Beliefs > Denominations
Church Denominations
In Russia, there was typically one religious denomination in each village. This religious segregation had its origin in the initial settlement of the Volga German colonies from 1764 to 1767. At that time, the Russian government purposely placed those professing the Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed faiths in their own separate colonies to avoid potential conflict. This was a wise policy given that the Seven Years' War, which was fought largely over religious beliefs, had recently ended.
Upon arrival in the United States, Catholics and Mennonites found homes with existing denominations. The Protestant Volga Germans had no such worldwide churches to join. As a result, they were wooed, and often confused, with competing claims from many denominations. These included the Missouri Synod, American Lutheran Church, Reformed Church in the United States (German Reformed Church), German Evangelical Synod of North America, German Methodists, German Baptists, and Seventh-day Adventists. By the 1930's, roughly 45 percent of those from Protestant churches in Russia joined Lutheran churches, 20 percent were divided among Methodists and Baptists, and 5 percent joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The remaining 30 percent of the Russian Germans joined German Congregational churches.
The majority of the Volga Germans that settled in Portland were Protestants. Many of these people had been members of the Reformed church in Russia. Along with a substantial number of Lutheran Volga Germans, these people found that the German Congregational denomination best met their needs by providing them the freedom to worship as they had done in Russia.
Upon arrival in the United States, Catholics and Mennonites found homes with existing denominations. The Protestant Volga Germans had no such worldwide churches to join. As a result, they were wooed, and often confused, with competing claims from many denominations. These included the Missouri Synod, American Lutheran Church, Reformed Church in the United States (German Reformed Church), German Evangelical Synod of North America, German Methodists, German Baptists, and Seventh-day Adventists. By the 1930's, roughly 45 percent of those from Protestant churches in Russia joined Lutheran churches, 20 percent were divided among Methodists and Baptists, and 5 percent joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The remaining 30 percent of the Russian Germans joined German Congregational churches.
The majority of the Volga Germans that settled in Portland were Protestants. Many of these people had been members of the Reformed church in Russia. Along with a substantial number of Lutheran Volga Germans, these people found that the German Congregational denomination best met their needs by providing them the freedom to worship as they had done in Russia.
Sources
Eisenach, George J. Pietism and the Russian Germans in the United States. Berne, IN: Berne, 1948. Print.
Sallet, Richard. Russian-German Settlements in the United States. Fargo: North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, 1974. Print.
Sallet, Richard. Russian-German Settlements in the United States. Fargo: North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, 1974. Print.
Last updated March 19, 2019.