What Is a Lutheran

Christian - first and foremost is one who trusts in Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior. Proclaims Jesus Christ as God's only Son and Savior to the World. Shares a common faith with other Christians. Works together for the common good of all mankind according to God's will given in the Bible. Believes in the Bible, Old & New Covenant - Authority and ONLY Norm for all Christian living and activity. Absolute truth, it shows God in action in and among His creatures and creation. Half of the worlds Protestant people are Lutherans. In Canada, there are over ? million.

Confessional Church - Believes Jesus Christ is Lord, and the Bible reveals all of God's will.

Ecumenical Church - that works for the unity of ALL Christians.

Visible Church - where Christians gather together to hear God's Word.

Invisible Church - made up of all people the world over who are saved by faith, accepting Christ as Savior and Lord in their life and living out that faith in the world.

Founder/Leader: Dr. Martin Luther, (1483-1546) - a pastor, professor, author, composer of hymns, reformer. He posted a thesis containing 95 reforms he wanted the church to openly discuss on the door of the Wittenburg Church in 1517. This started a whole chain of events that split the Catholic Church and created the Protestant (protester) Movement of denominational congregations. Dr. Martin Luther publicly called for correction of errors in the medieval church. His ideas still stimulate NEW thinking in the church -- he is respected but NOT worshipped.

Lutheran Church - Canada

Lutheran Church-Canada is comprised of congregations, pastors, and deacons committed to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our confessions and practices are based on the foundation of God's Word and the belief that God's gift of salvation is found only through faith in Jesus Christ, God's only Son. In more than 325 congregations, from British Columbia to New Brunswick, this message is proclaimed in word and deed.

History

The Lutheran church is a direct result of the Protestant Reformation begun in 1517 by Martin Luther in Wittenberg, Germany. Lutheran Church-Canada was founded in 1988 when the Canadian congregations of St. Louis-based The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod formed an autonomous Canadian church with three districts. The Alberta-British Columbia District offices are in Edmonton, Alberta, the Central District in Regina, Saskatchewan and the East District in Kitchener, Ontario. The denomination retains close ties with the LCMS and other Lutheran church bodies around the world which follow the Biblically-based Lutheran Confessions.

Worship

Our worship services draw upon the rich traditions of the early church, which provide a framework within which our members can receive God's blessings as His Word is preached and the Lord's Supper celebrated. While many of our congregations share the heritage of music passed down through the centuries, others have chosen to include newer expressions of the timeless truths of God's love.

Missions

Many Lutheran congregations were initially established in Canada to minister to immigrants from Europe. This tradition continues with multi-lingual congregations being established across Canada to reach out to new Canadians. Outside Canada, Lutheran Church-Canada missionaries can be found in Ukraine, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Macau, and Venezuela, and the church actively supports specific missions of sister churches in Congo, Zaire, and eastern Europe. LCC also works with Canadian Lutheran World Relief, which initiates development projects, assists Lutheran congregations to sponsor refugees, and coordinates emergency relief in response to needs around the world.

Social Ministry

Many of our congregations respond to local needs by establishing food banks, English as a Second Language classes, senior housing, and nursing care. Across Canada, the church also works with other Lutheran agencies to provide nursing home care, homes for troubled youths, and chaplaincy programs in provincial and federal correctional institutions.

Education

Creating a strong Christian foundation for our children is a priority for Lutheran Church-Canada. Through Sunday Schools, Vacation Bible Schools, and confirmation classes, young people learn from the Bible how their faith is part of everything they do. In addition, a growing number of congregations are establishing elementary schools where the school curriculum is taught in a caring Christian context. These schools join our church's Concordia University College of Alberta in Edmonton, and two seminaries, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St Catharines, Ontario and Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta.

Publications

Lutheran Church-Canada publishes a magazine, The Canadian Lutheran, ten times per year. It is designed to inspire, motivate, and inform the members of LCC congregations and the Christian community at large. The church also publishes Word&Deed, a theological journal written for lay persons.

Auxiliary Organizations

LCC maintains official partnership with two auxiliary organizations which support the ongoing mission of the church:

Lutheran Women's Missionary League-Canada is an organization dedicated to providing educational resources so women may grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, preparing them to help others through service, and providing financial support to church projects in Canada and around the world.

Lutheran Laymen's League assists the church by providing broadcast materials in various languages for use across the country. Its two major projects are The Lutheran Hour, a half-hour radio broadcast heard on more than 71 stations and On Main Street, an issues-oriented talk show carried on VisionTV, Canada's interfaith television network.

With the universal Christian Church, Lutheran Church - Canada teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God. Being "Lutheran," our congregations accept and teach Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the Reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases:

Grace alone, Scripture alone, Faith alone.

Grace alone - God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.

Scripture alone - The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

Faith alone - By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.

The congregations of Lutheran Church - Canada are "confessional." They hold to the Lutheran Confessions as the correct interpretation and presentation of Biblical doctrine. Contained in The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, these statements of belief were put into writing by church leaders during the 16th century.