Let's put it simply - their doctrines were similar enough for them to share ministers and buildings. When the population is low and resources are limited, people were able to share and both groups got what they wanted. Germans are practical people. @:>). A google search might acquaint you with more of their history - and to help you sort the terminology. There are different kinds of Lutherans including Evangelical Lutherans. People in my husband's family went back and forth between Reformed and Lutheran - and the in-laws who weren't always German seemed to get tucked into the church quite nicely. In one case a Welsh family married in and some of their descendants became Reformed ministers. Incidentally, most researchers will tell you to check both records if you're dealing with a union church - sometimes they covered for each other or one minister would handle both congregations until the other person could be replaced. My own Reformed/Lutheran Pa German family went into the wilderness of PA and quite happily accepted the Methodist circuit rider who showed up in 1810. Lauren Brantner JoeKeR63@aol.com wrote: >HI List.....thanks for the quick responses...now that i know that the >Reformed Church was the German reformed church and an "off shoot" of the Lutheran >religion....but my ancestor William, wasn't entirely German....he was also >English...father's surname REYNOLDS....but....his mother was a HEISER >/HEYSER....hence where the German came from i guess....William then married a gal who >was Lutheran....guess that's feasible as well???....not sure who was "allowed" >to marry who back then....when William, my ancestor's daughter, Sarah was >16, i have a record where she converted from "Lutheran to Catholic"....would a >German Reformed Church member who married a Lutheran, therefore their children > would be raised Lutheran??...the parents of the wife of William were listed >as "consistent members of the Evangelical Church"....but gave the money to >build a "St. John's Lutheran Church".....i'm a religion illiterate when it >comes to Protestantism....do Evangelical and Lutheran and German Reformed all fit > together somehow??....any help appreciated...Joe > >Cambria County Quik Search Genealogical Services > >Member of Association of Professional Genealogists_ >http://hometown.aol.com/camcoquiksearch/myhomepage/business.html_ >(http://hometown.aol.com/camcoquiksearch/myhomepage/business.html) > > >==== MDWASHIN Mailing List ==== >The OFFICIAL website for this list is: >http://midatlantic.rootsweb.com/MD/washington/ > >============================== >View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find >marriage announcements and more. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx > > >. > > >