Editing Martin Bucer (section)

==Reform in the Electorate of Cologne (1542–1547)==
{{Reformation}}
On 5 February 1542, Bucer and Gropper met with [[Hermann of Wied|Hermann von Wied]], archbishop-elector of Cologne, to discuss the introduction of church reform in his archdiocese. As one of the seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire, the archbishop of Cologne was a key political figure for both the emperor and the reformers. After consulting the [[Landtag|territorial diet]], the archbishop enlisted Bucer to lead the reform, and on 14 December Bucer moved to [[Bonn]], the capital of the electorate. His selection caused consternation in the Cologne [[cathedral chapter]], the clerics assisting the archbishop. The hostility of the clergy soon caused a rift between Bucer and Gropper.  On 19 December, the chapter lodged a formal protest against Bucer's appointment, but von Wied supported his new protégé and Bucer was allowed to stay. He led a small congregation at [[Bonn Minster|Bonn cathedral]], where he preached three times a week, although his main responsibility was to plan reform.{{Sfn |Eells|1931|pp=311, 321–6}}{{Sfn |Greschat|2004|pp= 185–8}}

In January 1543, Bucer began work on a major document for von Wied, {{Citation | language = de | title = Einfältiges Bedenken, worauf eine christliche, im Worte Gottes gegründete Reformation&nbsp;... anzurichten sei |trans-title=Simple Consideration Concerning the Establishment of a Christian Reformation Founded upon God's Word}}. Melanchthon joined him in Bonn in May, and Caspar Hedio a month later, to help draft the document. At the beginning of July, Bucer discussed the draft with the archbishop, who, after studying it, submitted the document to the territorial diet on 23 July. Although the cathedral chapter flatly rejected it, the diet ruled in favour of the reform programme. The final document was over three hundred pages and covered a number of subjects on doctrine, church law, and liturgy. Some of the principles proposed include justification by faith, the acceptance of baptism and the Lord's Supper as the only valid sacraments, the offering of the cup to the laity, the holding of worship services in the vernacular, and the authorisation of priests to marry.{{Sfn | Eells |1931|pp=332–4}}{{Sfn |Greschat|2004|pp= 189–91}}

These first steps toward reform were halted on 17 August 1543 when Charles V and his troops entered Bonn. The emperor was engaged in a harsh campaign to assert his claim over lands contested by [[Wilhelm, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg]]. Bucer was forced to return to Strasbourg shortly afterwards.{{Sfn | Eells| 1931| pp = 334–6}}{{Sfn | Greschat |2004|pp= 192–3}}  When the anti-reformist Cologne cathedral chapter and the [[University of Cologne]] appealed to both emperor and pope for protection against their archbishop, Charles took their side. Bucer wrote several treatises defending von Wied's reformation plan, including a six-hundred-page book, ''Beständige Verantwortung'' (Steadfast Defence), but he was unable to influence the course of events.  Von Wied was excommunicated on 16 April 1546, and he formally surrendered his electoral titles on 25 February 1547. Bucer's congregation in Bonn wrote to him in dismay at this disaster. Bucer reassured them that Christians who humble themselves before God eventually receive his protection.{{Sfn | Greschat | 2004|pp= 197–201}}