The Structure of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Russia according to the Church Ordinance of 1832

In the year 1832, Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia, established the “Evangelical- Lutheran Church in Russia”, and approved Church Ordinance for it. The structure of the Church is considered in connection with the difference between German and Scandinavian traditions in Lutheranism, with the difference between local parish statutes, with the relations between Lutherans and Reformed, and with highly unequal distribution of Lutherans in various parts of the Russian Empire. The Church Ordinance of 1832 is characterized as a pattern of authoritarian law combined with wisdom. The church structure established in 1832 was basically consistorial, as practiced in Baltic lands, but found to be suitable also for Ingermanland, with its Scandinavian traditions. Consistorial and Probst districts usually embraced the groups of parishes with common or similar history, with homogenous liturgy and customs. The Church Ordinance of 1832 embodied authoritarian order excluding any parish activity not sanctioned by authorities. But the authorities were highly concerned to uphold the elementary level of parishioners’ literacy, the high quality of sermons, and proper university education of future preachers.