What is a Lutheran?
The Lutheran church is a major branch of Protestant Christianity, originating with the theology of Martin Luther (1483–1546), a German theologian who sought to bring about certain changes in the Catholic Church and launched the Protestant Reformation. His Ninety-Five Theses, published in 1517, were his writings that spread the early ideas of the Reformation.
The differences centered primarily on authority and justification. Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification "by grace alone through faith alone on the basis of Scripture alone", accepting that scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith. The Catholic Church defined authority as coming from both the Scriptures and Tradition.
The Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran statement of belief contained in the Book of Concord, teaches that "the faith as confessed by Luther and his followers is nothing new, but the true catholic faith, and that their churches represent the true catholic or universal church".
The Lutheran church kept many of the Catholic liturgical practices and sacramental teachings, including the focus on the Eucharist (Communion, or Lord's Supper).
Lutheranism is one of the largest Protestant denominations, with approximately 80 million adherents, the third most common Protestant denomination after historically Pentecostal denominations and Anglicanism. The Lutheran World Federation, the largest communion of Lutheran churches, represents over 72 million people.
Other Lutheran organizations include the International Lutheran Council and the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, as well as independent churches.
The differences centered primarily on authority and justification. Lutheranism advocates a doctrine of justification "by grace alone through faith alone on the basis of Scripture alone", accepting that scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith. The Catholic Church defined authority as coming from both the Scriptures and Tradition.
The Augsburg Confession, a Lutheran statement of belief contained in the Book of Concord, teaches that "the faith as confessed by Luther and his followers is nothing new, but the true catholic faith, and that their churches represent the true catholic or universal church".
The Lutheran church kept many of the Catholic liturgical practices and sacramental teachings, including the focus on the Eucharist (Communion, or Lord's Supper).
Lutheranism is one of the largest Protestant denominations, with approximately 80 million adherents, the third most common Protestant denomination after historically Pentecostal denominations and Anglicanism. The Lutheran World Federation, the largest communion of Lutheran churches, represents over 72 million people.
Other Lutheran organizations include the International Lutheran Council and the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, as well as independent churches.
History of the ELCA
A merger of three Lutheran churches formed the ELCA in 1988. They were The American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church in America.
Now 30 years later, the ELCA is a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. As members of the ELCA, we believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ’s name throughout the world.
We trace our roots back through the mid-17th century, when early Lutherans came to America from Europe, settling in the Virgin Islands and the area that is now known as New York. Even before that, Martin Luther sought reform for the church in the 16th century, laying the framework for our beliefs. ELCA.org/about/history
Now 30 years later, the ELCA is a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. As members of the ELCA, we believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ’s name throughout the world.
We trace our roots back through the mid-17th century, when early Lutherans came to America from Europe, settling in the Virgin Islands and the area that is now known as New York. Even before that, Martin Luther sought reform for the church in the 16th century, laying the framework for our beliefs. ELCA.org/about/history
