Johann Melchior Goeze

Johann Melchior Goeze (born 16 October 1717 in Halberstadt, died 19 May 1786 in Hamburg, epithet: Zionswächter, i.e. Zion's Guardian) was a Lutheran pastor and theologian during the period of Late Orthodoxy.

From 1760 to 1770 he served as senior of Hamburg presiding as spiritual leader over the Lutheran state church of the city-state.

Goeze studied in the universities of Jena and Halle, writing a doctoral dissertation on early Christian apologetics.

The pastors of the five principal or head churches (Hauptkirchen) of Hamburg formed a college, the Spiritual Ministerium, and elected from their midst the spiritual leader of the Lutheran state church.

Privately, Lessing showed respect for Goeze by always making sure to visit him when he came to Hamburg.

Johann Melchior Goeze
University of Jena at 1770.
St. Catherine's Church, Hamburg in 1930. The church was damaged by the bombing in World War II and rebuilt afterwards.