J. A. A. Grabau (1804-1879)

On June 2, 1879, Johann Andreas August Grabau fell asleep in Jesus in Buffalo, New York. He was first and foremost a pastor to his flock. Most well known for a single document that He wrote to the people of the Buffalo Synod titled simply “Hirtenbrief” (Pastoral Letter). This is a simple, pious letter of encouragement to the congregations in his care. But it became the center of a storm when leaders in the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod took exception to it’s view of the pastoral office.

Grabau was born in Olvenstedt, Prussia (now a part of greater Magdeburg, Germany). He was the son of Johann Andreas Grabau and Anna Dorothea Jericho. Grabau was educated at the grammar school in Olvenstedt (1809-1818), the Magdeburg Gymnasium (1818-1825) and at the University of Halle (1825-1829).

After three years as a teacher in Magdeburg and Sachsa bei Nordhausen, Grabau was ordained and installed as pastor of St. Andrew’s Church in Erfurt in June 1834. Grabau was jailed twice for refusing to use the Prussian union Agenda and was permitted to immigrate to America in summer 1839 with members of Lutheran congregations in Erfurt and Magdeburg. They settled in Buffalo, New York where he served as pastor of a Lutheran congregation for 40 years.

On July 15, 1845, along with four pastors, Grabau became the founder of “The Synod of the Lutheran Church emigrated from Prussia” (German: Synode der aus Preussen ausgewanderten lutherischen Kirche) which became known as "the Buffalo Synod"). Grabau also founded the Martin Luther College in Buffalo. Grabau retained control of the Martin Luther College and remained as its rector. The official organ of Grabau’s synod after 1866 was Die Wachende Kirche, under his editorship.

Grabau was married on 15 July 1834, to Christine Sophia Burgraf, the daughter of Johann Andreas Burggraf and Friedericke Louise Elizabeth Beulke. They had at least three children: Johann, Wilhelm and Beata. Grabau died on 2 June 1879 in Buffalo, New York, shortly before the 40th anniversary of his arrival in the United States.