Lutherans

[dnu]

Hey, I have a question about the Lutheran Churches.

I’m not too familiar with the Lutheran Church. I was just trying to do a little reading on them and I was having trouble telling them apart.

There is a Missouri Synod, a Wisconsin Synod, an Evangelical Luthern Church, are there more? Are there different ones outside of the U.S.?

What I was really trying to figure out, but have no idea where to even start searching, is which of the Lutheran bodies in the original one Luther started in Germany?

David

 

[Akini]

There is a Missouri Synod, a Wisconsin Synod, an Evangelical Luthern Church, are there more? Are there different ones outside of the U.S.?

What I was really trying to figure out, but have no idea where to even start searching, is which of the Lutheran bodies in the original one Luther started in Germany?

In my country we have two Lutheran Churches. One is called the the Good News Lutheran Church, and the other is called the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The former one, I understand was introduced into the country by the Americans. The latter, was introduced by the early German Missionaries. They are similar but are led by completely two different Head Bishops. The head bishops are usually selected through a ballot system. The person who has the highest number of votes become a head bishop. The ballot is usually conducted by our National Government Electoral Commision which also conducts our National Elections during which our nationa parliamentary members are voted.

My problem is why is a Government Organization or system used to select a leader of a “God’s Church”.

 

[JonNC]

Hey, I have a question about the Lutheran Churches.

I’m not too familiar with the Lutheran Church. I was just trying to do a little reading on them and I was having trouble telling them apart.

There is a Missouri Synod, a Wisconsin Synod, an Evangelical Luthern Church, are there more? Are there different ones outside of the U.S.?

What I was really trying to figure out, but have no idea where to even start searching, is which of the Lutheran bodies in the original one Luther started in Germany?

David

Hi David,
Lutheran polity is not as hierarchical as that of the CC. Different Lutheran synods have formed, often in national Churches. In America, the different Lutheran synods you mention have generally different roots in Europe, thereby different leadership, etc.
It is also true that while Lutherans have in common an adherance to the Lutheran Cnnfessions, there are differences between us that have caused strife, not the least of which are contemporary issues such as issues dealing with human sexuality and the role of women in the Church.

One must also remember that Luther himself did not start a Church. He never held a position of authority or leadership among the Evangelical Catholic parishes in Germany or elsewhere. Even the Lutheran Confessions are not exclusively from his hand, but instead from many of the Lutheran reformers.

Jon

 

[Celtic_Catholic]

Hi David,
Lutheran polity is not as hierarchical as that of the CC. Different Lutheran synods have formed, often in national Churches. In America, the different Lutheran synods you mention have generally different roots in Europe, thereby different leadership, etc.
It is also true that while Lutherans have in common an adherance to the Lutheran Cnnfessions, there are differences between us that have caused strife, not the least of which are contemporary issues such as issues dealing with human sexuality and the role of women in the Church.

One must also remember that Luther himself did not start a Church. He never held a position of authority or leadership among the Evangelical Catholic parishes in Germany or elsewhere. Even the Lutheran Confessions are not exclusively from his hand, but instead from many of the Lutheran reformers.

Jon

*Jon,

Could you please tell me the general thoughts of Lutheranism towards same-sex unions? I read that same-sex unions are widely accepted in most Lutheran Churches but some friends of mine who are Lutheran said that is totally untrue. I’ve been invited, several times, to my friends’ Lutheran Church and it’s the only Protestant Church I’ve ever been comfortable in. It reminds me, very much, of my Catholic Church and the people are so friendly and welcoming. But I’m morally conservative to a fault, and I would have a definite problem with a Church teaching that same-sex unions are acceptable.

I apologize for not sticking to the original topic. Thank you for your response! God bless!
*

 

[jessep28]

*Jon,

Could you please tell me the general thoughts of Lutheranism towards same-sex unions? I read that same-sex unions are widely accepted in most Lutheran Churches but some friends of mine who are Lutheran said that is totally untrue. I’ve been invited, several times, to my friends’ Lutheran Church and it’s the only Protestant Church I’ve ever been comfortable in. It reminds me, very much, of my Catholic Church and the people are so friendly and welcoming. But I’m morally conservative to a fault, and I would have a definite problem with a Church teaching that same-sex unions are acceptable.

I apologize for not sticking to the original topic. Thank you for your response! God bless!
*

It’s complicated. In the United States the three major Lutheran bodies are as follows: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

The ELCA tends to be more moderate theologically. Over the summer you may have heard news about the church leadership voting to allow for same sex marriages and homosexual clergy. Since this is the largest Lutheran church body in the US, this is maybe where you heard or got the impression that most Lutherans honor same sex marriages.

The LCMS and WELS are theologicially more conservative (e.g., follow the doctrine ofsola scriptura) and do not support same sex marriages.

Just to note, just because the ELCA leadership voted in one way doesn’t mean that the entire church body is in line with this decision.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask here or comb through the “Ask a Lutheran Thread” started a while ago that’s still fairly active:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=387679

God Bless!

-Jesse

 

[IowaJay]

*Jon,

Could you please tell me the general thoughts of Lutheranism towards same-sex unions? I read that same-sex unions are widely accepted in most Lutheran Churches but some friends of mine who are Lutheran said that is totally untrue. I’ve been invited, several times, to my friends’ Lutheran Church and it’s the only Protestant Church I’ve ever been comfortable in. It reminds me, very much, of my Catholic Church and the people are so friendly and welcoming. But I’m morally conservative to a fault, and I would have a definite problem with a Church teaching that same-sex unions are acceptable.

I apologize for not sticking to the original topic. Thank you for your response! God bless!
*

There are probably somewhere between 70 - 80 million Lutherans worldwide. AFAIK, some of the Scandanavian Lutheran churches have formally allowed same-sex blessings, and as of last August, the American ELCA has given pastors the local option to do some kind of a blessing. Numerically, those Lutherans would be significantly less than 1/2 of Lutherans worldwide. The fastest growing Lutheran churches are in Africa and they are opposed.

 

[Akini]

It’s complicated. In the United States the three major Lutheran bodies are as follows: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

The ELCA tends to be more moderate theologically. Over the summer you may have heard news about the church leadership voting to allow for same sex marriages and homosexual clergy. Since this is the largest Lutheran church body in the US, this is maybe where you heard or got the impression that most Lutherans honor same sex marriages.

The LCMS and WELS are theologicially more conservative (e.g., follow the doctrine ofsola scriptura) and do not support same sex marriages.

Just to note, just because the ELCA leadership voted in one way doesn’t mean that the entire church body is in line with this decision.

In the whole Lutheran world which or who has the final authority to make decisions in such matters as you have indicated?

 

[Lepanto]

My problem is why is a Government Organization or system used to select a leader of a “God’s Church”.

The churches coming out of the reformation were all state churches (i.e., the churches were subservient to the state).

That’s why so many German princes supported Lutheranism at the time – not for its doctrine, but because they could control a church to achieve their own goals.

 

[JonNC]

In the whole Lutheran world which or who has the final authority to make decisions in such matters as you have indicated?

Each Lutheran body exercises authority over itself. How this is done depends on each body’s polity. But if one claims to be Lutheran, then that body must confess the Augsburg Confession, and the Small Catechism specifically, and the Book of Concord in general.
It is not the best analogy, but consider Orthodoxy, in which each see is an authority of its own over its jurisdiction.

As for the issues you are asking about, a confessional Lutheran such as myself would say we expect our leadership to measure its decisions based on scripture, and how scripture and its true reflection in the Confessions.

Jon