Ludwig Heinrich Ihmels

1858-1933. German Lutheran theologian and churchman. Born in East Frisia, he served in pastorates there after completing his education. Appointed professor of systematic theology at Erlangen in 1894, he was the last major representative of the Erlangen theology. His most important work, Die christliche Wahrheitsgewissenheit (1901), dealt with assurance of salvation. He moved to Leipzig University in 1902 and was named bishop of the church in Saxony in 1922. He took a leading part in promoting the Lutheran union movement and presided over the first Lutheran World Congress at Eisenach in 1923. In his speeches and writings he stressed the ecumenical character of Lutheranism.