Johann Wenth

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Johann Wenth (Vandal, Wandalus, Slavus) (* around 1495 in Gandersheim ; † August 11, 1541 in Ribe ) was the second Lutheran superintendent in Hadersleben and the first Protestant bishop / superintendent in the diocese of Ribe .

Live and act

Wenth's parents are unknown. All that is documented about his early years is that he enrolled at the University of Wittenberg in 1516 , received a baccalaureus in 1517 and a master's degree in 1526. In Wittenberg he studied theology with Martin Luther and Latin and Ancient Greek with Philipp Melanchthon and became a supporter of Protestant teaching. Probably in the spring of 1526 he was taken over by Duke Christian, who later became King Christian III. , appointed lecturer of theology at the college chapter in Hadersleben . Presumably in 1527 he married Anna Gyren, with whom he had two sons and at least two daughters.

Wenth and Eberhard Weidensee built the first Lutheran regional church in the region on behalf of the Duke in the Hadersleben and Törninglehn offices . Wenth, who was particularly proficient in classical languages, was mainly responsible for teaching at the new Protestant preacher's school, to which Duke Christian converted the previous collegiate school in the course of the introduction of the Reformation in his territory, so that current and future pastors can be trained there in Protestant teaching should be. As there are not many sources on this, it is difficult to understand his work in detail here. It could be that he wrote letters for Duke Christian, which he sent to Bishop Iver Munk . It was about fasting and other theological issues.

When village pastors probably came to Hadersleben for a Reformation event on May 1, 1526, Wenth was present at the Duke's court. In January 1527 he accompanied the expulsion of beggar monks and witnessed the introduction of the Protestant mass . He was one of the main actors when the pastors signed the Hadersleben articles ( Articuli pro pastoribus ) in 1528 , in which they committed themselves to Lutheran teaching . In 1529 he took part in the Flensburg disputation with Melchior Hofmann .

In March 1533, Superintendent Weidensee left Hadersleben. Wenth succeeded him in office and held a funeral sermon to King Frederick I in April 1535 as one of the first official acts . In March 1537 he attended a meeting of one of Christian III. initiated commission, which should create the Danish church order together with Johannes Bugenhagen in Hadersleben . There is no evidence to support claims that Wenth himself was the author of the text. The population in the congregations he led spoke Danish and attended Danish-language services. Lessons in the preacher's school were in Low German .

Blessing of the new superintendents on September 2nd, 1537 as one of the four reliefs on the Reformation monument in Copenhagen

On September 2, 1537, Johannes Bugenhagen introduced new Lutheran superintendents to their office in Copenhagen . These replaced the Catholic bishops. Wenth took over from Ripen as one of the new superintendents. Since all Catholic clergymen had retained their posts during the implementation of the Reformation, Wenth mostly had to deal with conveying the new teaching to them. To this end, he held synods and made visitations . Occasionally he also wrote letters and circulars on this matter.

In 1540 Wenth attended the Synod of Superintendents in Copenhagen. He asked Peder Palladius, Superintendent of Zealand , to write a declaration of the Lutheran Small Catechism for village pastors. This came out in 1541/42 as Brevis exposito Catechismi pro parochis Norveganis (Brief Explanation of the Catechism for the Parishes in Norway) for Norwegian pastors. This is a tribute to Wenth, who had passed away at the time of publication.

Wenth himself wrote the Ratio Visitationis Praepositorum . This was intended for provosts who, on behalf of the superintendent, were to visit their parishes once a year. In its order, Wenth was based on the church order of 1537, which gave the provosts an important role. They should oversee the churches' accounts, examine the doctrine and life of the pastor, and ascertain the state of the congregations. The Ratio Visitationis Praepositorum showed Wenth as Philippist reformers.

Since ecclesiastical and secular leaders in the administration of the church were closely linked, disputes arose. In a conflict about the assignment of the cantor position in the cathedral chapter of Ripen, Wenth allied himself with Johann Rantzau against the cathedral chapter. For unknown reasons, Wenth also got into an argument with his subordinate Provost Niels Svane. This resigned from his office and moved to Wittenberg.

Christian III thought highly of Wenth. Although this was not a Danish clergyman, he made him superintendent of Ripen. He also planned to make him his personal advisor on church matters, but did not do so. After Wenth's death, the king took care of the widow and children.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Wenth, Johann
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Change, Johann; Wandalus, Johann; Slavus, Johann
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Superintendent
DATE OF BIRTH around 1495
PLACE OF BIRTH Gandersheim
DATE OF DEATH August 11, 1541
Place of death Ribe