Editing Martin Bucer (section)

{{Short description|German Protestant reformer (1491–1551)}}
{{redirect |Butzer|other people with the name Butzer|Butzer (surname)}}
{{distinguish|Martin Buser|Martin Buber}}
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{{use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use shortened footnotes|date=May 2025}}
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{{Infobox theologian
| name               = Martin Bucer
| image              = Martin Bucer by German School.jpg
| alt                =
| caption            = Portrait by an unknown artist, German School
| era                = [[Reformation]]
| birth_date         = 11 November 1491
| birth_place        = [[Sélestat|Schlettstadt]], [[Holy Roman Empire]] (now [[Sélestat]], [[France]])
| death_date         = 28 February 1551 (aged 59)
| death_place        = [[Cambridge]], England
| occupation         = Pastor
| language           = {{hlist | German | Latin}}
| nationality        = German
| tradition_movement = [[Calvinist]]
| main_interests     =
| notable_ideas      = [[Ecumenism]]
| notable_works      = ''De Regno Christi''
| spouse             =
| children           =
| influences         =
| influenced         =
| signature          = Signatur Martin Bucer.PNG
| signature_alt      =
}}

'''Martin Bucer''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|uː|s|ər}}; [[Early New High German|Early German]]: {{lang|de|Martin Butzer}};{{Sfn |Selderhuis |1999|p=51}}{{Sfn |Greschat |2004|pp=10, 273}}{{Refn | group = lower-alpha | When Bucer wrote in German, he used his original name, "Butzer". The Latin form of his name is "Bucerus" and modern scholars have opted to use the abbreviation of the Latin form, "Bucer".}} 11 November 1491– 28 February 1551) was a German [[Protestant reformer]] based in [[Strasbourg]] who influenced [[Lutheran]], [[Anglican]] doctrines and practices as well as [[Reformed Christianity|Reformed Theology]]. Bucer was originally a member of the [[Dominican Order]], but after meeting and being influenced by [[Martin Luther]] in 1518 he arranged for his [[monastic vows]] to be annulled. He then began to work for the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], with the support of [[Franz von Sickingen]].

Bucer's efforts to reform the church in [[Wissembourg]] resulted in his [[excommunication]] from the [[Catholic Church]], and he was forced to flee to Strasbourg. There he joined a team of reformers which included [[Matthew Zell]], [[Wolfgang Capito]], and [[Caspar Hedio]]. He acted as a mediator between the two leading reformers, Martin Luther and [[Huldrych Zwingli]], who differed on the doctrine of the [[Eucharist]]. Later, Bucer sought agreement on common articles of faith such as the [[Tetrapolitan Confession]] and the [[Wittenberg Concord]], working closely with [[Philipp Melanchthon]] on the latter.

Bucer believed that the [[Roman Catholics|Catholics]] in the [[Holy Roman Empire]] could be convinced to join the Reformation. Through a series of conferences organised by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], he tried to unite Protestants and Catholics to create a German national church separate from Rome. He did not achieve this, as political events led to the [[Schmalkaldic War]] and the retreat of Protestantism within the Empire. In 1548, Bucer was persuaded, under duress, to sign the [[Augsburg Interim]], which imposed certain forms of Catholic worship. However, he continued to promote reforms until the city of Strasbourg accepted the Interim, and forced him to leave.

In 1549, Bucer was exiled to England, where, under the guidance of [[Thomas Cranmer]], he was able to influence both [[Edwardine Ordinals]] and the second revision of the ''[[Book of Common Prayer]]''.  He died in [[Cambridge, England]], at the age of 59. Although his ministry did not lead to the formation of a new denomination, many Protestant denominations have claimed him as one of their own. He is remembered as an early pioneer of [[ecumenism]].