Famous German Pastors

Martin Bucer was a German Protestant reformer in the Reformed tradition who was active in the 16th century. He is credited to have deeply influenced Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican doctrines and practices. His work resulted in his excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church, and he was exiled to England. He is considered an early pioneer of ecumenism.

Apart from being a Lutheran pastor, Eduard Mörike was also one of Germany’s best-known lyric poets. His Peregrina poems, his sonnets to Luise Raufolk, his poems and tales, such as Das Stuttgarter Hutzelmännlein, along with his novel Maler Nolten, remain significant to German literature to this day.

Otto Of Freising, also known as Otto I, was the bishop of Freising. He is best remembered for penning an extensive history of the world, Chronica. The four-volume Gesta Friderici, the first two of which were written by him, spoke about Frederick Barbarossa and the house of Hohenstaufen.

German political theorist Friedrich Naumann was also a Protestant pastor. He was part of the Reichstag and later also co-founded the Democratic Party of Germany, leading it till his death. He is also remembered for his National-Social Association, which he had co-founded with sociologist Max Weber.

Calvinist pastor Anton Praetorius was known for his vocal opposition to witchhunts and the practice of burning of witches. He also spoke against the tenet of crimen exceptum, which stated that torture is acceptable as a form of punishment when the crime is of a serious nature.

Samuel Simon Schmucker was a theologian and Lutheran pastor. He played a key role in the founding of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg as well as Gettysburg College. He also played a major role in the founding of the Evangelical Lutheran General Synod of the United States of America. He was also well-known for his efforts as an abolitionist.

Benedictine monk Regino of Prüm is best known for his two-volume chronicle of the period between Christ’s birth and the early 10th century, Chronicon. The abbot of Prüm, he later headed the monastery at Saint-Martin. He also advocated for a reform of church music and penned a collection of canons.