BradTaylor

Bonhoeffer: Chapter 12

In 1933 in Germany, the church struggle began in earnest. Hitler was pushing for Ludwig Muller to become Reich Bishop, the person to head up the united church he was proposing for the country. Instead, the bishops of the church, having no respect and in fact great disdain for Muller, elected the well-loved Friedrich von Bodelschwingh. Muller hooted and hollered about Bodelschwingh’s election, causing even further distaste for himself among the German populace.

Hitler, unhappy about this turn of events, decided to take matters into his own hands. He ordered the church offices in Berlin to be occupied by his troops, and even began arresting some pastors. Bodelschwingh resigned in protest and set up a meeting with Hindenburg. Hitler set up elections to ensure Muller would be chosen, and, despite Bonhoeffer’s hearty efforts, this is precisely what happened.

Recognizing that they had lost the political battle, but not yet ready to concede the theological one, Bonhoeffer, Martin Niemoller, Bodelschwingh and others set out to write a confession, with which the German church would have to agree or disagree.