Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a Christian tradition committed to the main theological insights of Martin Luther. It is numerically the second largest single Christian tradition, with an estimated 82.6 million people belonging to the various congregations, bodies, and churches which call themselves Lutheran. Many Lutherans and most outside the tradition consider Lutheranism to be Protestant.

Lutheranism in North America

In the U.S., congregations are grouped into over 20 different denominations. The three largest Lutheran bodies in the United States are, in order of size: the least conservative Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the more conservative Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and the most conservative of the three, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). These denominations provide seminaries, pastoral care, and Sunday School and liturgical materials. Local congregations contribute funds to support them and receive services and materials. Denominations help to start new congregations affiliated with them.

Related Topics:
Denominations - United States - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - Seminaries

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In Canada, the two largest Lutheran denominations are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and the Lutheran Church - Canada (LCC). The ELCIC was formed in 1986 when the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (former congregations of the American Lutheran Church) absorbed the Canada Section of the Lutheran Church in America. The LCC was formed in 1988 when Canadian congregations of the LCMS formed their own denomination.

Related Topics:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada - Lutheran Church - Canada - American Lutheran Church - Lutheran Church in America

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Denominational organization

The ELCA is divided into 64 geographical and one non-geographical synods (the Slovak Zion Synod). The ELCA has established relationships of full communion with The Episcopal Church, the Moravian Church, the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Reformed Church in America and an interim agreement with the United Methodist Church. The ELCA ordains both men and women to the pastoral office. It does not bless clergy in active same-sex relationships nor bless same-sex marriages; however such persons resigned to celibacy can be ordained.

Related Topics:
Synods - Full communion - The Episcopal Church - Moravian Church - United Church of Christ - Presbyterian Church (USA) - Reformed Church in America - United Methodist Church - Same-sex relationships - Celibacy

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The LCMS is divided into 35 districts, including 2 non-geographical districts. It permits only qualified men to serve as pastors. It encourages women to be active in the church and has affirmed women's suffrage within congregations since 1969. In 2004, the synod decided that women may also "serve in humanly established offices" such as congregation president, reader, or usher. The LCMS does not permit active homosexuals to serve in the ministry, and it has affirmed an exclusively heterosexual definition of marriage. The LCMS practices closed communion (also called "close" communion), and has undergone recent internal struggles regarding participation of its clergy in interfaith "events." Particularly controversial was the post-9/11 event "A Prayer for America", held at Yankee Stadium, in which the church's Atlantic District President David Benke offered a Christian prayer alongside representatives of various non-Lutheran Christian, and non-Christian faiths.

Related Topics:
1969 - 2004 - Heterosexual

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The WELS is also divided into districts. As with the LCMS, it permits only qualified men to serve as pastors and adopts similar positions on homosexuality and marriage. WELS does not support women's suffrage in the church. WELS teaches the "Unit Concept" of fellowship. Strict adherence to this requires members to refrain from all worship, including prayer, with those not in fellowship with WELS.

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In Canada, the ELCIC is divided into five synods and is in full communion with the Anglican Church of Canada. The LCC, based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is divided into three districts and maintains strong ties to the LCMS.

Related Topics:
Anglican Church of Canada - Winnipeg, Manitoba

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There are at least 20 smaller Lutheran Denominations in the U.S., with many of them being cultural or doctrinal offshoots of the main three.

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Inter-denomination relations

U.S. denominations differ on doctrine and practice. Doctrinally, the differences are primarily based on the degree of authority denominations place on the written text of Scripture. The ELCA subscribes to the "Historical-Critical Method" of Scripture interpretation, which attempts to interpret the text while taking account of the historical, cultural, and scientific limitations or biases imposed by the original writers. Many members of the ELCA believe that such higher criticism represents the best efforts of modern scholarship.

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The LCMS and WELS follow the traditional "historical-grammatical" method of interpreting the Scripture text, which seeks to understand the text as it is written within the context of history, culture, and language.

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Many members of these denominations feel this approach

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best reflects the original meaning of the text.

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A detailed discussion of differences between the denominations

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can be found at their respective pages

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(ELCA,

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LCMS,

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WELS).

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As a result of doctrinal differences, cooperation between different denominations varies: there is collaboration on some forms of outreach (for example, Lutheran World Relief); in worship practice, however, the conservative denominations typically practice closed communion, limiting celebration of the eucharist to those within their own denominations out of concern for doctrinal differences.

Related Topics:
Lutheran World Relief - Closed communion

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Lutheran publishers

English-language publishers of books on Luther and Lutheran theology

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• Concordia Publishing House (LCMS)
• Augsburg Fortress and Fortress Press (ELCA)
• Northwestern Publishing House (WELS)
• Church of the Lutheran Confession Bookhouse (CLC)
• Openbook Publishers (Lutheran Church of Australia)
• Ambassador Publications (AFLC)