zum Bekenntnis zurückkehren

03:26 Aug 7, 2013 

This is the "smoking gun," so to speak. There is now no question in my mind, based on the facts presented. The pastor was threatening to leave if his parishioners did not return to complete adherence to the Augsburg Confession of Faith.

03:20 Aug 7, 2013 

In 1895 Texas left the General Council and affiliated with the Iowa Synod, not because of any conflict, but because of the hope of more pastoral prospects. This ended an era.[…] A few congregations, unhappy with the new alliance, broke off and formed the Old German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Texas of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
http://gulfcoastsynod.org/about-us/what-lutherans-believe/hi...

03:15 Aug 7, 2013 

Danke für diesen Hinweis! I think this must be what "Bekenntnis" refers to in the original record, as the pastor wanted to adhere strictly to the doctrines of the Augsburg Confession, while the parish members wanted the pastor to take a more relaxed approach in some church matters.

07:44 Aug 6, 2013 

Return to the fold/faith are classic expressions, capturing the essence. Yet there is no indication that the congregation has lost faith, or strayed from the path, which is what these phrases indicate, other than in the eyes of the pastor. Therefore, I believe a qualifier is necessary - true faith/Lutheran faith or fold.

05:13 Aug 6, 2013 

bezieht es sich auf das Augsburgische Bekenntnis (A.B.) http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessio_Augustana
(bis heute sind sich die lutherischen Kirchen da nicht einig)

21:25 Aug 5, 2013 

You could say "returned to the fold".

19:51 Aug 5, 2013 

No. The pastor was Lutheran and he had an Ev. Luth. congregation as well. Many members of the congregation, however, felt the pastor unnecessarily excluded members of other denominations from serving as "Taufzeugen," etc. in their congregation. This, of course, led to heated debates, with the pastor ultimately threatening to leave unless the congregation returned to the "Bekenntnis." I'm assuming he was suggested they were "straying" from the rules, regulations and/or beliefs of the Ev. Luth. church?

19:47 Aug 5, 2013 

Bekenntnis means denomination. Have they switched to a different one?