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Rev Johann Georg Kunz

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Birth	:	7 Nov 1812 Alzey, Landkreis Alzey-Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Death	:	21 Aug 1899 Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
Burial	:	Saint Sebastian Catholic Cemetery, Byron Center, Kent County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.7944440, -85.7619440
Description	:	The first pastor of the formally organized congregation at Zion was the Reverend Johann Georg Kunz. Without the Holy Spirit's guidance and leadership working through Pastor Kunz, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church might not have come into existence. Johann Kunz was born in the Grand Duchy of Hessen, Germany, on November 7, 1812. His conversion to Christianity seems to have occurred when he was a young man. About the same time he came under the influence of a former Roman Catholic priest, Johann E. Gossner who was pastor of Bethlehem Church in Berlin. In 1840, Gossner sent... Read More	The first pastor of the formally organized congregation at Zion was the Reverend Johann Georg Kunz. Without the Holy Spirit's guidance and leadership working through Pastor Kunz, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church might not have come into existence. Johann Kunz was born in the Grand Duchy of Hessen, Germany, on November 7, 1812. His conversion to Christianity seems to have occurred when he was a young man. About the same time he came under the influence of a former Roman Catholic priest, Johann E. Gossner who was pastor of Bethlehem Church in Berlin. In 1840, Gossner sent Kunz and six others to Balitmore as missionaries. They were to contact the Otterbein group, part of the United Brethren in Christ. The following two months were spent among these people, but the loud and intense emotionalism in their worship became too much for Kunz. He next met with the River Men (a Mennonite branch), but they were extremely quiet and somber. Pastor Kunz wanted a middle way, and he prayed for guidance. In December, The Reverend Mr. Kunz wrote to The Reverend Mr. Haesbaert, a Lutheran pastor of Baltimore, and also a friend of F. C. D. Wyneken's. This led to Pastor Kunz's being commissioned in January to go to the Western States as a traveling pastor to scattered Lutherans in the area. In Indiana he became connected with the Synod of the West, and the General Synod, which was very loose in its interpretation of Lutheranism, often combining with the Reformed Church, having no united stand on the confessions, and adopting some of the revivalistic worship practices of other churches. When Pastor Kunz arrived in February, 1841, there were only a little over 2000 people in Indianapolis, but already most major denominations had church buildings. The Lutheran congregation was English, but the Pastor, Abraham Reck, gave Pastor Kunz a chance to preach to some of the Germans connected to his church. This little group consisted of both Lutheran and Reformed members who wanted to form a church but had no larger church body with which to affiliate. On February 11, they engaged Pastor Kunz as their pastor for a year at a time, and drew up a constitution, calling themselves "United Evangelical" (Lutheran and Reformed.) Pastor Kunz preached to these people and taught their children on a year-by-year contract until 1850. At the same time he began to build up the congregation in Hancock County. The dual nature of the Lutheran and Reformed churches continued to be a problem. In November, 1842, the city congregation adopted a constitution as the "German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation and Church of Indianapolis;" in the summer of 1844 the name St. Paulus was added and work was begun on a church building. Pastor Kunz also continued to serve his country church, although enthusiasm and financial support had dwindled. A record as early as 1846 notes that Pastor Kunz published an article in Der Lutheraner a publication by C. F. W. Walther out of St. Louis. Because of his contact with Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans, Pastor Kunz and some colleagues withdrew from the General Synod and formed the Synod of Indianapolis in 1846. With Walther's encouragement, Pastor Kunz continued to protest the practice of pastors serving mixed (Lutheran-Reformed) congregations. In 1848 Pastor Kunz and the Indianapolis Synod came to a parting of the ways. In 1849 he joined "The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States," which had been founded by Walther, Wyneken, and other Lutherans in Chicago in 1847. Pastor Kunz's congregation refused to join him in his new affiliation. This fact, and other disagreements over practical reforms led to his resignation in the summer of 1850. He accepted a call to a church in Elk Grove, Illinois. When Pastor Kunz was called by Zion in 1853, he began a ministry that was to last for nearly 30 years. During that time he served faithfully as pastor, teacher of the congregation's day school, and (as was the custom in those days) as general maintenance man. His daughters, especially Maria and Bertha, taught with him at various times. Maria (Mary) Kunz married Charles Henry Roesener. Pastor Kunz retired to Indianapolis in 1882 and died there on August 21, 1899. He is buried in Zion Cemetery. (Above data from Contributor, Timothy Frank - 47769550)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Rev Johann Georg Kunz's memorial?
Rev Johann Georg Kunz's memorial is located at: Saint Sebastian Catholic Cemetery, Byron Center, Kent County, USA.
When did Rev Johann Georg Kunz death?
Rev Johann Georg Kunz death on 21 Aug 1899 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Rev Johann Georg Kunz's memorial?
Latitude: 42.7944440
Longitude: -85.7619440

Family Members:

Children

Valentin Georg Kunz

(1843 - 1864)

Margaret Adelheid Kunz

(1844 - 1870)

J. Helene Kunz

(1846 - 1875)

Georgine Kunz Richman

(1850 - 1879)

Anna Mary Kunz Roesener

(1853 - 1881)

Elizabeth Dorothea Emma Kunz

(1856 - 1876)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Sebastian Catholic Cemetery
Byron Center, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7944440, -85.7619440

2. Winegar Cemetery
Byron Center, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7933006, -85.7497025

3. Visitation Catholic Church Cemetery
Dorr Township, Allegan County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7678840, -85.7622740

4. Saint Marys Catholic Church Cemetery of New Salem
Salem Township, Allegan County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7543900, -85.7883700

5. Star Cemetery
Jamestown Township, Ottawa County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7961006, -85.8227997

6. Boynton Cemetery
Byron Center, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8377991, -85.7433014

7. Jones Cemetery
Dorr, Allegan County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7578011, -85.7130966

8. Winchester Cemetery
Byron Center, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8246994, -85.6980972

9. Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery and Crematory
Byron Center, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8477040, -85.7329940

10. Weaver Cemetery
Byron Township, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8041992, -85.6828003

11. Jamestown Cemetery
Jamestown, Ottawa County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8163986, -85.8411026

12. Hanley Cemetery
Jenison, Ottawa County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8565090, -85.7924940

13. Kent Memorial Gardens
Byron Center, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8356018, -85.6883011

14. Ridgeview Memorial Gardens
Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8632600, -85.8023900

15. Dorr Cemetery
Dorr, Allegan County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7253180, -85.7128210

16. Salem Township Cemetery
Burnips, Allegan County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7387910, -85.8390830

17. Forest Grove Cemetery
Jamestown, Ottawa County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8044014, -85.8707962

18. Floral View Memorial Gardens
Jenison, Ottawa County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8699989, -85.8032990

19. Shackhuddle Cemetery
Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8634460, -85.8229030

20. Zutphen Cemetery
Jamestown, Ottawa County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8161011, -85.8799973

21. Sproat Cemetery
Dorr, Allegan County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7264060, -85.6822230

22. Holy Trinity Columbarium
Wyoming, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8669010, -85.6847490

23. Tanner Cemetery
Dorr, Allegan County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6955986, -85.7602997

24. Jenison Cemetery
Jenison, Ottawa County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8897018, -85.8019028