Amazing Grace Lutheran Church (500 members) is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. With 5 million members, the ELCA is one of the largest Protestant denominations in the country. The ELCA is in “full communion” with the Presbyterian Church USA, the Episcopal Church, and several smaller denominations. This “full communion” relationship, among other things, allows ELCA Lutheran clergy to serve Presbyterian or Episcopal congregations. Discussions on “full communion” are currently taking place with the United Methodist Church.

As a part of the Lutheran World Federation, the ELCA has strong connections with Lutheran bodies around the world (for example, churches in Scandinavia, Germany, Tanzania). In 1999 the Lutheran World Federation completed an agreement with the Roman Catholic Church that “lifts” the condemnations that were issued from both sides during the sixteenth century.

The ELCA is one of several Lutheran denominations in the country. After the ELCA, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is the largest (at one-half the ELCA’s size). Relations between Lutheran denominations tend to be strained. We have significant issues regarding the interpretation of Scripture, the ordination of women (the ELCA has ordained women for thirty years), the scope of ecumenical collaboration, and the church’s position on social questions.

Lutheranism came to the colonies in the 1600s (with Swedish settlers in New Jersey and Danish settlers in the Virgin Islands). The waves of immigration from Scandinavia, Germany, and Iceland peaked toward the end of the 1800s; these immigrants brought their churches with them. For a couple of generations Lutheran churches preserved the language and many of the traditions of the “old country.”

The ELCA continues to reflect its immigrant history. Fewer and fewer people, however, are Lutheran through their ethnic heritage. At Amazing Grace Lutheran Church less than half the congregation was actually baptized in a Lutheran church. Most of us (including the pastor) have arrived here from somewhere else—usually a non-Lutheran denomination.

Lutherans consider themselves to be part of the one, holy, catholic (meaning “universal”) and apostolic church. During the 1500s Martin Luther sought to reform the church and to call it back to its primary mission—preaching the gospel of God’s unconditional love and acceptance. Unfortunately (and against Luther’s initial hope), things moved very quickly toward a schism in western Christianity. Rather than reform, Christians became involved in condemnation and wars of religion. It has taken centuries to undo even a bit of the harm done.

Lutheranism was a conservative reformation movement, and it retained many of the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. We have ordained clergy, trained similarly to Catholic priests, but not under the obligation of celibacy. Our liturgy is very close to the Catholic liturgy. We celebrate communion and, as do the Catholics, believe that Christ is truly present in the sacrament. We find in Scripture the norm for our preaching, teaching and service to others—again, like the Catholics.

Why not just be Catholics then? We feel we have a continuing role in Christianity as a body that emphasizes God’s unconditional love and acceptance and reminds the entire church (and the world) of this good news. In a world of judgment and condemnation, people need this message more than ever. Another expression for the message of love and acceptance is “amazing grace.”

"Lutherans 101" written by Larry Jorgenson

© 2005 Amazing Grace Lutheran Church (or the author, when listed). All rights reserved.