Gottlieb Bender Christiansen
Encyclopedia
Gottlieb Bender Christiansen (October 27, 1851 - September 27, 1929) was an American Lutheran Minister who served as President at Trinity Seminary in Blair, Nebraska and was the first president of the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church.
, Denmark
. His parents were Christian Gottliebsen and Else Cathrine Nielsdatter. Came to America in 1877. From 1877–1881, he attended Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. He was ordained on June 23, 1881 at Shell Rock, Iowa
.
from 1881–1885.
In 1886, he was called to Owatonna Danish Lutheran Congregation in Owatonna, Minnesota
. Rev. Christiansen served there until 1890. He was also Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Minnesota
from 1885–1890. On January 1, 1889, Reverend Christiansen came to serve Brorson Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Pastor Christiansen was called to be the second president of Trinity Seminary in Blair, Nebraska
in 1890. He served as both President and theological professor at Trinity Seminary until 1896. He was also Pastor for congregations in Blair, Nebraska area during this period.
Christiansen was called to be the first president of the newly formed United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1896–1921. The United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized at Minneapolis on October 1, 1896 from the merger of the Danish Association of 1884 and the Danish North Church of 1894.
He was named Knight of the Order of Dannebrog by King Christian X of Denmark during 1921.
He retired from active ministry and moved to Brush, Colorado
during 1922.
Background
G.B. Christiansen was born in Røjle Mark, Vejlby Parish, Odense CountyOdense County
Odense County is a former province in Denmark, located on the northern half of the island of Funen in central Denmark. Odense County was established in 1806 and abolished in 1970 when it merged with Svendborg County forming the new Funen County....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. His parents were Christian Gottliebsen and Else Cathrine Nielsdatter. Came to America in 1877. From 1877–1881, he attended Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. He was ordained on June 23, 1881 at Shell Rock, Iowa
Shell Rock, Iowa
Shell Rock is a city in Butler County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 1,298 at the 2000 census. The city is located along the county's eastern border, between Butler and Bremer counties.-Geography:...
.
Career
He served as Pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs, IowaCouncil Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
from 1881–1885.
In 1886, he was called to Owatonna Danish Lutheran Congregation in Owatonna, Minnesota
Owatonna, Minnesota
Owatonna is a city in Steele County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 25,599 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Steele County. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County Free Fair in August....
. Rev. Christiansen served there until 1890. He was also Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Minnesota
Albert Lea, Minnesota
Albert Lea is a city in and the county seat of Freeborn County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 18,016 at the 2010 census....
from 1885–1890. On January 1, 1889, Reverend Christiansen came to serve Brorson Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Pastor Christiansen was called to be the second president of Trinity Seminary in Blair, Nebraska
Blair, Nebraska
Blair is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,990 at the 2000 census. Blair is a part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
in 1890. He served as both President and theological professor at Trinity Seminary until 1896. He was also Pastor for congregations in Blair, Nebraska area during this period.
Christiansen was called to be the first president of the newly formed United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1896–1921. The United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized at Minneapolis on October 1, 1896 from the merger of the Danish Association of 1884 and the Danish North Church of 1894.
He was named Knight of the Order of Dannebrog by King Christian X of Denmark during 1921.
He retired from active ministry and moved to Brush, Colorado
Brush, Colorado
The City of Brush is a Statutory City located in Morgan County, Colorado, United States. The population was 5,117 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Brush is located at ....
during 1922.
Selected works
- Vink for Gennemlæsning af Bibelen (Blair, Nebraska. 1918) Danish
- Recollections of Our Church Work (published posthumously. United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church: 1930)
Additional sources
- Christensen, William E. Saga of the Tower: A History of Dana College and Trinity Seminary (Blair, Nebraska: Lutheran Publishing House, 1959)
- Petersen, Peter L. A Place Called Dana: The Centennial History of Trinity Seminary and Dana College (Blair, Nebraska: Dana College, 1984)
- Jensen, John M. The United Evangelical Lutheran Church: An Interpretation (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1964)
- Nyholm, Paul C. The Americanization of the Danish Lutheran Churches in America: A Study in Immigrant History (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1963)