Robyn Lebron inally, the ȄDz ǡ ”—the last of the Lutheran symbols, was drawn up in 1577 and accepted by the majority of the state Churches The document was written in a conciliatory spirit, but it secured the triumph of the orthodox party But again, the doctrine of the Lord’s Supper proved an obstacle as the Lutherans would agree to no union that was not based upon perfect dogmatic consensus The government used very oppressive measures against these nonconformists, but in 1845, the new king, Frederick William IV, recognized them as an independent Lutheran sect Lutherans were among the earliest European settlers on this continent Their first representatives came from Holland to the Dutch colony of New Netherlands about 1624 The second distinct body of Lutherans in America arrived from Sweden in 1637 Two years later they had a minister and organized at Fort Christina (now Wilmington, Delaware), the first Lutheran congregation in the New World After 1771 the Swedes of Delaware and Pennsylvania dissolved their union with the Mother Church As they had no English-speaking ministers, they chose their pastors from the Episcopalian Church Since 1846 these Swedish congregations have declared full communion with the Episcopalians The first colony of German Lutherans was from the Palatinate They arrived in 1693 and founded Germantown, now a part of Philadelphia, PA In 1742 Rev Henry Muhlenberg who is regarded as the patriarch of American Lutheranism, arrived in Philadelphia During the 45 years of his ministry in America, Muhlenberg presided over widely separated congregations and erected many churches He began the work of organization among the Lutherans of America by the foundation of the Synod (comes from Greek words that mean “walking together.”) of Pennsylvania in 1748 He also prepared the congregational constitution of St Michael’s Church, Philadelphia, which became the model of similar constitutions throughout the country During the years following, there were many conflicts caused by departures from the old types of service and the expression of new doctrinal standards “The transition from the use of German to ... came from Holland to the Dutch colony of New Netherlands about 1624 The second distinct body of Lutherans in America arrived from Sweden in 1637 Two years later they had a minister and organized... there were many conflicts caused by departures from the old types of service and the expression of new doctrinal standards “The transition from the use of German to ... Wilmington, Delaware), the first Lutheran congregation in the New World After 1771 the Swedes of Delaware and Pennsylvania dissolved their union with the Mother Church As they had no English-speaking ministers,