Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a Christian denomination that originated from the Norwegian Synod in 1918, with its roots in the Lutheran Reformation led by Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon. The synod is associated with the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and has historical ties to the Church of Norway and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod is also connected to other Lutheran denominations, such as the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.

● History

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod was formed in 1918, when a group of Lutheran churches separated from the Norwegian Synod due to disagreements over doctrine and church governance, influenced by the teachings of John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli. This separation was also influenced by the Princeton Theological Seminary and the Yale University-affiliated Berkeley Divinity School. The synod's early history was shaped by its relationship with the Lutheran Free Church and the American Lutheran Church, as well as its interactions with other Christian denominations, such as the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodist Church. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod has also been influenced by the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches.

● Beliefs

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod adheres to the Lutheran Confessions, including the Augsburg Confession and the Smalcald Articles, which were formulated by Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon. The synod's beliefs are also shaped by the Book of Concord and the Formula of Concord, as well as the teachings of John Wesley and Charles Spurgeon. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a confessional Lutheran denomination, which means that it holds to the historical-critical method of biblical interpretation, similar to the approach used by Karl Barth and Rudolf Bultmann. The synod's theology is also influenced by the Reformed theology of John Calvin and the Puritan movement, as well as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

● Organization

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a congregationalist denomination, meaning that each local church has a significant degree of autonomy, similar to the Baptist and Congregationalist traditions. The synod is governed by a convention that meets annually, which is composed of pastors and lay delegates from each congregation, and is influenced by the Presbyterian polity and the Episcopal polity. The synod is also divided into districts, each of which has its own district president and district convention, similar to the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod has partnerships with other Lutheran denominations, such as the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ and the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, as well as with other Christian organizations, such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the World Vision.

● Worship

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod's worship practices are shaped by the Lutheran liturgy and the hymns of Martin Luther and Paul Gerhardt, as well as by the choral music of Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. The synod's worship services typically include the Eucharist, baptism, and confession, and are influenced by the Anglican Communion and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod also places a strong emphasis on Christian education and discipleship, similar to the Sunday school movement and the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. The synod's worship practices are also shaped by the Reformed worship tradition and the Puritan movement, as well as by the Charismatic movement and the Pentecostalism.

● Education

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod operates several seminaries and colleges, including Bethany Lutheran College and Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, which are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the Higher Learning Commission. The synod also has a strong emphasis on Christian education and youth ministry, similar to the Young Life and Youth for Christ movements. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod's educational institutions are influenced by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod's Concordia University System and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod's Wisconsin Lutheran College, as well as by the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. The synod's education programs are also shaped by the Reformed theological seminaries and the Puritan educational tradition, as well as by the Catholic universities and the Eastern Orthodox theological seminaries.

Category:Christian denominations in the United States