William Passavant

William A. Passavant (1821-January 3, 1894) was a Lutheran minister noted for the many helping ministries he helped to create. He is credited in bringing the Deaconess movement to the United States. He is commemorated as a priest in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on November 24 with Justus Falckner and Jehu Jones.

He was born in Western Pennsylvania, going on to Jefferson College and later Gettysburg Seminary in preparation for a career in the ministry. Although he was initially attracted to the then newer practices of Lutheranism, he was drawn back to a more conservative model later by theologian Charles Porterfield Krauth. The "Missionary", a monthly magazine that Passavant edited, helped promote Krauth's stands on issues.

He is credited with bringing the Deaconess movement to the United States in 1849. He would go on to found many missions, hospitals, orphanages, colleges, and seminaries throughout the country. Many of the organizations he founded would later join together to help found the Lutheran Services in America, the largest church social program in the United States.

References

* [http://chi.gospelcom.net/DAILYF/2003/01/daily-01-03-2003.shtml January 3, 1894 page at Christian History Institute]
* [http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/10/05.html Biography of Theodor Fliedner]