LCMS. Office of the President. Behnken Administration

The Behnken Administration Records are arranged into two series: Correspondence and Subject Files. Correspondence, assorted photographs, and background materials are present throughout the records. The bulk of the collection dates from circa 1943 to 1962. Few materials date from the early years of the Behnken administration. Background materials include essays, reports, clippings, and publications that were not produced by the LCMS or by the Concordia Publishing House. Please consult the CHI library for any references to publications not physically located in this collection.

The Correspondence series is arranged into two small groups: a subject group and an alphabetical group.

The subject group letters are arranged within the folders in two ways. The correspondence in folders 1-15 is comprised of letters received by Behnken and his replies to those letters. These are arranged in chronological order within each folder. Much of this correspondence is comprised of complaints by either laymen or pastors concerning disputes in their congregations or with colleagues. The letters in folder 16 are copies of correspondence between other parties that were sent to Behnken for his information. These items are arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the addressee.

The alphabetical group of the Correspondence series (f.17-24) consists of letters on a variety of topics received by Behnken and his replies, if any, to those letters. The original filing order has been maintained and these items are arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the sender. Most of the material in this series is dated from the 1940s and from the 1950s. Some correspondence related to materials in the Subject Files series has been removed and placed with the appropriate topics.

The Subject Files series is arranged alphabetically by topic and chronologically within each folder. The contents of the folders are primarily correspondence related to a wide variety of topics or with many individuals. Behnken’s replies, usually carbon copies on onion skin paper, were attached to, and filed behind, incoming letters. Therefore, the letters and their replies are filed according to the date of the incoming correspondence. In some folders there are loose carbon copies of Behnken’s outgoing letters which might have been replies but that were not attached to any incoming correspondence. Due to the size of the collection, no effort was made to match these stray carbons to incoming letters. These letters are filed in chronological order along with the incoming letters.

Behnken served as president during the decades of the 20th century that ushered in great change in international affairs and growth in the American socio-economic structure. Many of the records revealed the attitudes, actions taken, and effects of the Second World War and of the Cold War. From the time that Behnken took office in 1935 until his retirement in 1965, the North American membership of the Synod increased from approximately 1.25 million to about 2.6 million. The annual operating budget of the Synod increased roughly eighteen-fold during his administration. It was also during his tenure that the transition from German to English as the official language of the Synod took place. The proceedings of the 1938 Synodical Convention were conducted in English for the first time.

The expansion of mission work experienced a vital period of growth during Behnken’s tenure. LCMS conducted missions in many U.S. communities such as among African Americans and among the deaf and blind. Work also increased among the people on the continents of Asia and South America. Behnken traveled to the South Pacific, India, and Japan in 1955 and sojourned to South America in 1957. The files concerning these trips contained correspondence and some photographs sent to Behnken by the missionaries he met. There were also many unidentified photographs and slides in the John W. Behnken Family Papers. Researchers are urged to consult that collection for additional information related to Behnken’s travels.

The Board for Home Missions in Europe and the National Advisory Emergency Planning Council worked independently, and in conjunction with the National Lutheran Council, to help rebuild churches and congregations in Europe after the Second World War. Behnken visited Europe in October and November of 1945. He met fellow Lutherans in London, in Switzerland, and in the occupied zones of Germany. His letters describe vividly the devastation and the hardships that people faced as they attempted to rebuild their lives (f.304). There are also reports on conditions and activities from various locations in Europe written by Dr. F. E. Mayer, Dr. L. Meyer, and Dr. Walter Daib from 1946 to 1948.

Another significant topic reflected in the records was the drive for unity among various Lutheran groups in the United States, in Australia, and in Europe. Much material regarding discussions over theory and correct doctrine appeared in such files as the Advisory Committee on Doctrine and Practice, the Committee on Doctrinal Unity, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia, the Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran Union, and the National Lutheran Council.

Other names commonly used for the Committee on Doctrinal Unity include Committee on Lutheran Union, Committee on Church Union, and the Union Committee. Much of the correspondence in the Committee on Doctrinal Unity folders is not related to the Committee itself, but rather to the tasks set before the Committee and to the reactions/opinions of various individuals to these tasks.

The Synodical Conference organized the Committee on Intersynodical Relations in 1945 to discuss issues considered divisive to the Conference members. Behnken’s files contain annotated minutes, notes, and some correspondence. Some of the issues discussed by the members of the Synodical Conference include the National Lutheran Council, prayer-fellowship, and the Boy Scout issue. Additional materials on topics found in the Committee on Intersynodical Relations appear in the Wisconsin Synod files.

The Wisconsin Synod files, 1926-1955, contain correspondence and essays/minutes from meetings held between representatives of the two groups. The meeting essays are not identified well and an attempt has been made to file them appropriately. Discussions relate to cases in which the two Synods encountered disagreements in regards to particular congregational conflicts. The remainder of the materials relate to the various issues that caused strained relations between the two Synods.

Internal doctrine and principles are topics of discussions in the late 1940s after a group of 44 LCMS clergymen met in September 1945 and issued “A Statement.” Behnken’s records contain much correspondence with members of the 44, particularly with Rev. E. J. Friedrich, who called the initial meeting of the group. The correspondence includes letters with the Praesidium; the Committee of Ten that Behnken appointed to meet with the Continuation Committee of the 44; and the many letters Behnken received from LCMS pastors and laymen relating their mostly negative views of “A Statement.” The correspondence is arranged in chronological order from 1944 to 1950.

Also present are essays and statements from various individuals which critique “A Statement” and Behnken’s copies of the various documents under discussion during this time. In addition, there are reports and minutes from the meeting held between the Ten and Ten (the Committee of Ten and the Continuation Committee).

There are many theses and opinions solicited by the Praesidium from the faculties of the St. Louis and Springfield seminaries concerning doctrinal questions that arose from “A Statement” and from the events taking place among both American and European Lutheran groups. The question of prayer fellowship had been discussed before “A Statement” was released. Most of these discussions and the subsequent publications emerged in the 1940s and in the 1950s. Drafts, revised papers, and opinions of the Praesidium members and various LCMS ministers are located in the Doctrinal Guidelines files and in the Faculty Opinion files.

Many suggested revisions in the Doctrinal Guidelines files were sent to Behnken by his colleagues and, unfortunately, these revisions have been separated from the cover letters which accompanied them. Therefore, it is difficult to determine which changes were suggested by whom and when the proposals were mailed. Some effort has been made to match the letters and the draft revisions but there are more cover letters present than drafts. Most of the correspondence about the issues appears in the correspondence folders. However, there are some letters in the folders concerning the specific guidelines. The researcher is reminded that Behnken’s replies, when they appear, follow the incoming letters and the accompanying enclosures.

Educational matters related to growth and doctrinal issues are well represented in the records. The discussions on Lutheran union fueled debates among the Synod’s educational community. Behnken looked upon his role in the appointment of faculty to the Synod’s schools as a serious responsibility of his office. He attended most meetings related to faculty matters. The Electoral College files and those files on individual schools and professors reveal the nature of the educational issues that existed during this time.

The John W. Behnken Family Papers contain correspondence, photographs, and background material related to issues represented in the Office of the President Records. Minutes and reports of various committees and boards that were not annotated by Behnken have been removed and placed with the records of the respective committee/board. Please consult the records of any LCMS office, board, or committee and the personal papers of any individuals represented in this collection for additional information on the Behnken Administration.

There is an audio recording of an interview of Dr. Behnken conducted by Dr. August R. Suelflow in November 1965. This recording is included in the Concordia Historical Institute. Oral History Collection (M-0014).

Folders added to the collection after arrangement and description was completed have been placed at the end of the collection, beginning with folder 483.