Content

This unit introduces students to key people, events and doctrinal themes in the history of Lutheranism in Australia. Students will investigate the Lutheran emigration to Australia, settlement, growth, schooling, early mission, persecution, union and theological vision. In the context of this history, students will reflect on the issues currently facing the Lutheran Church of Australia. As part of this unit, students will have an opportunity to investigate and share a local part of the story of Australian Lutheran history which is of personal interest to them.

Unit code: CH1040L

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1

Unit discipline: Church History

Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Recount the Lutheran story in Australia from its origins to the present day

2.

Articulate aspects of the theological formation and self-understanding of Australian Lutheranism

3.

Identify and use relevant primary and secondary texts

4.

Demonstrate the skills of historical inquiry

Pedagogy

This unit involves student engagement with historical documents as the lecturer helps lead them through the story of Lutheranism in Australia. Regular document studies provide avenues for learning and feedback and individual research projects will be shared with the distributed community.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Brauer, A. Under the Southern Cross: history of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia. Edited by P.G. Strelan. Lutheran Publishing House, 1956. (Reprint ed. 1985)
  • Doctrinal Statements and Theological Opinions of the Lutheran Church of Australia. Rev. 3rd ed. Lutheran Publishing House, 1989.
  • Hebart, Theodor. The United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia (U.E.L.C.A.): its history, activities and characteristics, 1838-1938. English version edited by J.J. Stolz. North Adelaide: Lutheran Book Depot, 1938. (Reprinted 1985. Lutheran Publishing House.)
  • Jupp, James. ed. The Encyclopedia of Religion in Australia. Cambridge University Press. 2009.
  • Leske, Everard. For faith and freedom: the story of Lutherans and Lutheranism in Australia 1836-1996. Rev. ed. Friends of Lutheran Archives, 2009.
  • Lockwood, Gregory. Diary of C.W. Schurmann begun the 27th May 1838, on the day of his embarkation for South Australia. Wakefield Press, 2025.
  • Lohe, Wilhelm. Three books about the church. Translated and edited by James L. Schaaf. Fortress Press, 1969.
  • Monteath, Peter and Matthew P. Fitzpatrick, An Indigenous South: German Writers on Colonial South Australia. Wakefield Press, 2024.
  • Sasse, Hermann. Here we stand: nature and character of the Lutheran faith. Lutheran Publishing House, 1938.
  • Schubert, David A. Kavel’s people: their story of migration from Prussia to South Australia for the sake of their faith and their initial settlement, told mainly from journals, letters and other documents of the time. 2nd ed. H. Schubert, 1997.
  • Strehlow, John. The tale of Frieda Keysser. Vol. 1, 1875-1910: Frieda Keysser and Carl Strehlow, an historical biography. Wild Cat Press, 2011.
  • Tjalkabota, Moses. ‘Autobiography.’ Appendix 2 in From Mission to Church, Paul Albrecht. Finke River Mission, 2002.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Document Study

Critically engage with a number of relevant documents

2000 50.0
Report

Investigate and report on a negotiated Australian Lutheran history topic

2000 50.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 29 Aug, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-08-29 12:04:29 +1000