Evangelical Lutheran General Synod of the United States of America

The Pennsylvania Ministerium had suggested the creation of a general synod two years earlier and took the lead in organizing it.

[2] The New York Ministerium, which was started with the help of Johann Christopher Kunze, meanwhile, had ceased operations and would not become active again until 1837.

[3] Like many Protestant denominations, the General Synod was split over the issue of slavery and the political and military conflict of the American Civil War.

By the time of the merger, the General Synod ranked third in size among the largest Lutheran bodies in America.

[6] The early history of the General Synod has been characterized as one of loose commitment to Lutheran orthodoxy.

Fundamental doctrines included biblical teachings with which other Protestants agreed, and the General Synod did stand in opposition to the rationalism making inroads into other Lutheran bodies.

[7] In 1855, Samuel S. Schmucker, a supporter of revivalism and interdenominational agencies like the American Sunday School Union, proposed the Definite Synodical Platform.

[13] It could offer advice on doctrinal or disciplinary disputes when requested to by synods, congregations or ministers.

The General Synod sponsored foreign missions in Liberia and India, where it established the Arthur G. Watts Memorial College at Guntur in 1885.