Hauge Synod

Hans Nielsen Hauge

Never heard of Hauge? He never left his home country of Norway, yet a Lutheran synod named itself after him.  He had great influence on the character of American Lutheranism during the latter portion of the 19^th and early 20^th century.

Hauge was born in Norway in 1771 and lived until 1824. He felt called to preach a “living faith” though he was a layman and was never ordained.  Laymen preaching without supervision of an ordained pastor were illegal, which led to his arrest several times.

He emphasized a personal affirmation of faith, congregational autonomy, and less formal worship.  His pietism was carried to America by the Rev. Elling Eielsen who formed a Norwegian Synod in 1846 which came to be called the Eielsen Synod.  However, sectarian disagreements led a large group to break off and form the Hauge synod in 1876.  This synod continued in existence until 1917 when it united with two other Norwegian groups.  Eventually they became part of the American Lutheran Church, which merged into the current ELCA.

The Huagean movement continues in the Hauge Innermission Federation which seems to be centered mainly in Minnesota and Iowa.  The movement publishes a newsletter named “Morning Glory.”  The group still promotes a pietistic agenda of personal faith experience, outlined as “Experienced Salvation, Christian Fellowship and Simplicity in Worship.”

   

Comments

[Theresa K.]

Thanks for this information! I have lived in MN my whole life and have heard the term "Hauge Synod", but never knew the details.

[Harvey R Johnson]

My grandfather Albert Olson went to the Red Wing Seminary in about 1909. He served churches in Minnesota and also at Outlook Canada. He had a big influence on his family and many continue in the faith in various protestant churches and also in the Catholic church. I remember him as a strict Christian avoiding worldly things like even the county fair etc. He spent his last years in Pinecreek Minnesot.