[2] The beginning of the dispute arose in the spring of 1856 when the Western District of the LCMS held its sessions in Altenburg.

After two days of discussion concerning questions over the future and universal conversion of Israel and the so-called thousand-year reign—a dispute surrounding the interpretation of Revelation 20—the district passed resolutions rejecting and condemning all forms of chiliasm.

One of these members was Pastor Gruber, who was the oldest minister of the synod at that time; the other was Schieferdecker, who was also the district president.

Work was begun in early 1858 on a larger stone church, which was dedicated on the Second Sunday of Advent, 1858.

The schism that led to the division and creation of a new congregation in Altenburg was also felt in New Wells, Missouri.