In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

APPENDIX 3. Message to the Congregations (Treysa Conference, August 1945) God’s angry judgment has broken out over us all. God’s hand is heavy upon us. It is only by the goodness of God that we are not completely destroyed. Those who knew God’s Word feared His wrath and saw it coming, and consequently bore a heavy burden. Today we confess: Long before God spoke in anger, He sought us with the Word of His love and we did not listen. Long before our churches became piles of rubble, our pulpits were restricted and our prayers were silenced. Shepherds allowed their flocks to languish, and congregations deserted their pastors. Long before the sham government of our land collapsed, justice had been thwarted. Long before men were murdered, human beings had become mere numbers and human life trivialized . When a man’s life becomes worthless, he thinks nothing of taking human life. He who rejects love will no longer strive for justice. He is no longer concerned about how people are misled and will pay no heed to the call for help of those who are in need. He lives and speaks as if such a need never existed. He will try to escape responsibility as Christians and non-Christians have done. He hides behind men’s orders so as to elude God’s commands. This lie has meant death to us. Cowardice in the face of suªering has brought upon us this immeasurable grief. But in spite of all the failures of the church and the people, God provided men and women of all confessions, classes, and parties with the strength—even when it meant suªering and death—to take a stand against injustice and the arbitrary use of power. When the church took its responsibility seriously, it reminded the population of God’s commandments and minced no words when it condemned concentration camps, mistreatment and murder of Jews and the sick, and sought to protect youth from the seduction of National Socialist propaganda . But churchmen were pushed into the remote sanctuaries of the church as if into a prison. Our people were separated from the church. The public was no longer allowed to hear its words; no one heard what it preached. Then came the wrath of God. God has taken from us that which men most desire to have. Now the door is open once again. What was prayed and planned behind walls and in seclusion can now be brought out into the open. Many devout people, who sat in the darkness of a prison cell, have thought out the new order for the Church and the people. Those who decide as Christians to take over responsibility in the public sphere, do so to serve the public not for power. It takes a great deal of faith and self-denial to accept a public o‹ce in an hour of need. The Church too has lost its fetters. It hopes for something new for its preaching and its order. Its erstwhile captivity has ended, and for that we rejoice. And so we stand before EvanThis translation with minor modifications is from the Ecumenical Press Service 32 (September 1945): 144–56. gelical Christianity and call upon our pastors and people to renew the life of the church. We call to our people: turn again to God! Countless men and women who have suªered did not suªer in vain when they had faith in God. We bless those who have suªered. We bless those who would rather die than live without honor and engage in senseless destruction. We bless all who truly sought the welfare of their people. We thank God that in our Fatherland He has preserved people who sought His ways. We thank Him that He purifies consciences and saves sinners through the power of His Son. Those who feared God have felt His wrath, but He has also comforted them with His peace. The peace of God also gives strength to those in sorrow, to the prisoners of war and their relatives, to the hungry and the cold, to the homeless and those injured in body and in soul. God’s peace is your comfort. Remain patient even in your hour of trouble. Do not close your eyes and your heart to your needy brother beside you. With your feeble strength take part in the work of love, with which we are seeking to alleviate the worst su...

Share