The Church of the Lutheran Confession is a conservative Christian religious body theologically adhering to confessional Lutheran doctrine. Founded in 1960 in Minnesota, it has approximately 75 congregations in 24 U.S. states, and missions in Canada, India, and Africa. Image File history File links clc File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A Christian is a follower and believer in Jesus of Nazareth and the religion of Christianity. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest continent and 3rd most populous. ...

The CLC maintains its headquarters at its ministerial college; Immanuel Lutheran High School, College & Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Eau Claire is a city located in west-central Wisconsin. ...

Historical Background

The Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) was formed around the time of the break-up of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America in 1963 (see also Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Synod). The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America was a Lutheran joint fellowship (in this sense, a declaration of unity of belief) organization between the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS). ... Official cross symbol of the Missouri Synod The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) is the second-largest Lutheran body in the United States. ... Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)[1] is a United States religious denomination belonging to the Lutheran tradition within Christianity. ... The Evangelical Lutheran Synod or ELS is a US-based Protestant Christian denomination based in Mankato, Minnesota. ...

The CLC was created primarily (though not solely) from churches that broke away from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) over a disagreement over the application of the principles of Christian fellowship (in this context, an agreement of a unity of belief). The CLC maintains that the WELS and ELS misapplied those principles by not breaking with the Synodical Conference and the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod after they had publicly recognized doctrinal disagreements. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)[1] is a United States religious denomination belonging to the Lutheran tradition within Christianity. ... The Evangelical Lutheran Synod or ELS is a US-based Protestant Christian denomination based in Mankato, Minnesota. ... A Christian is a follower and believer in Jesus of Nazareth and the religion of Christianity. ... Official cross symbol of the Missouri Synod The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) is the second-largest Lutheran body in the United States. ...

While there have been recent joint talks (1990's) between the CLC, WELS and ELS to resolve this issue, the talks were unable to come to a resolution. As such, the CLC, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Synod remain at odds regarding this issue. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)[1] is a United States religious denomination belonging to the Lutheran tradition within Christianity. ... The Evangelical Lutheran Synod or ELS is a US-based Protestant Christian denomination based in Mankato, Minnesota. ...

Beliefs and Practice

Core Beliefs

The CLC teaches that the Bible is the only authoritative source for doctrine. It subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions (the Book of Concord, 1850) as an accurate presentation of what Scripture teaches. It is strongly linked to the concept of sola scriptura -- scripture alone, and its website states, "That which is not scriptural is not Lutheran." The Book of Concord, or Concordia was first published on June 25, 1580, fifty years after the presentation of the Augsburg Confession to Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg. ... 1850 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Sola scriptura (Latin By Scripture alone) is one of five important slogans of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. ...

Ecumenical Relations

Fellowship between the CLC and other church groups is established only upon investigation and confirmation that both church groups hold complete unity in scriptural doctrine and practice.

The CLC is currently in fellowship with several worldwide synods, some founded through mission work by the CLC.

Publishing and Publications

The CLC Bookhouse is the official publishing house for the CLC. It is devoted to publishing Christian literature and CLC related religious materials, as well as several CLC periodicals. The CLC Bookhouse also offers books and items from other publishing houses.

CLC periodicals include:

• The Lutheran Spokesman -- The CLC's monthly family magazine.
• Ministry by Mail - Printed and online sermons for CLC members at a distance from their church.
• The Journal of Theology -- A quarterly theological magazine.

CLC educational materials include:

• God's Hand in our Lives -- The CLC Sunday School Series.
• Learn From Me -- An adult instruction manual.

External links

• The Church of the Lutheran Confession website
• The CLC Bookhouse website
• The CLC Sermon website
• The Lutheran Spokesman website - family magazine
• The CLC Missions website
• The CLC's explanation for the WELS/CLC split.