarily a "Lutheran" thing, but the KKK executed a plan in Texas to "Americanize" Lutheran churches during that time period. Not only were they forced to stop preaching in German, but were pressured to give up any messages that didn't fit the KKK idea of American Christianity. The pressure was intense enough that German-Americans began moving out of Texas (the second such movement, with the first occurring during the Civil War).
I would like to think the Confessional theology of the LCMS remained intact through all of that, but I do wonder what other peripheral things were affected.