This week in Christian history: French Protestant leader martyred, JS Bach elected church cantor, Diet of Speyer

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, April 16, 2023

Diet of Speyer protests decision against Martin Luther – April 19, 1529

This week marks the anniversary of when German leaders protested a decision against Martin Luther at the Diet of Speyer, indefinitely earning them and their spiritual descendants the title of “Protestants.”

In 1521, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V issued the Edict of Worms, which declared Reformation leader Martin Luther an outlaw and a heretic for his theological views.

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Although Emperor Charles had issued an Edict of Toleration temporarily suspending the Edict of Worms in 1526, he sought to end the toleration and return to enforcing the earlier decree.  

At Speyer, a group of German princes and officials, led by Elector John of Saxony, formally protested the decision, with John reading a protest of the edict, the protest being formalized days later.

“We cannot consent to [Edict of Toleration’s] repeal … Because this would be to deny our Lord Jesus Christ, to reject His Holy Word, and thus give Him just reason to deny us before His Father, as He has threatened,” stated the protest.  

“If you do not yield to our request, we protest by these presents, before God, our only Creator, Pre­server, Redeemer, and Savior, and who will one day be our Judge, as well as before all men and all creatures …”