Namesake

Who was Bugenhagen?

Johannes Bugenhagen Bild

Johannes Bugenhagen was born in Wollin, Duchy of Pomerania, on 24th June 1485. After Humanistic Stiudies in Greifswald and his ordination, he had different jobs as a teacher. In 1521, when Martin Luther's anti-roman writing was published, Bugenhagen did not share Luther's opinion. But after heaving studied it in detail he changed his mind and became a supporter and subsequently moved to Wittenberg.

„Doctor Pommer“

„Doctor Pommer“, as Luther used to call him, became one of the most influencial reformers. In addition to working as pastor in Wittenberg (from 1523) and as personal pastor of Luther, he gave theological lectures at the University of Wittenberg, and it was his outstanding organizational talent that made him indispensable for the Reformation in Northern Germany and Scandinavia.

Bugenhagen wrote church constitutions for Braunschweig, Hamburg, Lübeck, Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein, Hildesheim, Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel and Denmark and took an active part in the practical implementation. They not only regulated the church services, but also laid down far-reaching provisions on education and social issues.

In 1539 he became generel superintendant of the Saxon area. After Martin Luther's death, Bugenhagen took care of his widow and children. Johannes Bugenhagen died in Wittenberg in 1558 .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 

Johannes Bugenhagen Lucas Cranach