John A. Morehead

One of the most widely known Lutherans of his time, John Alfred Morehead (1867-1936) is credited as being the founding force behind the Lutheran World Convention (LWC). As chairman of the National Lutheran Council’s (NLC) European Commission and as president of the LWC, he devoted his life to the rehabilitation of European Lutheran churches, institutions, and individuals, through the unification and cooperation of the world-wide Lutheran community.

Born on February 4, 1867, in Pulaski, Virginia, Morehead graduated from Roanoke College in 1889 and received a theological degree from Mt. Airy Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1892.

In 1898, Morehead assumed the presidency of the Southern Theological Seminary in Charleston, South Carolina. As president, he also taught systematic theology, and later studied in Europe to enhance his teaching skills. In June 1903, Morehead became president of Roanoke College, a position he would hold until 1920.

During his time at Roanoke, Morehead remained active in Lutheran church affairs. From 1910-14, he served as president of the United Synod of the South. By 1919, he became a member of the NLC's European Commission, whose purpose was to study the condition of the ailing Lutheran church overseas. Resigning from Roanoke in 1920 to serve as commission chairman, Morehead met with European church leaders to provide relief and reconstruction to areas devastated by World War I. He also worked with President Herbert Hoover and the American Relief Administration to provide relief to Russia. From these experiences, Morehead preached the need for a unified Lutheran convention to coordinate Lutheran relief efforts. Over the course of five years, he and the NLC met with European Lutheran church leaders to establish such a convention.

The first Lutheran World Convention was held August 19-24, 1923, in Eisenach, Germany. Received as a unifying success, members decided to continue the venture and elected Morehead to an executive committee to carry out relief work. Morehead was also appointed NLC executive director.

Description:
The John A. Morehead papers contain personal correspondence (1930-36) written in Morehead’s capacity as LWC President. Topics include: speech and article requests; letters of recommendation and introduction; appeals for church building funds; the death of Gustav A. Brandelle, president of the Augustana Synod; the fiftieth anniversary of the Mary J. Drexel Home and Motherhouse of Deaconesses in Philadelphia; China missions; and Morehead’s health. Articles and speeches (1920-35) written and presented by Morehead throughout his career, pertaining to LWC activities and topics and to the state of Lutheranism, are also included. The collection is also available on microfilm.