Castle Church, Wittenberg, Germany

Four words can describe our Lutheran Church: evangelical, catholic, ecumenical and reforming.

EVANGELICAL

To Lutherans, evangelical means centered in the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) has this word in its name because it expresses the heart of Lutheran theology. So when using this word, we are not branding ourselves as politically or theologically conservative Christians or the “religious right”.

Justification by Grace through Faith

  • Justification by Grace through Faith is a defining phrase for Lutherans.
  • Grace means that everything begins with God’s initiative.
  • Lutheran theology is centered in grace, God’s unconditional love for us.
  • Justification refers to the way we are made right with God despite our sin and self-centeredness.
  • As Martin Luther taught, the Scriptures point out that we are justified by grace, not works. We do not earn our salvation.
  • Our relationship with God is not determined by our good works, our behavior or our being holy and spiritual. Rather God loves and accepts us unconditionally. In baptism we receive the gift of God’s never-ending love.
  • Our faith, our service and our good works are a response to God’s gracious initiative. Our whole lives are a response to what we receive.

Lutherans and the Bible

  • Lutherans read the Bible through the lens of the gospel, the good news. The gospel is the message of forgiveness, freedom, new life, unconditional love and acceptance that we receive through Christ.
  • Lutherans do not give equal weight to all of the Bible; Martin Luther taught that the proclamation of the gospel had ultimate authority.
  • Lutherans define the Word of God first as Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. The Word is also the proclamation of the gospel (in preaching, sacraments and through word and deed).

CATHOLIC

Lutherans are catholic-part of the universal Church through the ages and around the world. In the Nicene Creed we say we believe in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Lutherans embrace the fullness of the Church’s tradition. Lutherans claim to be part of the catholic (small c) Church.

To be catholic means:

  • we share in share in common the central articulation of the Christian faith in the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds;
  • we honor and share the scriptures as the authoritative source and norm for our proclamation;
  • we celebrate the sacraments of baptism and holy communion;
  • we use a worship order (liturgy) with a basic form in common with Christians around the world and through the ages;
  • we use a lectionary (cycle of scripture readings) in common with a majority of Christians around the world.

What makes it catholic?

Though many Protestants may have not observed these traditions in the centuries after the Reformation, many of these ancient practices are being reintroduced. Actually, many of these traditions are not just Roman Catholic or Lutheran, but are observed by Anglicans, Orthodox, and many other Protestants.

Some catholic traditions may include:

  • celebrating Holy Communion frequently and regularly at worship.
  • wearing albs (white robes) and other vestments
  • celebrating the seasons of the church year such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost
  • seasonal traditions such as the Advent wreath, ashes on Ash Wednesday, a palm procession on Palm Sunday
  • stained-glass windows
  • altar, cross and candles
  • making the sign of the cross, bowing and kneeling
  • chanting and/or processions

ECUMENICAL

Lutherans in the ELCIC are committed to the oneness and unity we have in Jesus Christ. We seek healing for the brokenness and divisions of the Church through history. We strive for unity in order that our witness to the world will be stronger and more effective.

The ELCIC is in full communion with Anglican Church of Canada. Full communion means:

  • a common confession of the Christian faith;
  • mutual recognition of Baptism and a sharing of the Lord’s Supper;
  • allowing for joint worship and an exchange of members;
  • mutual recognition and availability of ordained ministers to the service of all members of churches in full communion, subject only but always to the disciplinary regulations of the other churches;
  • a common commitment to evangelism, witness and service;
  • a means of decision making on critical issues of faith and life;
  • a mutual lifting of any condemnations that exist between churches.

Lutherans and Roman Catholics:

A joint statement by the Lutheran World Federation and the Vatican has led to a formal agreement on the core of the Christian faith, centering on the saving (Justifying) work of Christ. It also has removed the mutual condemnations of Lutherans and Roman Catholics, and offers the possibility of greater unity between these churches.

REFORMING

Sometimes Lutheranism is defined as a “reforming movement” within the Church catholic. In each age the gospel continues to challenge the Church to be faithful. We are reforming because we continue to adapt traditions or social teachings in order that they will further the proclamation of the gospel.

Examples of changes in worship over the past several decades are:

  • Ordination of women and women leading worship;
  • Use of contemporary language (from “thou” to “you”);
  • An open communion table;
  • Use of inclusive language for people;
  • Welcome and inclusion of members of the LGTBQ2* community;
  • Use of expansive language and metaphors for God;
  • More leadership by lay people in the liturgy;
  • Music from diverse styles and ethnic traditions;
  • Recovering of catholic worship traditions.

The ELCIC seeks to be faithful to the Gospel while addressing the ever-changing contemporary situations in society. The ELCIC produces social statements as a prophetic voice to society on issues such as abortion, human sexuality, criminal justice, the death penalty, care of creation and economic injustice. At the same time, there is a sense that individual members of the ELCIC may come to different conclusions based on their own conscience and beliefs.

Sometimes positions of the Church change as society changes:

  • a commitment to reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples and nations;
  • divorce became more accepted;
  • as the role of women in society changed some denominations (including the ELCIC) began ordaining women as pastors and bishops
  • as awareness and understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity has evolved, the ELCIC joins several other denominations that allow the ordination of pastors in same-sex relationships

Acknowledgement:

The content of this page is adapted from that presented by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL.