Johan Nathan Kildahl

Background

John Nathan Kildahl was born on January 4, 1857 in Beitstaden, Norway, the son of Johan and Nicolina A. (Buvarp) Kildahl. In 1866 the family emigrated to America and his father served as parochial teacher in the congregations of the Reverend B. J. Muus in Goodhue County, Minnesota until invalided by ill health in 1870.

Education

Reverend B. J. Muus sent Johan Nathan to Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, in 1873, and in 1879 the boy received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from that school. Thereafter he went for theological study at Luther Seminary, Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from the Seminary and was ordained by Bernt Julius Muus at St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minnesota. In 1912 he was given the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the Minnesota Conference of the Augustana Synod.

Career

About 1882 Kildahl was called to Vang and Urland congregations in Goodhue County, Minnesota where his pastorate of seven years was interrupted by a year's leave of absence to serve as president of Red Wing Seminary, Red Wing, Minnesota (1885 - 1886). After serving as pastor in Chicago for ten years with distinction, he was called to fill the difficult position as president of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, at the reorganization of the school in 1899. He still found time to serve St. John's congregation, Northfield, Minnesota, from 1899 to 1903, in 1906-1907, and again from 1911 to 1913. In 1914 he was elected professor of dogmatics at the United Norwegian Lutheran Church Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesoat. In this position he remained until his death.

Kildahl took a conspicuous part in the predestination controversy that raged within the Norwegian Synod from 1880 to 1887, but he was the last to leave that body and join the Anti-Missourian Brotherhood. As secretary of the Brotherhood, he worked for the formation of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America out of the Brotherhood, the Norwegian-Danish Conference, and the Norwegian-Danish Augustana Synod. At the formation of the United Church in 1890, he was elected secretary of the new body and served for five years. In 1912 he became vice-president of the organization and served until it entered a union in 1917 with the Norwegian Synod and the Hauge's Synod.

Again he took a prominent part and became the vice-president of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, as the new body was called. Incidentally, he served as mission secretary of the United Church (1895 - 1899), as member of the committee on union (1906 - 1912), and as collector of the Jubel Fund (1912).

Kildahl was also a prolific writer principally regarding matters relating to the Lutheran faith. His original works were written in the Norwegian language.

Achievements

• John Nathan Kildahl played an instrumental part in establishing the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. As an author he was best known for his works: "The doctrinal teachings of Christian Science" (1920), "Dr. John Nathan Kildahl en Mindebok" (1921), and "Misconceptions about the word and work of the Holy Spirit" (1927). In 1905 he was made a knight of the first class of the order of St. Olav.

Works

More photos

• book

  • John Nathan Kildahl: En Mindebok (1921)

    (This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)

  • Misconceptions of the Word and Work of the Holy Spirit

    (Augsburg (1927))

  • The Holy Spirit and our faith

Connections

Kildahl married, in 1882, Bertha Soine of Holden, Minnesota.

Father:

Johan Kildahl

Mother:

Nicolina A. (Buvarp) Kildahl

Spouse:

Bertha Soine

References

• High on Manitou: A History of St. Olaf College, 1874-1949
• Who's Who Among Pastors in All the Norwegian Lutheran Synods of America 1843-1927