Chemnitzs Works

Overview
The Chemnitz-Andreae Church Order shows not only what those who confessed the Augsburg Confession believed, but how the Lutheran Reformation put that faith into action and handed down the faith by means of orderly worship, church governance, and education. This text is crucial for avoiding misinterpretations of the Lutheran Confessions and the Reformation as a whole. Knowing the actual churchly practice of second-generation reformers Martin Chemnitz and Jacob Andreae is necessary in order to put their biblical teaching and confession into context. It also may inspire new solutions for the church’s problems regarding Christian education, formation of Christians to confess against worldly influences, and congregational leadership.

This work consists of two parts: the Body of Doctrine and the Agenda (or Church Order). The Body of Doctrine is a precursor to the Formula of Concord (1577). The Agenda deals with numerous topics, such as:
Order of liturgy for Sundays, Weekdays, and other services and pastoral functionsPrayersLiturgical musicCall process for pastorsChurch governance, the office of church superintendent, synodical assemblies, and consistoriesCustomsMarriage and divorceSchoolsOffice of schoolmasterMonastery schools (how former monasteries were put to good use after the Reformation)Alms and church-sponsored social welfare