The Laestadian church arrived in North America with Nordic (especially Finnish) immigrants in the latter half of the 19th century, many of whom arrived to work in the copper mines of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Some of these new immigrants found themselves in conflict with older, established immigrants from the same countries, being generally poorer and less established, and hewing to the new, fundamentalist teachings of Lars Levi Laestadius. As a result, Laestadian congregations separate from the extant Scandinavian Lutheran churches were formed in Cokato, Minnesota in 1872 and in Calumet, Michigan in 1873. The Laestadian movement (lestadiolaisuus in Finnish and Laestadianismen in Swedish) are a conservative Christian revival movement prominent mostly in Finland, Sweden, Norway and North America. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... Overview map of the region. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Keweenaw Peninsula is the most northern part of Michigans Upper Peninsula. ... Lars Levi Laestadius (1800-1861) Lars Levi Læstadius (October 1, 1800 - February 21, 1861) was a Swedish Lutheran pastor of Sami ancestry. ... Cokato is a city located in Wright County, Minnesota. ... 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Calumet is a village in Calumet Township, Houghton County, in the U.S. state of Michigans Upper Peninsula. ... 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Family Tree of American Laestadian Churches

(This chronology is confused because it is difficult to find unbiased accounts of these events. Contemporary primary sources tend to downplay the size and significance of the "other side", while historical accounts are sparse. Additions and corrections are welcome.)

• 1873 - Solomon Kortetniemi Lutheran Society was founded in Calumet, Michigan.
• 1879 - SKLS changed its name to Finnish Apostolic-Lutheran Congregation.
• 1892 - Old Apostolic Lutheran Church schismed from FALC.
• 1922 - First Apostolic Lutheran Church (led by Paul Heideman and Walter Torola) schismed from FALC.
• 1928 - Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church of America schismed from FALC. At this same time, the Pollarites led by John Pollari schismed into the Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church, sometimes referred to as the Pollarites.
• 1962, FALCA changed its name to Apostolic Lutheran Church of America [1].
• 1963 - Pollarites schismed into Auneslaiset and Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church.
• 1973 - Association of American Laestadian Congregations schismed from 1stALC.
• 1978 - Auneslaiset schismed into Aunesites, Davidites and Melvinites.
• 1994 - Association of American Laestadian Congregations changed its name to Laestadian Lutheran Church.

(This chronology mostly derived from [2] ) 1873 (MDCCCLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Calumet is a village in Calumet Township, Houghton County, in the U.S. state of Michigans Upper Peninsula. ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... The Apostolic Lutheran Church of America is a church established by Finnish-Americans in the early 20th century. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Laestadian Lutheran Church was organized on June 9, 1973 under the name Association of American Laestadian Congregations (AALC). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal. // Events January Bill Clinton January 1 : North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect. ... Laestadian Lutheran Church was organized on June 9, 1973 under the name Association of American Laestadian Congregations (AALC). ... Laestadian Lutheran Church was organized on June 9, 1973 under the name Association of American Laestadian Congregations (AALC). ...

As of 2000, the following churches are believed to be active: First Apostolic Lutheran Church, Laestadian Lutheran Church, Apostolic Lutheran Church of America, Old Apostolic Lutheran Church, Finnish Apostolic-Lutheran Congregation, Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church. Laestadian Lutheran Church was organized on June 9, 1973 under the name Association of American Laestadian Congregations (AALC). ... The Apostolic Lutheran Church of America is a church established by Finnish-Americans in the early 20th century. ...

Terminology

Each congregation generally has a name they call themselves, which frequently differ from the names used in this article. In particular, First Apostolic adherents would recoil at being labelled "Laestadian"; for them, "Laestadians" are the opposing side of the 1973 schism. In the interest of editorial clarity, this article uses an internally consistent naming scheme which differs from the names congregations apply to themselves. The term "Laestadian" is used as an umbrella to refer to all churches with a clear succession of belief from the teachings of Lars Levi Laestadius. Lars Levi Laestadius (1800-1861) Lars Levi Læstadius (October 1, 1800 - February 21, 1861) was a Swedish Lutheran pastor of Sami ancestry. ...

The term "Apostolic" do not refers in the adhrence of the Apostolic Succession doctrine, rather is believed to live near as possible in the Laestadian view of the Apostle's doctrines and practices. In Christianity, the doctrine of Apostolic Succession (or the belief that the Church is apostolic) maintains that the Christian Church today is the spiritual successor of the Church of the Apostles. ...

Congregations and Concentrations

As of 2000, significant concentrations of Laestadian adherents exist in the following locales:

• Phoenix, Arizona
• Prescott, Arizona
• Glenwood Springs, Colorado
• Bethel, Connecticut
• Lake Worth, Florida
• Waukegan, Illinois
• Centerville, Massachusetts
• Calumet, Hancock, Houghton, and nearby towns in Michigan (the "Copper Country")
• Bruce Crossing, Michigan
• Detroit, Michigan (Northern suburbs)
• Ishpeming, Michigan
• Minneapolis, Minnesota (Northwestern suburbs)
• Brainerd, Minnesota
• Cokato, Minnesota
• Rockford, Minnesota
• Duluth, Minnesota
• New York Mills, Minnesota
• Menahga, Minnesota and surrounding area
• Virginia, Minnesota
• Esko, Minnesota
• Portland, Oregon
• Battle Ground, Washington
• Davenport, Washington
• Longview, Washington
• Seattle, Washington (Northwestern suburbs)
• Spokane, Washington
• Toronto, Ontario
• Greer, South Carolina
• Hamlin County, South Dakota
• Marengo, Wisconsin
• Vancouver, British Columbia
• Kenosha, Wisconsin
• Eben Junction, Michigan
• Hemet, California
• Martinez, California
• Oulu, Wisconsin
• Negaunee, Michigan
• Cedar Valley (rural Floodwood) Minnesota
• Black River, Michigan
• Fitchberg, Massachusetts
• Cloquet, Minnesota
• Deer River, Minnesota
• Eagle Lake, Minnesota
• Iron River, Michigan
• Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada
• Dunblane, Saskatchewan, Canada
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
• Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
• Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

(additions welcome!) Flag Seal Nickname: Valley of the Sun Location Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Arizona Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,230. ... Prescott Gurley Street in 1918 Prescott by night Prescott is a city located in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 33,938. ... Glenwood Springs is a city located in Garfield County, Colorado. ... Bethels location in the state of Connecticut. ... Lake Worth is a city located in Palm Beach County, Florida, named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the Second Seminole War. ... Waukegan is a city located in Lake County, Illinois, of which it is the county seat. ... There are at least two places in Massachusetts called Centerville: a village in Barnstable a neighborhood in Beverly This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Calumet is a village in Calumet Township, Houghton County, in the U.S. state of Michigans Upper Peninsula. ... Hancock is a city in Houghton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Houghton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. ... Stannard Township is a civil township of Ontonagon County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Nickname: Motor City; Motown, D-Town, The D, The Renaissance City, Detroit Rock City, The Rock City, The 313 Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (Latin for, We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes) Location in Wayne County, Michigan Coordinates: Country State County United States Michigan Wayne... Ishpeming is a city located in Marquette County, Michigan. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Lakes Motto: En Avant Location Location in Hennepin County and the state of Minnesota. ... Brainerd is a city located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. ... Cokato is a city located in Wright County, Minnesota. ... Rockford is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota. ... Map Political Statistics Founded 1679 Incorporated 1800s County St. ... New York Mills is a city located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. ... Menahga is a city located in Wadena County, Minnesota. ... Virginia is a city located in St. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Roses, Stumptown, Bridgetown Location Location in Multnomah County and the state of Oregon Coordinates , Government Country State County United States Oregon Multnomah County Mayor Tom Potter Geographical characteristics Area     City 145. ... Battle Ground is a city located in Clark County, Washington. ... Davenport is a city located in Lincoln County, Washington. ... Longview is a city located in Cowlitz County, Washington. ... Nickname: The Emerald City Location of Seattle in King County and Washington Coordinates: ) 47°36′N 122°19′W Country State County United States Washington King County Incorporated December 2, 1869 Mayor Greg Nickels Area    - City 369. ... Spokane (pronounced spō-CAN ) is the county seat of Spokane County in the State of Washington, USA. It was originally incorporated as Spokan Falls (without an e at the end), drawing on the Native American tribe known as the Spokanee, which means Children of the Sun. ... Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... Greer is a suburb of Greenville and Spartanburg located in Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina. ... Hamlin County is a county located in the state of South Dakota. ... Marengo is a town located in Ashland County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ... This article refers to the city in British Columbia, Canada. ... Kenosha is a city in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. ... Harvard Street c. ... Martinez Court House, California Martinez is the county seat of Contra Costa County, California. ... Negaunee is a city in Marquette County, Michigan, United States. ... Alcona Township is a township located in Alcona County, Michigan. ... Cloquet is a city located in Carlton County, Minnesota. ... Deer River is a city located in Itasca County, Minnesota. ... Eagle Lake is a city located in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. ... Iron River is a city located in Iron County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ...

Beliefs and Characteristics

American Laestadians practice varied degrees of fundamentalist Christian belief. Most believers avoid alcohol; varying numbers of adherents avoid a number of "worldly" practices, including dancing, card-playing, cinema, television, high-school sports, popular music, and the performing arts (listed in approximate order of avoidance). However, caffeine is widely consumed and tobacco is generally tolerated. Family size tends to be large compared to the American average; most families in non-urban congregations have between 4 and 10 children, while most churches have a few families with 12 or 15 children. Birth control is considered a sin.

Laestadian asceticism is distinguished from other American fundamentalist Christians in that none of the above-mentioned pastimes is officially proscribed; rather, believers counsel each other and employ a reinforcing system of social feedback to encourage abstention. Active congregations provide social outlets in keeping with the beliefs of the church; nearly every weekend evening will find Laestadian teenagers congregating at one or another home.

Laestadian churches teach that every human is a sinner and that every sin can be forgiven; forgiveness stems from the hearts of believers, not from ceremony or hierarchy. Some Laestadians practice lay confession whereby a member confesses to another member; in the Heidemanian tradition, some vestige of this practice remains in the liturgy but confession is not widely practiced.

Some Laestadian congregations consider themselves the one, true Christian church, and preach that all other Christian churches (including other branches of the Laestadian tradition) are not true Christians.

Ceremony and Service in the Heidemanian tradition

American Laestadian churches provide services in Finnish to varying degrees; in some churches circa 2000, every service is bilingual, while in others only special occasions merit translation, and in yet others all preaching is done in English. In any case, a believer may request to receive Communion in Finnish; another lay member of the congregation can deliver Communion if the pastor is not fluent. Communion is the only regularly practiced ceremony (performed once or twice a month, or every week, depending on congregation), and consists of unleavened wafers and wine substitute (often grape juice), delivered assembly-line fashion at a communion rail at the conclusion of Sunday services.

Teenagers undergo Confirmation around age 13 to 15, after which they are eligible for communion. Other significant life ceremonies are baptism (performed during the first months of life, and rarely for adult converts) and marriage. Confirmation can refer to: Confirmation (sacrament) Confirmation (epistemology) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Most congregations hold annual services, generally one week long, with guest preachers delivering evening sermons each weekday and three or more church services on the bracketing Sundays. Other than annual services, Christmas and Easter are the only celebrated holidays. Christmas is a Christian holiday held on December 25 which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... This article is about the Christian festival. ...

External links

• [3] provided most of the chronology information.
• [4] attempts a comprehensive listing of historical and current Finnish churches in North America
• [5] attempts a comprehensive listing of active congregations of all churches calling themselves "Apostolic".
• [6] is the official website for the Laestadian Lutheran Church (LLC)
• [7] "Learning to Live Free: Life as a Former Laestadian" is a blog by former Laestadians
• [8] "I Left the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church" is a blog by a former OALC member
• [9] "The Bible and 'Gay Laestadian'" is a blog responding to the following blog by Markus at gaylaestadian.blogspot.com
• [10] "Finding a Home for the Journey: Living Gay" is a blog by a Laestadian
• [11] "Facing Truth" is a blog by an ALC member
• [12] "Everyone Welcome? The Truth About the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church" is a website by a former OALC member

References

• Cradle to Grave: Life, Work and Death at the Lake Superior Copper Mines, Larry Lankton (Oxford University Press, 1991) ISBN 0-19-506263-9