American Lutheran Church (1930-1960). President (1937- 1949:Poppen)

Poppen graduated from the theological seminary at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, in June of 1894. He served pastorates in Ohio for 36 years: at Versailles, 1895-1896; St. Mary's, 1897-1905; Sidney, 1905-1915; and Grove City, 1915-1931. Dr. Poppen was first vice president of the Evangelical Joint Synod of Ohio and Adjacent States (Joint Synod of Ohio) in 1930, when it united with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Iowa and Other States (Iowa Synod) and the Synod of the Lutheran Church Emigrated from Prussia (Buffalo Synod) to form the ALC. He was named third vice president of the new body and president of its.

Ohio District. In 1932, Dr. Poppen became first vice president, and in 1937, upon the death of Dr. Hein, acting president. He was elected to a six-year term in 1938 and re-elected in 1944. He was not re-elected in 1950. A fine musician, Poppen became the leading spirit in the first effort of American Lutherans to produce a common Lutheran hymnal. He also served as editor of "Kirchenzeitung," official German-language weekly of the Joint Synod of Ohio, from 1925-1930. For more than 25 years, he was a counsellor of the National Lutheran Council. He died at Columbus, Ohio on February 12, 1966 at the age of 86.