Editing Martin Bucer (section)

==Reformer in Strasbourg (1523–1525)==
Bucer, excommunicated and without means of subsistence, was in a precarious situation when he arrived in [[Strasbourg]]. He was not a citizen of the city, a status that afforded protection, and on 9 June 1523 he wrote an urgent letter to the [[Zürich]] reformer, [[Huldrych Zwingli]], pleading for a safe post in Switzerland. Fortunately for Bucer, the Strasbourg council was under the influence of the reformer, [[Matthew Zell]]; during Bucer's first few months in the city he worked as Zell's unofficial chaplain and was able to give classes on books of the Bible.{{Sfn |Eells|1931|p=25}}{{Sfn |Greschat| 2004|pp= 54–6}}  The largest guild in Strasbourg, the {{lang|de|Gärtner}} or Gardeners, appointed him as the pastor of [[Saint Aurelia's Church, Strasbourg|St Aurelia's Church]] on 24 August 1523. A month later the council accepted his application for citizenship.{{Sfn |Greschat|2004|pp=55, 59–60}}

[[Image:Matthäus-Zell.jpg|thumb|left|[[Matthew Zell]] was the first major reformer in [[Strasbourg]] and supported Bucer on his arrival in the city.]]
In Strasbourg, Bucer joined a team of notable reformers: Zell, who took the role of the preacher to the masses; Wolfgang Capito, the most influential theologian in the city; and [[Caspar Hedio]], the cathedral preacher. One of Bucer's first actions in the cause of reform was to debate with [[Thomas Murner]], a monk who had attacked Luther in [[satires]]. While the city council vacillated on religious issues, the number of people supporting the Reformation and hostile towards the traditional clergy had grown.{{Sfn |Eells|1931|pp= 33–4}}{{Sfn | Greschat | 2004|p= 61}}

The hostility reached a boiling point when Conrad Treger, the [[Provincial superior|prior provincial]] of the [[Augustinians]], denounced the reformist preachers and the [[Bourgeoisie|burghers]] of Strasbourg as heretics. On 5 September 1524, angry mobs broke into the monasteries, looting and destroying [[religious images]]. Many opponents of the Reformation were arrested, including Treger. After the council requested an official statement from the reformers, Bucer drafted twelve articles summarising the teachings of the Reformation, including [[justification by faith]] ({{lang|la|sola fide}}). He rejected the Mass and [[Catholic]] concepts such as [[monastic vows]], [[veneration]] of saints, and [[purgatory]].  He refused to recognise the authority of the pope and instead emphasised obedience to the government. Treger was released on 12 October and left Strasbourg. With his departure, overt opposition to the Reformation ended in the city.{{Sfn | Greschat| 2004 | pp = 61–2}}

The reformers' first goal was the creation of a new [[Church service|order of service]]—at this time the Strasbourg reformers followed Zwingli's liturgy. They presented proposals for a common order of service for the entire Reformation movement to the theologians of Wittenberg and Zürich.  In Bucer's book ''Grund und Ursach'' (Basis and Cause), published in December 1524, he attacked the idea of the Mass as a sacrifice, and rejected [[Vestment|liturgical garments]], the [[Altar (Catholicism)|altar]], and certain forms of ritual. It was also this publication that acknowledged the introduction of congregational German hymn singing in the city.{{Sfn|Trocmé-Latter|2015|pp=38, 113}} (Only his preface to the 1541 ''Gesangbuch'' surpassed it in terms of musical significance.{{Sfn|Trocmé-Latter|2015|pp=341–349}}) By May 1525, liturgical reforms had been implemented in Strasbourg's parish churches, but the city council decided to allow masses to continue in the [[Strasbourg Cathedral|cathedral]] and in the [[collegiate church]]es [[St. Thomas, Strasbourg|St. Thomas]], [[Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune Protestant Church|Young St Peter]], and [[Old Saint Peter's Church, Strasbourg|Old St Peter]].{{Sfn |Greschat|2004|pp= 63–4}}