John Louis Nuelsen
Encyclopedia
John Louis Nuelsen was a German-American Bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and The Methodist Church, elected in 1908. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist Pastor
, as a college
and seminary
professor
and theologian, and as an author
and editor
.
, Hanover
, became an American
citizen and was ordained into the Methodist Episcopal ministry. He spent time in Germany
as a Missionary
, and later was sent to Switzerland
to help establish Methodism
there. He served churches in Europe
for thirty-eight years. The family was originally from Holland. John was baptized by Bishop Calvin Kingsley
.
John married Luella Elizabeth Stroeter (daughter of Ernst Ferdinand & Caroline Ströter) on 8 September 1896. They had the following children: Albert E., Henry E., John Louis, Jr., and Marie L.
in Karlsruhe, Germany and Bremen, Germany. He then went to Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, New Jersey
(1887–89), earning the B.D.
degree in 1890. He earned the A.M. degree at Central Wesleyan College
in Warrenton, Missouri
in 1893.
He studied further at the University of Berlin and the University of Halle in Germany
.
of the M.E. Church in the U.S.A. in 1889. The Rev. J.L. Nuelsen served pastoral appointments in Sedalia, Missouri
and Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
.
In 1890, the Rev. Nuelsen was appointed a Professor
at St. Paul's College in St. Paul Park, Minnesota
, serving until 1892. During 1892-93 he completed his Master's degree
. In 1894 he was appointed a Professor at his alma mater
, Central Wesleyan College, serving until 1899.
In 1899 the Nast Theological Professorship in Exegetical Theology was established at German Wallace College
, Berea, Ohio
with a gift of $20,000 given by Franzeska Wilhelmina "Fanny" Nast Gamble, daughter of the Rev. William Nast (the first President of German-Wallace) and wife of William Gamble (son of Procter and Gamble co-founder James Gamble). The Rev. Dr. John L. Nuelsen was called to this new chair. After three years this department was expanded into the Nast Theological Seminary, which served well in the training of ministers and workers in Christian vocations from 1902 until 1933, especially those of German
decent. Dr. Nuelsen served his Professorship until 1908.
He was elected a delegate to the M.E. General Conferences in 1904 and 1908. He also attended the Ecumenical Conferences of 1901 and 1911.
Once elected, however, Bishop Nuelsen was assigned, not to preside over German Conferences, but to a regular Area of the Church in the U.S. He was assigned to the Omaha
Episcopal Area
(Nebraska
) until 1912. Then he was assigned all the work in Europe
, with his residence in Zürich. He was associated with the work of the Church in Europe for the rest of his active episcopacy (until 1940). At first his Episcopal Area covered all annual conferences in Switzerland
, Germany, Scandinavia
, Russia
, France
, Spain
, Italy
and Austro-Hungary. In 1920 the Europe
an work was divided into three Episcopal Areas: the Stockholm
Area, the Paris
Area, and the Zürich Area (to which Bishop Nuelsen was assigned).
Bishop Nuelsen also served as a Trustee
of Drew Theological Seminary.
in 1903 by the University of Denver
. Nebraska University awarded him the LL.D. in 1907.
was especially difficult for Bishop Nuelsen. He loved the German Methodists and the German People, and hastened to defend them in the early years of the war. When the United States
entered the war, however, matters became further complicated for him. The charge of being “pro-German” was a serious one at that time in the opinion of many Americans during the highly emotional days of 1917-18. Nuelsen was attacked in some American church papers. Even some of his Episcopal brethren were not too understanding of the situation in which he found himself. During the last period of the war he was in fact forbidden to travel, being immobilized in Switzerland for long months. A further complication was the fact that the conferences under his care were divided between nations on the side of Germany and nations on the side of the Allies
.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
and The Methodist Church, elected in 1908. He also distinguished himself as a Methodist Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, as a college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and theologian, and as an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
.
Birth and Family
John was born 19 January 1867 in Zürich, Switzerland, the son of the Rev. Heinrich and Rosalie (Mueller) Nuelsen. Heinrich, born in NörtenNörten-Hardenberg
Nörten-Hardenberg is a municipality in the district of Northeim, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Leine, approx. 10 km southwest of Northeim, and 10 km north of Göttingen.- References :...
, Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, became an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizen and was ordained into the Methodist Episcopal ministry. He spent time in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as a Missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, and later was sent to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to help establish Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
there. He served churches in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for thirty-eight years. The family was originally from Holland. John was baptized by Bishop Calvin Kingsley
Calvin Kingsley
Calvin Kingsley was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church elected in 1864.-Birth and Family:...
.
John married Luella Elizabeth Stroeter (daughter of Ernst Ferdinand & Caroline Ströter) on 8 September 1896. They had the following children: Albert E., Henry E., John Louis, Jr., and Marie L.
Education
Being a Methodist Pastor’s family, the Nuelsens moved a great deal. John attended GymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Karlsruhe, Germany and Bremen, Germany. He then went to Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, New Jersey
Madison, New Jersey
Madison is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the population was 16,530. It also is known as "The Rose City".-Geography:Madison is located at ....
(1887–89), earning the B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree in 1890. He earned the A.M. degree at Central Wesleyan College
Central Wesleyan College
Central Wesleyan College was a private college sponsored by the Methodist Church in Warrenton, Missouri from 1864 to 1941.-History:The college has its roots in the German and English College founded in 1854 in Quincy, Illinois, to train ministers for the German Methodist Episcopal Church...
in Warrenton, Missouri
Warrenton, Missouri
Warrenton is a city in Warren County, Missouri, United States. The population was estimated at 7,398 in 2008. It is the county seat of Warren County. Warrenton is located in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. Warrenton's slogan is "A City for All Seasons."-Geography:Warrenton is located...
in 1893.
He studied further at the University of Berlin and the University of Halle in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Ordained and Academic Ministry
John joined the West German Annual ConferenceAnnual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
of the M.E. Church in the U.S.A. in 1889. The Rev. J.L. Nuelsen served pastoral appointments in Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located about south of the Missouri River in Pettis County, Missouri. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat of Pettis County. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of...
and Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,515 people, 1,479 households, and 942 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,099.9 people per square mile . There were 1,591 housing units at an average density of 950.5 per square mile...
.
In 1890, the Rev. Nuelsen was appointed a Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at St. Paul's College in St. Paul Park, Minnesota
St. Paul Park, Minnesota
St. Paul Park is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,279 at the 2010 census. It is located on the Mississippi River five miles downstream from St...
, serving until 1892. During 1892-93 he completed his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
. In 1894 he was appointed a Professor at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Central Wesleyan College, serving until 1899.
In 1899 the Nast Theological Professorship in Exegetical Theology was established at German Wallace College
German Wallace College
German Wallace College was a German Methodist institution of higher education in Berea, Ohio. It was organized 7 June 1864. The Rev. Jakob Rothweiler of the Central German Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was appointed 3 June 1863 to inaugurate the movement to establish this...
, Berea, Ohio
Berea, Ohio
- History :The first European settlers were originally from Connecticut. Berea fell within Connecticut's Western Reserve and was surveyed and divided into townships and ranges by one Gideon Granger, a gentleman who served as Postmaster General under President Thomas Jefferson...
with a gift of $20,000 given by Franzeska Wilhelmina "Fanny" Nast Gamble, daughter of the Rev. William Nast (the first President of German-Wallace) and wife of William Gamble (son of Procter and Gamble co-founder James Gamble). The Rev. Dr. John L. Nuelsen was called to this new chair. After three years this department was expanded into the Nast Theological Seminary, which served well in the training of ministers and workers in Christian vocations from 1902 until 1933, especially those of German
Ethnic German
Ethnic Germans historically also ), also collectively referred to as the German diaspora, refers to people who are of German ethnicity. Many are not born in Europe or in the modern-day state of Germany or hold German citizenship...
decent. Dr. Nuelsen served his Professorship until 1908.
He was elected a delegate to the M.E. General Conferences in 1904 and 1908. He also attended the Ecumenical Conferences of 1901 and 1911.
Episcopal Ministry
Bishop Nuelsen was elected to the Episcopacy by the General Conference of 1908. His election came primarily as a result of a rather strong insistence upon the part of the German constituency of the M.E. Church that they should be represented in the Board of Bishops. This election was thus an early manifestation of the conviction, registered often in more recent years, that minority groups in the Church should furnish a part of the Episcopacy.Once elected, however, Bishop Nuelsen was assigned, not to preside over German Conferences, but to a regular Area of the Church in the U.S. He was assigned to the Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
Episcopal Area
Episcopal Area
An Episcopal Area in the United Methodist Church is a basic unit of this denomination. It is a region presided over by a resident bishop that is similar to a diocese in other Christian denominations. Each annual conference in the UMC is within a single episcopal area; some episcopal areas...
(Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
) until 1912. Then he was assigned all the work in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, with his residence in Zürich. He was associated with the work of the Church in Europe for the rest of his active episcopacy (until 1940). At first his Episcopal Area covered all annual conferences in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Germany, Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Austro-Hungary. In 1920 the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an work was divided into three Episcopal Areas: the Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
Area, the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
Area, and the Zürich Area (to which Bishop Nuelsen was assigned).
Bishop Nuelsen also served as a Trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of Drew Theological Seminary.
Honorary Degrees
The Rev. John Louis Nuelsen was honored with the degree of Doctor of DivinityDoctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in 1903 by the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
. Nebraska University awarded him the LL.D. in 1907.
Nuelsen, the man
Bishop Nuelsen is remembered by fellow-Methodist Bishop Roy H. Short as:- “an impressive man. He looked the scholar that he was. His libraryLibraryIn a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, which can still be seen in the Methodist Publishing HousePublishingPublishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
in Zurich, bears silent testimony to the wide range of his interests and the eagerness of his mind for acquiring knowledge. He wrote constantly and was the author of a number of books and of a multitude of articles. He was an indefatigable traveler, and much of his study and writing was done on the road.”
Wartime
World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
was especially difficult for Bishop Nuelsen. He loved the German Methodists and the German People, and hastened to defend them in the early years of the war. When the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered the war, however, matters became further complicated for him. The charge of being “pro-German” was a serious one at that time in the opinion of many Americans during the highly emotional days of 1917-18. Nuelsen was attacked in some American church papers. Even some of his Episcopal brethren were not too understanding of the situation in which he found himself. During the last period of the war he was in fact forbidden to travel, being immobilized in Switzerland for long months. A further complication was the fact that the conferences under his care were divided between nations on the side of Germany and nations on the side of the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
.
Selected Writings
- Jugend, Kirche und Statt, 1896.
- Die Bedeutung Des Evangeliums Johannes, 1903.
- Das Leben Jesu in Wortlaut der vier Evangelien., 1904
- John Wesley, Ausgewahlte Predigten, 1905.
- Luther the Leader (Men of the Kingdom Series), 1906.
- Some Recent Phases of German Theology, 1908.
- John Wesley and the German Hymn: A Detailed Study of John Wesley's Translations of Thirty-Three German Hymns, ISBN 0-9502765-0-2
- Methodismus und Weltmission, 1913.
- Assistant EditorEditingEditing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Chicago: Howard Severence Co., 1915. - Address: Book of Devotions, 1916.
- Jean Guillaume de la Fléchère, 1929.