A GREETING FROM THE PASTOR (Rev. Mark DeGarmeaux)
In the Name of Jesus,
“Forever, O Lord, your Word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). The message of God’s Word is one unchanging truth from the time God spoke to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden until the believers enter the kingdom of glory in heaven. The ways of men have changed much in those many centuries, as they also have in the past 100 years. But God’s Word endures forever, proclaiming the same Gospel of forgiveness to all generations.
God has been exceedingly gracious to us in preserving His pure Word and Sacraments among us. Here He comes to us where He has promised, just as He came to Jacob at Bethel. By God’s grace, we can say of the church where we receive these precious Means of Grace in Baptism, preaching, Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper: “This is the house of God; this is the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28: 17). With the Augsburg Confession of our beloved Lutheran Church we confess: “We receive forgiveness of sins and become righteous before God by grace, for Christ’s sake, through faith . . . To obtain such faith God instituted the office of the ministry, that is, the Gospel and the Sacraments” (Articles VI and V).
In a day when many churches have exchanged the eternal truth of God’s Word for psychology and social work, we must dare to proclaim with the Old Testament prophets: “Thus says the Lord.” With St. Paul, we confess that the message of the cross is the power of God (I Cor. :1 18). And we dare say: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1: 16). And so our fervent prayer must always be: “Lord, keep us steadfast in thy Word.” For NI HIS WORD we have salva- tion and eternal life.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
A HISTORY OF EAST AND WEST PAINT CREEK SYNOD LUTHERAN CHURCHES
Introduction
The history of Lutheranism in the Paint Creek settlement, much like the history of Lutheranism among Norwegian Lutheran immigrants elsewhere in America, is a rather complicated one. In 1986 we celebrate the Jubilee of the reorganization of the East and West Paint Creek Synod Lutheran congregations as congregations faithful to the teachings of Holy Scripture, the Lutheran confessions, and the old Norwegian Synod. While the present congregations were born out of a doctrinal controversy, the Synod congregations carry on the true orthodox Lutheranism as taught by pioneer pastors U. V. Koren and O. J. Hjort.
PIONEER DAYS
As early as 1850 Norwegian settlers came to Paint Creek, mostly Halingdalers from Rock Prairie, Wisconsin. Very early they met together to organize a congregation. According to the earliest dated entry (Jan. 6th, 1851) in the minutes, the first trustees of the Paint Creek congregation were Nels T. Roe, Syver O. Vold, Thomas Anderson, and Ole Larsen, with J. S. Müler
as secretary and treasurer. The congregation built and began a school early in 1851. The settlers were first served by itinerant pastors. The first pastor to visit the settlement was C. L. Clausen who preached here July 2-4, 1851. Pastor N. O. Brandt also preached in the early settlement.
By 1852 the settlers requested that a pastor be called from Norway or elsewhere. In 1853 together with Washington Prairie parish, the congregation called Pastor Ulrik Vilhelm Koren, who later became President of the Norwegian Synod. Pastor Koren preached his first sermon here on Jan. 1, 1854, in a log house belonging to Syver Vold. In the same year, a log house church was built. In 1855 the Paint Creek congregation joined the Norwegian Synod.
The congregation grew very quickly and in 1858 it was decided to divide the congregation into East Paint Creek and West Paint Creek. In 1862 the work of serving congregations so far apart became too much for Pastor Koren and he resigned his call to Paint Creek. He continued to serve the Washington Prairie church until his death in 1910.
The congregations then called Pastor Ove Jakob Hjort who also had come from Norway. Pastor Hjort came to America at the urging of Prof. Laur. Larsen and he studied theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Pastor Hort was ordained as the first resident pastor of Paint Creek where he remained until his death in 1879.
There are many interesting family connections with Pastor Hort. Pastor Hijort ni Norway married Christiane Elisabeth Ottesen, a sister to Jakob Aal Ottesen who was instrumental in founding the old Norwegian Synod. Pastor Hort’s daughter Lula was married to Pastor C. K. Preus(president of Luther Colege). Their children included Dr.O..JH. Preus (president of Luther Colege from 1932-1948), Pastor J. C. K. Preus, J A. O. Preus, S.r (former governor of Minnesota), and D.r H. A. Preus (one-time professor at Luther Seminary). Two of her grandsons became pastors in the reorganized Norwegian Synod and now belong to the Lutheran Church-Misouri Synod: J .A. O. Preus, J.R. (former president of the LC-MS), and Robert Preus (president of Concordia Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana).
Another of Hort’s daughters, Linka, was married to Pastor J. W. Preus who became pastor of Camlar Lutheran Church and was then succeded by his son, H. A.Preus, who for doctrinal reasons had to leave and from TrinityLutheranChurchofCamlaratourpresentSynod. Pastor Hort was a faithful pastor who taught the free unconditional Gospel that we are saved by God only through the merits of Christ alone. We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ or come to him. That is the work of the Holy Spirit alone.
DAYS OF CONTROVERSY
During the 1880s in the Lutheran synods in America, especially in the Norwegian Synod, there occurred many doctrinal controversies. The most ravaging of these concerned the doctrine of Election or Predestination. It was during this time that the Paint Creek congregations were served by Pastor Hagbert Amandus Hartmann (from 1880-1886).
The controversy over election began in 1877 when Prof. F. A. Schmidt accused C. F. W. Walther and the Missouri Synod of Calvinistic errors in the doctrine of Election. He later accused some Norwegian Synod pastors in the same way. Some of these accusations included: That God does not wil the conversion of all men in the same way and that God has elected some to salvation and excluded others. Eventually, the issue was settled in the synod and the true doctrine prevailed, especially as expressed in the writings of Dr. Koren: An Accounting (En Redegibrelse) and Can and Ought a Christian Be Certain of His Salvation?
This controversy had a devastating effect on the Synod with about one-third of the congregations leaving. Individual congregations also were torn apart by this controversy. In Grace for Grace (pp. 169f.) we find this summary: “Dr. Schmidt was able to set brother
against brother, until many a Norwegian community was literally torn to pieces by the controversy, with one party locking the church doors against the other, proceeding even to violence at times, persecuting and deposing faithful pastors, suing one another in the courts of the land, finally settling down to somewhat peaceful relations only when the church had been formally divided into two opposing groups and the quarrel no longer had to be carried on under the same roof.”
In the Election Controversy the false teaching states the following: “When only one of two ungodly men is converted, there must have been a difference in their resistance; for, if not, they would both have been converted.” (Lutherske Vidnesbyrd, 1882, p. 60)
“It is the called person himself who here must make a certain choice between the two possibilities, whereby it is decided whether he will let himself be helped and saved or he will refuse to let himself be helped.” (Lutherske Vidnesbyrd, 1887, p. 259)
The Kirketidende (the Norwegian Synod church paper, 1884, p. 760) gave this judgment on these teachings:
“He (Prof. Schmidt) does not bring any proof from God’s Word or the Lutheran Confessions; on the contrary, he applies his customary rationalistic logic.”
A very good summary of the true Scriptural teaching on Election with special regard for this controversy is found in Dr. Koren’s “An Accounting.” We quote here just a few theses:
“God will have all men to be saved.” (I Timothy. 2:4; Ezek. 33:11)
“Being dead in sin, the natural man cannot himself change this condition of his heart nor cooperate, either little or much, in effecting this change.” (Rom. 8:7-8; Hos. 13:9)
“There is no power left in the will of the unregenerated man, by which he can assist the work of the Holy Ghost.” (Rom. 8: 7-8, Eph. 2: 8-10)
“The cause of the election of grace is alone the mercy of God and the holiest merit of Christ, and there is in us no cause for the sake of which God has elected us into eternal life.” (Eph. 1: 4-5; Titus 3: 4-7)
At Paint Creek, the controversy was promoted by Pastor Hartmann. Complaints were raised against Pastor Hartmann’s false teaching as early as 1882. Pastor Koren already in that year held a visitation here since concerns had already been raised that “Pastor Hartmann pro paganized doctrinal controversies and Pastor Hartmann’s own public behavior showed that this was most probably so.” (Synod Report1885, p. 60) On Sept. 11-12, 1883 a very long meeting was held in which a formal complaint was presented to the congregation.
Pastor Hartmann worked for the controversy not only by promoting the teachings of F. A. Schmidt, but also by publishing his own “Bekiendelse til ed enfoldiges nytte” (“Confession for the Use of the Simple”). This Confession contains the error that man cooperates in his conversion and that while on this earth we cannot have full assurance of our salvation. Hartmann presented this Confession first to the West Paint Creek congregation on Nov. 12, 1884. Pastor Hartmann forced its acceptance even though many objections were raised and even though it was against the constitutions of the Synod and the congregation to accept a new Confession and to settle doctrinal matters by majority vote.
On November 18-19, 1884 Pastor Koren held a visitation at Paint Creek. The controversy and the situation in the congregation were discussed on the 18th. On the 19th Pastor Hartmann called a congregational meeting one hour early to urge the congregation to deny Koren the right to hold a visitation.
On January 14, 1885, Hartmann held a meeting in the East Church to deal with his “Confession for the Use of the Simple.” Here again, he forced its acceptance by majority vote. Those who did not vote were granted the request that their names be recorded in the minutes. On January 26, 1885, the minority sent District President Koren a formal complaint against Hartmann because: He had gotten accepted by a majority vote a Confession without and against the Synod’s and the congregation’s Constitutions; he “presented his Confession as not concerning the present doctrinal controversy, although it is precisely a statement in the same”; he declared that several members were under church discipline, without some of those pre- sent being aware of it; in dealing with his Confession he denied a request for time for consideration.
In response to this complaint, President Koren set up a visitation for February 1885. Koren brought the District Church Council along, but Hartmann did not believe that the Church Council had any right to be present and to deal with this matter. A congregational meeting was held on the 25th at which Prof. Schmidt was present. At this meeting, the congregation heard Prof. Schmidt give a long dissertation on the doctrine of Election and Hartmann’s “Confession.” It was also at this meeting that action was begun to oust members of the minority.
On May 8th the congregation met to elect delegates to the Synod meeting. There was much commotion and disorder with the result that Hartmann and some members left without adjourning the meeting and met in the parsonage to electdelegates. Meanwhile, in the church, the original meeting was continued, and elected delegates.
At the meeting of the Iowa District of the Norwegian Synod beginning June 3, 1885, much of the doctrinal discussion regarded the Election Controversy. Pastor Hartmann brought to the Synod floor the question of President Koren’s right to hold visitations at Paint Creek. There was a discussion concerning the Paint Creek affair which is reported in some 60 pages of the Synod Report. All this discussion finally resulted in the following resolutions: ‘ The Synod declares: No congregation has the right to accept a new Confession where any of its members protest against it, much less ot put those who protest under church discipline or threaten them with it”, : ( 2 ) ” Since the Synod does not have time to go deeper into the matter, therefore be it resolved to refer it to the church Council for the Iowa District.” On July 15th, when the District Church Council in accordance with the Synods’ mandate came to Paint Creek to hold a visitation, Pastor Hartman had not announced the meeting and refused to meet or to give them the church keys, as did the janitor and the trustees The Church Council and the minority of the congregation then decided to meet at the Stora Schoolhouse to conduct their business. The Church Council agreed that the pastor and the majority had acted improperly by accepting a new Confession. The council resolved that Hartmann should be suspended from the Synod, giving him a grace period of three months. The council also discussed having area pastors provide temporary service of Word and Sacrament for the minority.
Being suspended from the Synod, Pastor Hartmann, and the Old Paint Creek congregations joined the Anti-Missourian Brotherhood in 1886 and then the United Church in 1890.
REORGANIZATION
Since the minority regarded itself and was so regarded by the Synod as the true Paint Creek congregation, there was no immediate formal reorganization. The congregation was served meanwhile by Dr. Koren’s assistant, Pastor Andreas Kittelson Sage until 1888. Services were conducted in local schoolhouses and in private homes. Pastor S a g e died in 1907 Pastor Michael Olsen Borge served the Paint Creek congregations from Glenwood Lutheran Church from 1888-1901. During this time much work was done toward reorganization. We have the first report of a West Ladies’ Aid meeting in 1889. Also during this time, new church buildings were erected. The present church of the East congregation was built and taken into use in 1890 and was dedicated by D.r U. V. Koren on June 11th, 1891. The present church of the West congregation was built and taken into use in 1892 and was dedicated by Pastor A. K. Sagen on August 20, 1893. The congregations again could rejoice that they had houses of worship dedicated to the service of our gracious God.
The congregations also grew in their desire again to have a resident pastor. In 1901 they called Pastor Simon Aslakson Scarvie who was ordained in 1901 and served the Paint Creek Synod Churches until 1904. In that same year, 1901, the congregations built the present parsonage. There were many “firsts” during Scarvie’s pastorate here. Pastor Scarvie was the first resident pastor after the split. He held the first recorded English service in the East Church on Thanksgiving Day 1901. In 1902 we have the first record of a Youth Society.
In the same year, we also have the first record of a circuit meeting held here, at which the discussion concerned Original Sin, with the following pastors participating: Koren, Scarvie, Xavier, Torgerson, and Krogh. In 1905 the congregations celebrated the Fiftieth Anniversary of joining the Norwegian Synod. Pastor Scarvie wrote up the church’s history, many area pastors were present, and Pastors Koren and Sage delivered the sermons at the Festival Services. PastorScarvie died in 1918. From 1905 to 1908 the congregations were served by Pastor Zakarias Johannesen Ordal. He died in 1949.
CONTINUING IN HIS WORD
The Paint Creek congregations had already suffered the ravages of the Election Controversy which tore apart the Norwegian Synod. By the grace of God, they were supplied with faithful orthodox pastors and laymen who continued in the confession of the true Lutheran faith when the Synod was persuaded to join a unionistic merger in 1917.
Pastor Lauritz Seman Guttebo, who served Paint Creek from 1908 to 1917, was the first pastor here who served in both the Old Norwegian Synod and the reconstituted Synod which we now call the ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod). He died in 1947. In the following years, 1918-1946, the congregations were served by Pastor Joseph Bernhard Unseth, who also served in both Norwegian Synods. He died in 1969.
It was a blessing for the Paint Creek congregations to have such faithful and orthodox pastors during the time of the merger of 1917 and the reorganization of 1918. The merger was produced partly by a spirit of “nationalism” among Norwegian Lutherans in America. It was hot. however, a merger based on complete agreement in doctrine. The difficult doctrine of Election was again the cause of trouble as it had been for the congregations in the1880s. The merger was based on a compromise of statements of true and false teachings on this doctrine. The Union committees of the United Church, the Norwegian Synod, and the Lutheran Free Church in about 1911 presented the first “settlement” (known as Opgör or the Madison Settlement). This settlement states that the merging church will accept both forms of the doctrine of Election, although Dr. Koren had shown in An Accounting that the second form, the false teaching of F. A. Schmidt was not scriptural. A minority of the Synod rejected this settlement and this delayed the merger. By 1916 another settlement, the Austin Settlement was presented in order to win over some of the orthodox minority. The Austin Settlement was an improvement, butthe Madison Settlement still remained the legal basis for the union. The Union Church was willing to tolerate the true doctrines of Koren and others, but the false doctrines of Prof. Schmidt and others were also regarded as true Under the leadership of faithful Pastors Guttebo and Unseth along with faithful laymen, the Paint Creek congregations rejected this false union (recorded in the minutes of Oct. 10, 1916) and joined the reorganized Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (recorded Dec. 1, 1920).
Pastor Unseth’s son, Eivind, is now a retired pastor on the clergy roster of the ELS, living in West Bend, Wisconsin. Pastor J. B. Unseth’s daughter Palma married Palmer Dehli, a member of the East Paint Creek Church. Palmer and his family are still members today.
Pastor Arvid Gullerud served the congregations from his ordination in 1947 until 1951. During Pastor Gullerud’s pastorate, the congregations celebrated 100 years from the pioneer days of 1851. Pastor Gullerud now lives in Spokane, Washington.
Pastor Levine Hagen served the congregations from his ordination in 1952 until 1956 Pastor Hagen now lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Pastor Walther Gulixson served the congregations from 1957 to 1964. Pastor Gulixson is now a retired pastor on our Synod’s clergy roster and still serves the Synod in various capacities. He lives in Mankato, Minnesota. Pastor Gullixson’s son, Theodore, served as pastor of our Evangelical Lutheran Synod Church in Bishop, California.
From 1964 to 1966 the congregations were served by Pastor Neil Hilton. It was during this time (1966) that the congregations began having one joint service on Sunday, alternating between the East and West churches. Pastor Hilton died in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois
The congregations were next served by Pastor Willard Olson from 1967 to 1969. Pastor Olson now lives in Terre Haute, Indiana.
During 1970 the congregations were served by Vacancy Pastor M. E. Tweit and Vicar John Smith. In 1971 John Smith was ordained pastor of the congregations and served them until 1973. Pastor Smith now serves our Synod’s congregations in Shawano and Clintonville, Wisconsin.
Pastor Thomas Mickelson served the congregations from his ordination in 1973 until 1974 He now lives in Pipestone, Minnesota.
From 1974 to 1981 the congregations were served by Pastor Milton E. Tweit. Pastor Tweti has served as vacancy pastor many times. Pastor Tweit is a retired pastor on our synod’s clergy roster and still serves the Synod in many ways. He now lives in Saude, Iowa Pastor Otto Trebelhorn served the congregations from 1981 to 1983. Pastor Trebelhom has retired as pastor on our Synods’ clergy roster and has recently served several vacancies. He now lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. From 1984 to 1985 the congregations were served by Vacancy Pastor M. E. Tweit and
Vicar Mark DeGarmeaux. In 1985 Mark DeGarmeaux was ordained pastor of the congregations and serves them at the present time.
In 1986 the congregations commissioned Pastor DeGarmeaux to conduct exploratory services in Decorah in the hope of starting a Synod congregation there. For this endeavor the congregations agreed on the name U. V. Koren Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church, remembering the faithful orthodox pioneer pastor of the Paint Creek congregations and the old Norwegian Synod.
During the past 100 years, to the best of our knowledge, there have been 462 baptisms, 413 confirmations, 154 marriages, and 305 burials.
The present officers of the congregation are here listed:
For the East Church: Secretary Herbert Dehli; Treasurer Lester Busness; Financial Secretary Willard Leiran; Trustees Rudolph Dehli, Norman Leiran, Herbert Surom; Elders Carl Busness, Holger Busness, NormanLeiran; Auditors Herbert Surom, Herbert Dehli; Cemetery Committee Lester Busness, Holger Busness, Norman Leiran, and Scott Pederson; Sextons Mr. and Mrs. Scott Pederson.
For the West Church: Secretary Frank Thies; Treasurer Gordon Gilbertson; Financial Secretary Herman Willer; Trustees Nennor Sorum, Frank Thies, Herman Willger; Auditors Herman Willer and Nennor Sorum; Sexton Frank Thies.
For both churches: Joint Treasurer Wayne Schmieden; Parsonage Committee Robert Larson, Wayne Schmieden, and Gordon Gilbertson; Organist Mrs. Robert Larson; Alternate Organist Becky DeGarmeaux. Several other members serve the congregation in the Men’s Club, Ladies’ Aids, and Lutheran Youth Society.
CHURCH IMPROVEMENTS
At the East church: In 1922 a basement was excavated under the church with a new furnace also being installed. In 1937 a light plant was installed. In 1949 an oil burner was installed and a blower was added in 1954. In 1949 the church purchased its first electric organ. In 1953 the kitchen was remodeled. In 1967 the church purchased its second electronic organ. The church was redecorated in 1961 and again in 1974. In 1971 restrooms were installed in the basement. New front steps and a wheelchair ramp were added in 1976. And in 1 9 8 6 a new electric organ was installed.
At the West Church: In 1938 a basement was excavated under the church. In 1949 an electric organ was presented by Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Bake in memory of their parents and a sister. The upstairs of the church was remodeled in 1950. In 1952 the basement was remodeled and the coal furnace was replaced by an oil furnace. A new organ was purchased in 1971. More remodeling was done in 1971-1973. In 1984 a new furnace was installed.
Over the years numerous other improvements and changes have been made at both churches and the Parsonage.
TO GOD ALONE ALL GLORY!
Today as we look back on the history of our congregations, we cannot but confess that the work done here was not the work of men, but certainly the gracious working of our heavenly Father. Many children here were joined to the Saviour through Holy Baptism. Many young people and adults have received instruction from the Word of God and here pledged their faithfulness to their Saviour in confirmation. Many couples spoke their marriage vows before God in these churches.ThroughAbsolutionandthe Lord’s Supper God has strengthened and confirmed the faith of countless souls. And God’s Word has brought comfort and hope to the families of departed loved ones.
What we have and enjoy today in our midst is due, humanly speaking, to the unselfish labors of many who have gone on to their eternal reward. Actually, it is all due to the tender mercies of God. He has given us the Gospel of a free and unconditioned salvation, He has supplied faithful workers in the pulpit and the pew. He has crowned their preaching, teaching, hearing, praying, working, and giving with His blessing. All that we have and are and see today is a tribute to the riches of His wondrous grace. “Not unto us, OLord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake” (Ps. 115: 1). May God’s grace continue to be with us that we may remain steadfast in His Word, confessing the truths of Scripture as correctly expressed in the Lutheran Confessions, that we may continue to be an orthodox Lutheran congregation. May we always be reminded of Jesus’ word and promise: “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8: 31-32).
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
Pastors who served through 1986
