The first pastor of the formally organized congregation at Zion was the Reverend Johann Georg Kunz. Without the Holy Spirit's guidance and leadership working through Pastor Kunz, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church might not have come into existence.
Johann Kunz was born in the Grand Duchy of Hessen, Germany, on November 7, 1812. His conversion to Christianity seems to have occurred when he was a young man. About the same time he came under the influence of a former Roman Catholic priest, Johann E. Gossner who was pastor of Bethlehem Church in Berlin. In 1840, Gossner sent Kunz and six others to Balitmore as missionaries. They were to contact the Otterbein group, part of the United Brethren in Christ. The following two months were spent among these people, but the loud and intense emotionalism in their worship became too much for Kunz. He next met with the River Men (a Mennonite branch), but they were extremely quiet and somber. Pastor Kunz wanted a middle way, and he prayed for guidance.
In December, The Reverend Mr. Kunz wrote to The Reverend Mr. Haesbaert, a Lutheran pastor of Baltimore, and also a friend of F. C. D. Wyneken's. This led to Pastor Kunz's being commissioned in January to go to the Western States as a traveling pastor to scattered Lutherans in the area. In Indiana he became connected with the Synod of the West, and the General Synod, which was very loose in its interpretation of Lutheranism, often combining with the Reformed Church, having no united stand on the confessions, and adopting some of the revivalistic worship practices of other churches. When Pastor Kunz arrived in February, 1841, there were only a little over 2000 people in Indianapolis, but already most major denominations had church buildings. The Lutheran congregation was English, but the Pastor, Abraham Reck, gave Pastor Kunz a chance to preach to some of the Germans connected to his church. This little group consisted of both Lutheran and Reformed members who wanted to form a church but had no larger church body with which to affiliate. On February 11, they engaged Pastor Kunz as their pastor for a year at a time, and drew up a constitution, calling themselves "United Evangelical" (Lutheran and Reformed.)
Pastor Kunz preached to these people and taught their children on a year-by-year contract until 1850. At the same time he began to build up the congregation in Hancock County. The dual nature of the Lutheran and Reformed churches continued to be a problem. In November, 1842, the city congregation adopted a constitution as the "German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation and Church of Indianapolis;" in the summer of 1844 the name St. Paulus was added and work was begun on a church building. Pastor Kunz also continued to serve his country church, although enthusiasm and financial support had dwindled.
A record as early as 1846 notes that Pastor Kunz published an article in Der Lutheraner a publication by C. F. W. Walther out of St. Louis. Because of his contact with Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans, Pastor Kunz and some colleagues withdrew from the General Synod and formed the Synod of Indianapolis in 1846. With Walther's encouragement, Pastor Kunz continued to protest the practice of pastors serving mixed (Lutheran-Reformed) congregations. In 1848 Pastor Kunz and the Indianapolis Synod came to a parting of the ways. In 1849 he joined "The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States," which had been founded by Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans in Chicago in 1847. Pastor Kunz's congregation refused to join him in his new affiliation. This fact, and other disagreements over practical reforms led to his resignation in the summer of 1850. He accepted a call to a church in Elk Grove, Illinois.
When Pastor Kunz was called by Zion in 1853, he began a ministry that was to last for nearly 30 years. During that time he served faithfully as pastor, teacher of the congregation's day school, and (as was the custom in those days) as general maintenance man. His daughters, especially Maria and Bertha, taught with him at various times. Maria (Mary) Kunz married Charles Henry Roesener.
Pastor Kunz retired to Indianapolis in 1882 and died there on August 21, 1899.
He is buried in Zion Cemetery.
(Above data from Contributor, Timothy Frank - 47769550)
Johann Kunz was born in the Grand Duchy of Hessen, Germany, on November 7, 1812. His conversion to Christianity seems to have occurred when he was a young man. About the same time he came under the influence of a former Roman Catholic priest, Johann E. Gossner who was pastor of Bethlehem Church in Berlin. In 1840, Gossner sent Kunz and six others to Balitmore as missionaries. They were to contact the Otterbein group, part of the United Brethren in Christ. The following two months were spent among these people, but the loud and intense emotionalism in their worship became too much for Kunz. He next met with the River Men (a Mennonite branch), but they were extremely quiet and somber. Pastor Kunz wanted a middle way, and he prayed for guidance.
In December, The Reverend Mr. Kunz wrote to The Reverend Mr. Haesbaert, a Lutheran pastor of Baltimore, and also a friend of F. C. D. Wyneken's. This led to Pastor Kunz's being commissioned in January to go to the Western States as a traveling pastor to scattered Lutherans in the area. In Indiana he became connected with the Synod of the West, and the General Synod, which was very loose in its interpretation of Lutheranism, often combining with the Reformed Church, having no united stand on the confessions, and adopting some of the revivalistic worship practices of other churches. When Pastor Kunz arrived in February, 1841, there were only a little over 2000 people in Indianapolis, but already most major denominations had church buildings. The Lutheran congregation was English, but the Pastor, Abraham Reck, gave Pastor Kunz a chance to preach to some of the Germans connected to his church. This little group consisted of both Lutheran and Reformed members who wanted to form a church but had no larger church body with which to affiliate. On February 11, they engaged Pastor Kunz as their pastor for a year at a time, and drew up a constitution, calling themselves "United Evangelical" (Lutheran and Reformed.)
Pastor Kunz preached to these people and taught their children on a year-by-year contract until 1850. At the same time he began to build up the congregation in Hancock County. The dual nature of the Lutheran and Reformed churches continued to be a problem. In November, 1842, the city congregation adopted a constitution as the "German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation and Church of Indianapolis;" in the summer of 1844 the name St. Paulus was added and work was begun on a church building. Pastor Kunz also continued to serve his country church, although enthusiasm and financial support had dwindled.
A record as early as 1846 notes that Pastor Kunz published an article in Der Lutheraner a publication by C. F. W. Walther out of St. Louis. Because of his contact with Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans, Pastor Kunz and some colleagues withdrew from the General Synod and formed the Synod of Indianapolis in 1846. With Walther's encouragement, Pastor Kunz continued to protest the practice of pastors serving mixed (Lutheran-Reformed) congregations. In 1848 Pastor Kunz and the Indianapolis Synod came to a parting of the ways. In 1849 he joined "The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States," which had been founded by Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans in Chicago in 1847. Pastor Kunz's congregation refused to join him in his new affiliation. This fact, and other disagreements over practical reforms led to his resignation in the summer of 1850. He accepted a call to a church in Elk Grove, Illinois.
When Pastor Kunz was called by Zion in 1853, he began a ministry that was to last for nearly 30 years. During that time he served faithfully as pastor, teacher of the congregation's day school, and (as was the custom in those days) as general maintenance man. His daughters, especially Maria and Bertha, taught with him at various times. Maria (Mary) Kunz married Charles Henry Roesener.
Pastor Kunz retired to Indianapolis in 1882 and died there on August 21, 1899.
He is buried in Zion Cemetery.
(Above data from Contributor, Timothy Frank - 47769550)
The first pastor of the formally organized congregation at Zion was the Reverend Johann Georg Kunz. Without the Holy Spirit's guidance and leadership working through Pastor Kunz, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church might not have come into existence.
Johann Kunz was born in the Grand Duchy of Hessen, Germany, on November 7, 1812. His conversion to Christianity seems to have occurred when he was a young man. About the same time he came under the influence of a former Roman Catholic priest, Johann E. Gossner who was pastor of Bethlehem Church in Berlin. In 1840, Gossner sent Kunz and six others to Balitmore as missionaries. They were to contact the Otterbein group, part of the United Brethren in Christ. The following two months were spent among these people, but the loud and intense emotionalism in their worship became too much for Kunz. He next met with the River Men (a Mennonite branch), but they were extremely quiet and somber. Pastor Kunz wanted a middle way, and he prayed for guidance.
In December, The Reverend Mr. Kunz wrote to The Reverend Mr. Haesbaert, a Lutheran pastor of Baltimore, and also a friend of F. C. D. Wyneken's. This led to Pastor Kunz's being commissioned in January to go to the Western States as a traveling pastor to scattered Lutherans in the area. In Indiana he became connected with the Synod of the West, and the General Synod, which was very loose in its interpretation of Lutheranism, often combining with the Reformed Church, having no united stand on the confessions, and adopting some of the revivalistic worship practices of other churches. When Pastor Kunz arrived in February, 1841, there were only a little over 2000 people in Indianapolis, but already most major denominations had church buildings. The Lutheran congregation was English, but the Pastor, Abraham Reck, gave Pastor Kunz a chance to preach to some of the Germans connected to his church. This little group consisted of both Lutheran and Reformed members who wanted to form a church but had no larger church body with which to affiliate. On February 11, they engaged Pastor Kunz as their pastor for a year at a time, and drew up a constitution, calling themselves "United Evangelical" (Lutheran and Reformed.)
Pastor Kunz preached to these people and taught their children on a year-by-year contract until 1850. At the same time he began to build up the congregation in Hancock County. The dual nature of the Lutheran and Reformed churches continued to be a problem. In November, 1842, the city congregation adopted a constitution as the "German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation and Church of Indianapolis;" in the summer of 1844 the name St. Paulus was added and work was begun on a church building. Pastor Kunz also continued to serve his country church, although enthusiasm and financial support had dwindled.
A record as early as 1846 notes that Pastor Kunz published an article in Der Lutheraner a publication by C. F. W. Walther out of St. Louis. Because of his contact with Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans, Pastor Kunz and some colleagues withdrew from the General Synod and formed the Synod of Indianapolis in 1846. With Walther's encouragement, Pastor Kunz continued to protest the practice of pastors serving mixed (Lutheran-Reformed) congregations. In 1848 Pastor Kunz and the Indianapolis Synod came to a parting of the ways. In 1849 he joined "The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States," which had been founded by Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans in Chicago in 1847. Pastor Kunz's congregation refused to join him in his new affiliation. This fact, and other disagreements over practical reforms led to his resignation in the summer of 1850. He accepted a call to a church in Elk Grove, Illinois.
When Pastor Kunz was called by Zion in 1853, he began a ministry that was to last for nearly 30 years. During that time he served faithfully as pastor, teacher of the congregation's day school, and (as was the custom in those days) as general maintenance man. His daughters, especially Maria and Bertha, taught with him at various times. Maria (Mary) Kunz married Charles Henry Roesener.
Pastor Kunz retired to Indianapolis in 1882 and died there on August 21, 1899.
He is buried in Zion Cemetery.
(Above data from Contributor, Timothy Frank - 47769550)
Johann Kunz was born in the Grand Duchy of Hessen, Germany, on November 7, 1812. His conversion to Christianity seems to have occurred when he was a young man. About the same time he came under the influence of a former Roman Catholic priest, Johann E. Gossner who was pastor of Bethlehem Church in Berlin. In 1840, Gossner sent Kunz and six others to Balitmore as missionaries. They were to contact the Otterbein group, part of the United Brethren in Christ. The following two months were spent among these people, but the loud and intense emotionalism in their worship became too much for Kunz. He next met with the River Men (a Mennonite branch), but they were extremely quiet and somber. Pastor Kunz wanted a middle way, and he prayed for guidance.
In December, The Reverend Mr. Kunz wrote to The Reverend Mr. Haesbaert, a Lutheran pastor of Baltimore, and also a friend of F. C. D. Wyneken's. This led to Pastor Kunz's being commissioned in January to go to the Western States as a traveling pastor to scattered Lutherans in the area. In Indiana he became connected with the Synod of the West, and the General Synod, which was very loose in its interpretation of Lutheranism, often combining with the Reformed Church, having no united stand on the confessions, and adopting some of the revivalistic worship practices of other churches. When Pastor Kunz arrived in February, 1841, there were only a little over 2000 people in Indianapolis, but already most major denominations had church buildings. The Lutheran congregation was English, but the Pastor, Abraham Reck, gave Pastor Kunz a chance to preach to some of the Germans connected to his church. This little group consisted of both Lutheran and Reformed members who wanted to form a church but had no larger church body with which to affiliate. On February 11, they engaged Pastor Kunz as their pastor for a year at a time, and drew up a constitution, calling themselves "United Evangelical" (Lutheran and Reformed.)
Pastor Kunz preached to these people and taught their children on a year-by-year contract until 1850. At the same time he began to build up the congregation in Hancock County. The dual nature of the Lutheran and Reformed churches continued to be a problem. In November, 1842, the city congregation adopted a constitution as the "German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation and Church of Indianapolis;" in the summer of 1844 the name St. Paulus was added and work was begun on a church building. Pastor Kunz also continued to serve his country church, although enthusiasm and financial support had dwindled.
A record as early as 1846 notes that Pastor Kunz published an article in Der Lutheraner a publication by C. F. W. Walther out of St. Louis. Because of his contact with Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans, Pastor Kunz and some colleagues withdrew from the General Synod and formed the Synod of Indianapolis in 1846. With Walther's encouragement, Pastor Kunz continued to protest the practice of pastors serving mixed (Lutheran-Reformed) congregations. In 1848 Pastor Kunz and the Indianapolis Synod came to a parting of the ways. In 1849 he joined "The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States," which had been founded by Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans in Chicago in 1847. Pastor Kunz's congregation refused to join him in his new affiliation. This fact, and other disagreements over practical reforms led to his resignation in the summer of 1850. He accepted a call to a church in Elk Grove, Illinois.
When Pastor Kunz was called by Zion in 1853, he began a ministry that was to last for nearly 30 years. During that time he served faithfully as pastor, teacher of the congregation's day school, and (as was the custom in those days) as general maintenance man. His daughters, especially Maria and Bertha, taught with him at various times. Maria (Mary) Kunz married Charles Henry Roesener.
Pastor Kunz retired to Indianapolis in 1882 and died there on August 21, 1899.
He is buried in Zion Cemetery.
(Above data from Contributor, Timothy Frank - 47769550)
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