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id="toc-American_Lutheran_Church" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#American_Lutheran_Church"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>American Lutheran Church</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-American_Lutheran_Church-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Lutheran_Church_in_America" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Lutheran_Church_in_America"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2</span> <span>Lutheran Church in America</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Lutheran_Church_in_America-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Association_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Association_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3</span> <span>The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Association_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Organization" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Organization"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Organization</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Organization-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Organization subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Organization-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Churchwide_Assemblies" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Churchwide_Assemblies"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Churchwide Assemblies</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Churchwide_Assemblies-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Beliefs" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Beliefs"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Beliefs</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Beliefs-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Beliefs subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Beliefs-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Lutheranism" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Lutheranism"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Lutheranism</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Lutheranism-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Differences_within_the_ELCA" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Differences_within_the_ELCA"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Differences within the ELCA</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Differences_within_the_ELCA-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Scripture" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Scripture"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Scripture</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Scripture-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Sacraments" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Sacraments"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.4</span> <span>Sacraments</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Sacraments-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Social_issues" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Social_issues"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5</span> <span>Social issues</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Social_issues-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Role_of_women" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Role_of_women"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.1</span> <span>Role of women</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Role_of_women-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ordination_of_LGBT_clergy_and_blessings_of_same-sex_marriages" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ordination_of_LGBT_clergy_and_blessings_of_same-sex_marriages"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.2</span> <span>Ordination of LGBT clergy and blessings of same-sex marriages</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ordination_of_LGBT_clergy_and_blessings_of_same-sex_marriages-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Creation_and_evolution" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Creation_and_evolution"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.3</span> <span>Creation and evolution</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Creation_and_evolution-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Reproductive_cloning" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Reproductive_cloning"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.4</span> <span>Reproductive cloning</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Reproductive_cloning-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Abortion" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Abortion"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.5</span> <span>Abortion</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Abortion-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Euthanasia" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Euthanasia"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.5.6</span> <span>Euthanasia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Euthanasia-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ministry" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ministry"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Ministry</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Ministry-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Ministry subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Ministry-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Deacons" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Deacons"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Deacons</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Deacons-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Pastors" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Pastors"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Pastors</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Pastors-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Bishops" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Bishops"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Bishops</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Bishops-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Worship" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Worship"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Worship</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Worship-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ecumenical_relations" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ecumenical_relations"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Ecumenical relations</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Ecumenical_relations-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Ecumenical relations subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Ecumenical_relations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Full_communion" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Full_communion"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>Full communion</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Full_communion-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Roman_Catholic_Church" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Roman_Catholic_Church"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.2</span> <span>Roman Catholic Church</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Roman_Catholic_Church-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Lutheran_Church–Missouri_Synod" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Lutheran_Church–Missouri_Synod"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.3</span> <span>Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Lutheran_Church–Missouri_Synod-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Demographics" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Demographics"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Demographics</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Demographics-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Demographics subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Demographics-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Members" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Members"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.1</span> <span>Members</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Members-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Beliefs,_practices,_and_views" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Beliefs,_practices,_and_views"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.2</span> <span>Beliefs, practices, and views</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Beliefs,_practices,_and_views-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Statistics" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Statistics"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Statistics</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Statistics-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Further_reading" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Further_reading"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>Further reading</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Further_reading-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 20 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-20" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">20 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelick%C3%A1_lutersk%C3%A1_c%C3%ADrkev_v_Americe" title="Evangelická luterská církev v Americe – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Evangelická luterská církev v Americe" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%95%CF%85%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE_%CE%9B%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B8%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE_%CE%95%CE%BA%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%AF%CE%B1_%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD_%CE%91%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE" title="Ευαγγελική Λουθηρανική Εκκλησία στην Αμερική – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Ευαγγελική Λουθηρανική Εκκλησία στην Αμερική" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iglesia_evang%C3%A9lica_luterana_en_Am%C3%A9rica" title="Iglesia evangélica luterana en América – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Iglesia evangélica luterana en América" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelia_Luterana_Eklezio_en_Usono" title="Evangelia Luterana Eklezio en Usono – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Evangelia Luterana Eklezio en Usono" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_%C3%A9vang%C3%A9lique_luth%C3%A9rienne_en_Am%C3%A9rique" title="Église évangélique luthérienne en Amérique – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Église évangélique luthérienne en Amérique" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%AF%B8%EA%B5%AD_%EB%B3%B5%EC%9D%8C%EC%A3%BC%EC%9D%98_%EB%A3%A8%ED%84%B0%EA%B5%90%ED%9A%8C" title="미국 복음주의 루터교회 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="미국 복음주의 루터교회" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_evangelica_luterana_in_America" title="Chiesa evangelica luterana in America – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Chiesa evangelica luterana in America" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mg mw-list-item"><a href="https://mg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiangonana_Loterana_Evanjelika_ao_Amerika" title="Fiangonana Loterana Evanjelika ao Amerika – Malagasy" lang="mg" hreflang="mg" data-title="Fiangonana Loterana Evanjelika ao Amerika" data-language-autonym="Malagasy" data-language-local-name="Malagasy" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Malagasy</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%A1%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AB%E7%A6%8F%E9%9F%B3%E3%83%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E6%B4%BE%E6%95%99%E4%BC%9A" title="アメリカ福音ルター派教会 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="アメリカ福音ルター派教会" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko%C5%9Bci%C3%B3%C5%82_Ewangelicko-Lutera%C5%84ski_w_Ameryce" title="Kościół Ewangelicko-Luterański w Ameryce – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Kościół Ewangelicko-Luterański w Ameryce" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_Evang%C3%A9lica_Luterana_na_Am%C3%A9rica" title="Igreja Evangélica Luterana na América – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Igreja Evangélica Luterana na América" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%95%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D1%8E%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D1%86%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%8C_%D0%B2_%D0%90%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B5" title="Евангелическая лютеранская церковь в Америке – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Евангелическая лютеранская церковь в Америке" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerikan_evankelisluterilainen_kirkko" title="Amerikan 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id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Largest Lutheran denomination in the United States</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"ELCA" redirects here. For other uses, see <a href="/wiki/ELCA_(disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig" title="ELCA (disambiguation)">ELCA (disambiguation)</a>.</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox" style="width: 24em;"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size:125%;">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Logo_of_the_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/The_Logo_of_the_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America.png/200px-The_Logo_of_the_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America.png" decoding="async" width="200" height="59" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/The_Logo_of_the_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America.png/300px-The_Logo_of_the_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/The_Logo_of_the_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America.png/400px-The_Logo_of_the_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America.png 2x" data-file-width="582" data-file-height="171" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Classification</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Mainline_Protestant" title="Mainline Protestant">Mainline Protestant</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Orientation</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Lutheran" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran">Lutheran</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="/wiki/Ecclesiastical_polity" title="Ecclesiastical polity">Polity</a></th><td class="infobox-data">Modified <a href="/wiki/Episcopal_polity" title="Episcopal polity">episcopal polity</a> with some powers reserved to the congregation as in <a href="/wiki/Congregationalist_polity" class="mw-redirect" title="Congregationalist polity">congregationalism</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Presiding Bishop</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Elizabeth_Eaton" title="Elizabeth Eaton">Elizabeth Eaton</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Associations</th><td class="infobox-data"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_World_Federation" title="Lutheran World Federation">Lutheran World Federation</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Churches_Together" title="Christian Churches Together">Christian Churches Together</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Churches_Uniting_in_Christ" title="Churches Uniting in Christ">Churches Uniting in Christ</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Churches" title="National Council of Churches">National Council of Churches</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/World_Council_of_Churches" title="World Council of Churches">World Council of Churches</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Churches_Beyond_Borders" title="Churches Beyond Borders">Churches Beyond Borders</a></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Region</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> and <a href="/wiki/Caribbean" title="Caribbean">Caribbean</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Headquarters</th><td class="infobox-data">Lutheran Center, 8765 W Higgins Rd, <a href="/wiki/Chicago" title="Chicago">Chicago</a>, Illinois, U.S.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Origin</th><td class="infobox-data">Constituting Convention on April 30, 1987, in <a href="/wiki/Columbus,_Ohio" title="Columbus, Ohio">Columbus, Ohio</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> operations began January 1, 1988<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="/wiki/Church_union" title="Church union">Merger of</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Lutheran Church in America">Lutheran Church in America</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/American_Lutheran_Church" title="American Lutheran Church">American Lutheran Church</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Association_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches" title="Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches">Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches</a></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Separations</th><td class="infobox-data"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Congregations_in_Mission_for_Christ" title="Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ">Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ</a> (2001)</li><li><a href="/wiki/North_American_Lutheran_Church" title="North American Lutheran Church">North American Lutheran Church</a> (2010)</li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Congregations</th><td class="infobox-data">8,498 (2023)<sup id="cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-elca2023stats-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Members</th><td class="infobox-data">2,793,899 baptized members (2023)<sup id="cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-elca2023stats-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="/wiki/Missionary" title="Missionary">Missionaries</a></th><td class="infobox-data">About 150 fully supported, including nine <a href="/wiki/Evangelism" title="Evangelism">evangelists</a><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Official website</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org">www<wbr />.elca<wbr />.org</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</b> (<b>ELCA</b>) is a <a href="/wiki/Mainline_Protestant" title="Mainline Protestant">mainline Protestant</a> church headquartered in <a href="/wiki/Chicago" title="Chicago">Chicago</a>, Illinois. The ELCA was officially formed on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three <a href="/wiki/Lutheran" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran">Lutheran</a> church bodies. As of December 31, 2023, it has approximately 2.79 million baptized members in 8,498 congregations.<sup id="cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-elca2023stats-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 2015, <a href="/wiki/Pew_Research" class="mw-redirect" title="Pew Research">Pew Research</a> estimated that 1.4 percent of the U.S. population self-identifies with the ELCA.<sup id="cite_ref-Religious_Landscape_Study_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Religious_Landscape_Study-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is the seventh-largest Christian denomination by reported membership<sup id="cite_ref-ncc_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ncc-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the largest <a href="/wiki/Lutheran" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran">Lutheran</a> denomination in the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The next two largest Lutheran denominations are the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod">Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod</a> (LCMS) (with over 1.7 million baptized members<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>) and the <a href="/wiki/Wisconsin_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod" title="Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod">Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod</a> (WELS) (with approximately 340,000 members).<sup id="cite_ref-WELS_ANNUAL_REPORT_2022_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-WELS_ANNUAL_REPORT_2022-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> There are also many <a href="/wiki/Template:Lutheranism_in_the_United_States" title="Template:Lutheranism in the United States">smaller Lutheran church bodies</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_States" title="Religion in the United States">United States</a>, some formed by dissidents to the major 1988 merger. Its members are largely descendants of <a href="/wiki/Scandinavians" class="mw-redirect" title="Scandinavians">Scandinavians</a> and <a href="/wiki/Germans" title="Germans">Germans</a> who emigrated from countries where Lutheranism was the <a href="/wiki/State_religion" title="State religion">state religion</a>. </p><p>The ELCA belongs to the <a href="/wiki/World_Council_of_Churches" title="World Council of Churches">World Council of Churches</a>, the <a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Churches_of_Christ_in_the_USA" class="mw-redirect" title="National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA">National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_World_Federation" title="Lutheran World Federation">Lutheran World Federation</a>. It is in <a href="/wiki/Full_communion" title="Full communion">full communion</a> with the <a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)" title="Episcopal Church (United States)">Episcopal Church</a>, <a href="/wiki/Moravian_Church_in_North_America" title="Moravian Church in North America">Moravian Church</a>, <a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_(USA)" title="Presbyterian Church (USA)">Presbyterian Church (USA)</a>, <a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_in_America" title="Reformed Church in America">Reformed Church in America</a>, <a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ" title="United Church of Christ">United Church of Christ</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/United_Methodist_Church" title="United Methodist Church">United Methodist Church</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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.sidebar{width:100%!important;clear:both;float:none!important;margin-left:0!important;margin-right:0!important}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .sidebar a>img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}</style><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile wraplinks" style="width: 18em;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-pretitle">Part of a series on</td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-title-with-pretitle"><a href="/wiki/Lutheranism_by_region#North_America" title="Lutheranism by region">Lutheranism in the <br /> United States</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Lutherrose.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Lutherrose.svg/125px-Lutherrose.svg.png" decoding="async" width="125" height="125" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Lutherrose.svg/188px-Lutherrose.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Lutherrose.svg/250px-Lutherrose.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="1000" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background: #E6E6FA; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 8px; text-align: left; border: 1px solid #D3D3D;color: var(--color-base)">Heritage of <a href="/wiki/Mainline_Protestant" title="Mainline Protestant">Mainline Protestantism</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Confessing_Movement" title="Confessing Movement">Confessing Movement</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align: left;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Lutheran_Churches" title="Augsburg Lutheran Churches">Augsburg Lutheran Churches</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Latvian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Congregations_in_Mission_for_Christ" title="Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ">Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/North_American_Lutheran_Church" title="North American Lutheran Church">North American Lutheran Church</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background: #E6E6FA; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 8px; text-align: left; border: 1px solid #D3D3D;color: var(--color-base)">Heritage of the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Synodical_Conference_of_North_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America">Synodical Conference of North America</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align: left;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Association_of_Confessional_Lutheran_Churches" class="mw-redirect" title="Association of Confessional Lutheran Churches">Association of Confessional Lutheran Churches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Lutheran_Confession" title="Church of the Lutheran Confession">Church of the Lutheran Confession</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Concordia_Lutheran_Conference" title="Concordia Lutheran Conference">Concordia Lutheran Conference</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod" title="Evangelical Lutheran Synod">Evangelical Lutheran Synod</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Independent_Lutheran_Diocese" title="Independent Lutheran Diocese">Independent Lutheran Diocese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod" title="Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod">Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Churches_of_the_Reformation" title="Lutheran Churches of the Reformation">Lutheran Churches of the Reformation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orthodox_Lutheran_Confessional_Conference" title="Orthodox Lutheran Confessional Conference">Orthodox Lutheran Confessional Conference</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protes%27tant_Conference" title="Protes'tant Conference">Protes'tant Conference</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wisconsin_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod" title="Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod">Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod</a></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background: #E6E6FA; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 8px; text-align: left; border: 1px solid #D3D3D;color: var(--color-base)">Heritage of the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Free_Church" title="Lutheran Free Church">LFC</a> or <a href="/wiki/American_Lutheran_Church" title="American Lutheran Church">ALC</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align: left;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/American_Association_of_Lutheran_Churches" title="American Association of Lutheran Churches">American Association of Lutheran Churches</a><br /></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Association_of_Free_Lutheran_Congregations" title="Association of Free Lutheran Congregations">Association of Free Lutheran Congregations</a><br /></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Conference_%26_Ministerium_of_North_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Conference & Ministerium of North America">Evangelical Lutheran Conference & Ministerium of North America</a><br /></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conservative_Lutheran_Association" title="Conservative Lutheran Association">Conservative Lutheran Association</a><br /></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Ministerium_and_Synod_%E2%80%93_USA" title="Lutheran Ministerium and Synod – USA">Lutheran Ministerium and Synod – USA</a><br /></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background: #E6E6FA; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 8px; text-align: left; border: 1px solid #D3D3D;color: var(--color-base)">Heritage of the <a href="/wiki/Lutheranism#Revivals" title="Lutheranism">Awakening</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align: left;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Apostolic_Lutheran_Church_of_America" title="Apostolic Lutheran Church of America">Apostolic Lutheran Church of America</a><br /></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Lutheran_Brethren_of_America" title="Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America">Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America</a><br /></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Laestadian_Lutheran_Church" title="Laestadian Lutheran Church">Laestadian Lutheran Church</a><br /></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Old_Apostolic_Lutheran_Church" title="Old Apostolic Lutheran Church">Old Apostolic Lutheran Church</a><br /></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content"> <div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background: #E6E6FA; padding-right: 4px; padding-left: 8px; text-align: left; border: 1px solid #D3D3D;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="/wiki/High_Church_Lutheranism" class="mw-redirect" title="High Church Lutheranism">High Church Revival</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content" style="text-align: left;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Catholic_Church_(Lutheran)" title="Evangelical Catholic Church (Lutheran)">Evangelical Catholic Church</a><br /></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Diocese_of_North_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America">Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America</a><br /></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_-_International" title="Lutheran Church - International">Lutheran Church - International</a><br /></li></ul></div></div></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Lutheranism_in_the_United_States" title="Template:Lutheranism in the United States"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Lutheranism_in_the_United_States" title="Template talk:Lutheranism in the United States"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Lutheranism_in_the_United_States" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Lutheranism in the United States"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Various Lutheran church bodies in the United States formed resulting from immigration waves from various countries. For instance, members of the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) (centered in <a href="/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York City</a>, <a href="/wiki/New_York_(state)" title="New York (state)">New York</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia" title="Philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>) were largely descendants of immigrants in the colonial and mid-19th century period. The American Lutheran Church (ALC), with headquarters in <a href="/wiki/Minneapolis" title="Minneapolis">Minneapolis</a>, <a href="/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a>, was influenced by descendants of the waves of Scandinavian and German immigration to the Midwest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In their countries of origin, especially in Scandinavia and northern Germany, the Lutheran churches were the <a href="/wiki/State_church" class="mw-redirect" title="State church">state churches</a>. As Lutherans emigrated to America, they initially saw themselves as part of these churches, though they lacked the same organization and formal status in the New World. Over time Lutherans formed church organizations in America. The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC), which withdrew from the LCMS in 1975, comprised many congregations throughout the lower Midwest. Over time, church associations' national or ethnic identification lessened as descendants assimilated into general American society. Members across organizations began to have more in common as areas of the country urbanized and more people made their livings in suburbs and cities, rather than in rural farming areas. The ALC and LCA were already the result of earlier mergers among associated congregations once related to ethnic immigrant groups.<sup id="cite_ref-almen_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-almen-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1970, a survey by Strommen et al. found that 79% of Lutheran Church in America clergy, 62% of American Lutheran Church clergy, and 58% of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod clergy agreed that "a merger of all Lutheran groups in the United States into one organization is desirable".<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A group of congregations left the LCMS after 1975 as it became dominated by theological and social conservatives; they formed the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC).<sup id="cite_ref-almen_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-almen-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>After several years of discussion, the LCA, ALC, and AELC formally agreed in 1982 to unite. Implementing this agreement took longer: the new Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) was effective on January 1, 1988, creating the largest Lutheran church body in the U.S. The ALC and LCA had been formed by previous mergers.<sup id="cite_ref-almen_11-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-almen-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="American_Lutheran_Church">American Lutheran Church</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: American Lutheran Church"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1960, the <a href="/wiki/American_Lutheran_Church" title="American Lutheran Church">American Lutheran Church</a> formed as a merger of the earlier <a href="/wiki/American_Lutheran_Church_(1930)" title="American Lutheran Church (1930)">ALC</a> of 1930, largely members of German heritage; the <a href="/wiki/United_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="United Evangelical Lutheran Church">United Evangelical Lutheran Church</a> (UELC), with members of <a href="/wiki/Denmark" title="Denmark">Danish</a> background; and the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_(United_States)" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church (United States)">Evangelical Lutheran Church</a> (ELC), made up of members of <a href="/wiki/Norway" title="Norway">Norwegian</a> background. The <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Free_Church" title="Lutheran Free Church">Lutheran Free Church</a> (LFC) joined three years later in 1963. </p><p>The ALC brought approximately 2.25 million members into the new ELCA. It was the most theologically conservative of the forming bodies, having a heritage of <a href="/wiki/Old_Lutherans" title="Old Lutherans">Old Lutheran</a> theology.<sup id="cite_ref-The_Lutherans_in_North_America_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-The_Lutherans_in_North_America-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It had been in fellowship for a decade with the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%94Missouri_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod">Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod</a> and officially held to <a href="/wiki/Biblical_inerrancy" title="Biblical inerrancy">biblical inerrancy</a> in its constitution. It seldom enforced that stance by means of heresy trials or other doctrinal discipline. Its geographic center was in the <a href="/wiki/Upper_Midwest" title="Upper Midwest">Upper Midwest</a>, especially <a href="/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a>. Its headquarters and publisher (<a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Publishing_House" class="mw-redirect" title="Augsburg Publishing House">Augsburg Publishing House</a>) were based on South Fifth Street in <a href="/wiki/Minneapolis" title="Minneapolis">Minneapolis</a> and one of its several seminaries was in neighboring <a href="/wiki/St._Paul,_Minnesota" class="mw-redirect" title="St. Paul, Minnesota">St. Paul</a>. Its denominational magazine was <i>The Lutheran Standard</i>, published in Minneapolis. Some ALC congregations chose not to join the 1988 merger and instead formed the <a href="/wiki/American_Association_of_Lutheran_Churches" title="American Association of Lutheran Churches">American Association of Lutheran Churches</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Lutheran_Church_in_America">Lutheran Church in America</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Lutheran Church in America"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Evangelical_Lutheran_on_East_Church_Street_-_panoramio.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Evangelical_Lutheran_on_East_Church_Street_-_panoramio.jpg/220px-Evangelical_Lutheran_on_East_Church_Street_-_panoramio.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="334" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Evangelical_Lutheran_on_East_Church_Street_-_panoramio.jpg/330px-Evangelical_Lutheran_on_East_Church_Street_-_panoramio.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Evangelical_Lutheran_on_East_Church_Street_-_panoramio.jpg/440px-Evangelical_Lutheran_on_East_Church_Street_-_panoramio.jpg 2x" data-file-width="527" data-file-height="799" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_(Frederick,_Maryland)" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church (Frederick, Maryland)">Evangelical Lutheran Church (Frederick, Maryland)</a> (1752)</figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Lutheran Church in America">Lutheran Church in America</a> (LCA) was created in 1962 by a merger among the <a href="/wiki/United_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="United Lutheran Church in America">United Lutheran Church in America</a> (created in 1918 by an earlier merger of three German Lutheran synods in the eastern U.S.); <a href="/wiki/Augustana_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church">Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church</a>, of Swedish ethnicity with some dating to the colonial era; the <a href="/wiki/Finnish_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_America" title="Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America">Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America</a>; and <a href="/wiki/American_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="American Evangelical Lutheran Church">American Evangelical Lutheran Church</a>, made up of ethnic Danish families. </p><p>The LCA was the slightly larger partner and brought approximately 2.85 million members into the ELCA. Its administrative offices were in the Church House, a former townhouse mansion on Madison Avenue in <a href="/wiki/New_York_City" title="New York City">New York City</a>. Its publishing house, <a href="/wiki/Fortress_Press" class="mw-redirect" title="Fortress Press">Fortress Press</a>, was on Queen Lane in northwest <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia" title="Philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>, and produced the church magazine, <i>The Lutheran</i>. Its demographic focus was on the East Coast, centered on <a href="/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>). It also had large numbers in the Midwest and some presence in the <a href="/wiki/South_Atlantic_States" class="mw-redirect" title="South Atlantic States">South Atlantic States</a>. There are notable exceptions, but LCA-background churches tend to emphasize liturgical expression more than the ALC-background churches. Its theological orientation ranged from moderately liberal to <a href="/wiki/Neo-orthodox" class="mw-redirect" title="Neo-orthodox">neo-orthodox</a>, with tendencies toward conservative <a href="/wiki/Pietism" title="Pietism">Pietism</a> in some rural and small-town congregations. Its theology originated in <a href="/wiki/Neo-Lutheranism" title="Neo-Lutheranism">Neo-Lutheranism</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-The_Lutherans_in_North_America_14-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-The_Lutherans_in_North_America-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="The_Association_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches">The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1976, the <a href="/wiki/Association_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches" title="Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches">Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches</a> (AELC) was formed by 250 congregations that had left the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod">Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod</a> (LCMS) in a <a href="/wiki/Seminex" title="Seminex">schism</a> precipitated by disputes over <a href="/wiki/Biblical_inerrancy" title="Biblical inerrancy">biblical inerrancy</a> and <a href="/wiki/Ecumenism" title="Ecumenism">ecumenism</a>. These were part of the overall <a href="/wiki/Fundamentalist%E2%80%93modernist_controversy" title="Fundamentalist–modernist controversy">fundamentalist–modernist controversy</a> that had been roiling American <a href="/wiki/Protestant" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant">Protestant</a> churches for several decades. In 1969 the LCMS had elected more conservative leadership under President <a href="/wiki/J._A._O._Preus_II" title="J. A. O. Preus II">J. A. O. Preus II</a>, replacing moderate incumbent <a href="/wiki/Oliver_Harms" title="Oliver Harms">Oliver Harms</a>. The new leadership opened an investigation at the synod's <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Seminary" title="Concordia Seminary">Concordia Seminary</a> in <a href="/wiki/St._Louis,_Missouri" class="mw-redirect" title="St. Louis, Missouri">St. Louis, Missouri</a>, about the faculty's commitment to inerrancy in biblical interpretation. It also opposed ecumenism. </p><p>As a result, most of the faculty and student body walked out and established a separate institution named "Concordia Seminary-in-Exile" (but usually referred to as "<a href="/wiki/Seminex" title="Seminex">Seminex</a>"). The AELC formed in 1976. It brought approximately 100,000 members into the ELCA. Its ethnic heritage was primarily from German immigrants of the mid-19th century, who came to the U.S. after the revolutions in various principalities. Many were abolitionists and Unionists during the American Civil War. By the 1980s, the AELC theology generally resembled the LCA's. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Organization">Organization</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Organization"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Mark_hanson.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Mark_hanson.jpg/170px-Mark_hanson.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="228" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Mark_hanson.jpg/255px-Mark_hanson.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Mark_hanson.jpg/340px-Mark_hanson.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="1606" /></a><figcaption>ELCA's then-Presiding Bishop <a href="/wiki/Mark_Hanson" title="Mark Hanson">Mark Hanson</a> speaking at the inauguration of a new <a href="/wiki/Augsburg_College" class="mw-redirect" title="Augsburg College">Augsburg College</a> president in 2006</figcaption></figure><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/List_of_ELCA_synods" title="List of ELCA synods">List of ELCA synods</a></div> <p>The ELCA is headed by a <a href="/wiki/Presiding_bishop" title="Presiding bishop">presiding bishop</a>, who is elected by the Churchwide Assembly for a six-year term (it was a four-year term until 1995). To date, four people have been elected to the position of presiding bishop of the ELCA. <a href="/wiki/Herbert_W._Chilstrom" title="Herbert W. Chilstrom">Herbert W. Chilstrom</a> served as the first presiding bishop from 1987 to 1995. He was followed by <a href="/wiki/H._George_Anderson" title="H. George Anderson">H. George Anderson</a> (1995–2001), who had previously been the president of <a href="/wiki/Luther_College_(Iowa)" title="Luther College (Iowa)">Luther College</a>. The third presiding bishop was <a href="/wiki/Mark_Hanson" title="Mark Hanson">Mark Hanson</a>, who is the past president of the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_World_Federation" title="Lutheran World Federation">Lutheran World Federation</a>, headquartered in <a href="/wiki/Geneva,_Switzerland" class="mw-redirect" title="Geneva, Switzerland">Geneva, Switzerland</a>. Hanson began his tenure as bishop of the Church in 2001 and was re-elected in August 2007 for a second term. <a href="/wiki/Elizabeth_Eaton" title="Elizabeth Eaton">Elizabeth Eaton</a> was elected presiding bishop in August 2013 and took office on November 1, 2013. She was reelected for a second term in 2019. In November 2023, Michael Burk was appointed Presiding Bishop Pro Tempore by the ELCA Church Council following a request by Bishop Eaton to take a 4–6 month leave of absence.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In addition, the body of the Church Council is composed of representatives elected for a stated number of years from the various <a href="/wiki/Synods" class="mw-redirect" title="Synods">synods</a>. These meet regularly with legislative powers in between sessions of the Churchwide Assemblies. </p><p>The Conference of Bishops, which meets at least twice a year, is formed of 66 bishops (the 65 elected synodical bishops, together with the presiding bishop), plus the ELCA church secretary. It is consulted by the presiding bishop and the Church Council for advice on matters of doctrine, faith and order, and ecumenical relations. The ELCA website states that "While primarily advisory, the role of the Conference of Bishops is significant within the life of this church."<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Map_of_ELCA_regions.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Map_of_ELCA_regions.svg/300px-Map_of_ELCA_regions.svg.png" decoding="async" width="300" height="190" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Map_of_ELCA_regions.svg/450px-Map_of_ELCA_regions.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Map_of_ELCA_regions.svg/600px-Map_of_ELCA_regions.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="990" data-file-height="627" /></a><figcaption>A map of the nine ELCA regions. The Slovak Zion Synod falls under Region 7 and the <a href="/wiki/Bahamas" class="mw-redirect" title="Bahamas">Bahamas</a> and the Caribbean under Region 9.</figcaption></figure> <p>The ELCA is divided into <a href="/wiki/List_of_ELCA_synods" title="List of ELCA synods">65 synods</a>, one of which is non-geographical (the <a href="/wiki/Slovak_Zion_Synod" title="Slovak Zion Synod">Slovak Zion Synod</a>) and 64 regional synods in the United States and the Caribbean, each headed by a synodical bishop and council; these synods are in turn grouped into nine regions.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Within the ELCA the term <i>synod</i> refers to the <a href="/wiki/Middle_judicatory" title="Middle judicatory">middle judicatory</a>, which is referred to in some other denominations as "presbyteries", "districts", "conferences" or "dioceses" (the most ancient and traditional term in Christianity). In other Christian churches, the term "synod" is used for a meeting or conference of ministers such as priests or bishops of a diocese, province (region) or nation or, in some Protestant churches, as the term for their annual governing convention. Some Evangelical Lutheran denominations overseas continue to use the ancient church title of "diocese". </p><p>Outside of the United States, ELCA also has congregations in the <a href="/wiki/Caribbean" title="Caribbean">Caribbean</a> region (<a href="/wiki/Bahamas" class="mw-redirect" title="Bahamas">Bahamas</a> which is combined with Florida in one synod; <a href="/wiki/Bermuda" title="Bermuda">Bermuda</a>, <a href="/wiki/Puerto_Rico" title="Puerto Rico">Puerto Rico</a> and the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Virgin_Islands" title="United States Virgin Islands">U.S. Virgin Islands</a>); and one congregation in the border city of <a href="/wiki/Windsor,_Ontario" title="Windsor, Ontario">Windsor, Ontario</a>, a member of the <a href="/wiki/Slovak_Zion_Synod" title="Slovak Zion Synod">Slovak Zion Synod</a>. Before 1986, some of the congregations that form the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Canada" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada</a> were part of the ELCA's predecessor churches. </p><p>Within the church structure are divisions addressing many programs and ministries. Among these are support for global mission, outdoor ministries, campus ministries, social ministries, and education. They include the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Peace_Fellowship" title="Lutheran Peace Fellowship">Lutheran Peace Fellowship</a>, <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Women%27s_Caucus" title="Lutheran Women's Caucus">Lutheran Women's Caucus</a>, <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Volunteer_Corps" title="Lutheran Volunteer Corps">Lutheran Volunteer Corps</a>, and the Lutheran Youth Organization <a href="/wiki/ELCA_Youth_Gathering" title="ELCA Youth Gathering">ELCA Youth Gathering</a> (formerly known in predecessor denominations as the <a href="/wiki/Luther_League" title="Luther League">Luther League</a>). They cooperate with an ecumenical inter-Lutheran college/university student organization known as the Lutheran Student Movement-USA founded in 1922 and reorganized in 1969. The denominational publishing house is <a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Fortress" class="mw-redirect" title="Augsburg Fortress">Augsburg Fortress</a>, and the official denominational magazine is <i><a href="/wiki/Living_Lutheran" title="Living Lutheran">Living Lutheran</a></i>. ELCA predecessor bodies established twenty-six <a href="/wiki/List_of_ELCA_colleges_and_universities" title="List of ELCA colleges and universities">colleges and universities, which are now affiliated with the ELCA</a> and a large number of associated theological seminaries. Some of these are associated with neighboring universities or theological consortia. </p><p>Most local congregations are legally independent non-profit corporations within the state where they are located and own their own property. Governing practice within the congregation ranges from congregational voters' assemblies or annual and special congregational meetings to elder-and-council-led, to congregations where the senior pastor wields great, if informal, power (more common in larger churches).<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Churchwide_Assemblies">Churchwide Assemblies</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Churchwide Assemblies"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Churchwide Assembly consists of elected lay and ordained voting members. The Churchwide Assembly met biennially in odd-numbered years until 2013. Between meetings of the Churchwide Assembly, the ELCA Church Council governs the denomination, along with the advisory Conference of Bishops. </p><p>At the Assembly, elections are held for general officers of the Church such as the presiding bishop, vice president and secretary, budgets are adopted, social statements examined and approved, and various other church business enacted, along with reports made and ecumenical visitors acknowledged. A constitutional amendment was passed in 2011 to change the Assembly to one meeting on a triennial basis after 2013. The Assembly was known as the "General Convention" in the ALC and the "Biennial Convention" in the LCA. </p> <ul><li>1987 <a href="/wiki/Columbus,_Ohio" title="Columbus, Ohio">Columbus, Ohio</a> (ELCA Constituting Convention)</li> <li>1989 <a href="/wiki/Chicago" title="Chicago">Chicago, Illinois</a></li> <li>1991 <a href="/wiki/Orlando,_Florida" title="Orlando, Florida">Orlando, Florida</a></li> <li>1993 <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City,_Missouri" title="Kansas City, Missouri">Kansas City, Missouri</a></li> <li>1995 <a href="/wiki/Minneapolis" title="Minneapolis">Minneapolis, Minnesota</a></li> <li>1997 <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia" title="Philadelphia">Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</a></li> <li>1999 <a href="/wiki/Denver" title="Denver">Denver, Colorado</a></li> <li>2001 <a href="/wiki/Indianapolis" title="Indianapolis">Indianapolis, Indiana</a></li> <li>2003 <a href="/wiki/Milwaukee" title="Milwaukee">Milwaukee, Wisconsin</a></li> <li>2005 Orlando, Florida</li> <li>2007 Chicago, Illinois</li> <li><a href="/wiki/2009_ELCA_Churchwide_Assembly" title="2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly">2009 Minneapolis, Minnesota</a></li> <li>2011 Orlando, Florida</li> <li>2013 <a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh" title="Pittsburgh">Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania</a></li> <li>2016 <a href="/wiki/New_Orleans" title="New Orleans">New Orleans, Louisiana</a></li> <li>2019 Milwaukee, Wisconsin</li> <li>2022 Columbus, Ohio</li> <li>2025 <a href="/wiki/Phoenix,_Arizona" title="Phoenix, Arizona">Phoenix, Arizona</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Beliefs">Beliefs</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Beliefs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Lutheranism">Lutheranism</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Lutheranism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Lutheranism is associated with the <a href="/wiki/Theology_of_Martin_Luther" title="Theology of Martin Luther">theology of Martin Luther</a>, with its official confessional writings found in the <a href="/wiki/Book_of_Concord" title="Book of Concord">Book of Concord</a>. The ELCA accepts the unaltered <a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Confession" title="Augsburg Confession">Augsburg Confession</a> (not the <a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Confession_Variata" title="Augsburg Confession Variata">variata</a>) as a true witness to the <a href="/wiki/Good_news_(Christianity)" class="mw-redirect" title="Good news (Christianity)">Gospel</a>. The ELCA is less <a href="/wiki/Conservatism" title="Conservatism">conservative</a> than the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod">Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod</a> (LCMS) and the <a href="/wiki/Wisconsin_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod" title="Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod">Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod</a> (WELS), the second and third largest Lutheran bodies in the United States, respectively.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Most ELCA Lutherans are theologically moderate-to-liberal, although there is a sizable conservative minority. Other Lutheran bodies in the U.S. tend to hold more strictly to <a href="/wiki/Confessional_Lutheranism" title="Confessional Lutheranism">Confessional Lutheranism</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Differences_within_the_ELCA">Differences within the ELCA</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Differences within the ELCA"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-More_citations_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>needs additional citations for <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Special:EditPage/Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">improve this article</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a> in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class="plainlinks"><i>Find sources:</i> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America%22">"Evangelical Lutheran Church in America"</a> – <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1">news</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks">newspapers</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America%22+-wikipedia">books</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America%22">scholar</a> <b>·</b> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America%22&acc=on&wc=on">JSTOR</a></span></small></span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">October 2024</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Constituent congregations of the ELCA hold many differences of opinion, and have had disputes over social and doctrinal issues. In part, this is related to the history of having assimilated three different Lutheran church bodies, each with its own factions and divisions, but also to responses to changing social conditions in the United States. Old intra-group conflicts were inherited and new inter-group ones were created. Differences on issues usually reflect theological disputes between various parties. </p><p>The ELCA is a very broad denomination. It contains groups of socially and/or theologically conservative or liberal factions with differing emphases on various topics such as <a href="/w/index.php?title=Liturgical_renewal&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Liturgical renewal (page does not exist)">liturgical renewal</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> confessional Lutheranism, charismatic revivalism, moderate to liberal theology, and liberal activism. The socially liberal segment of the ELCA is represented by independent organizations such as <a href="/wiki/ReconcilingWorks" title="ReconcilingWorks">ReconcilingWorks</a>, <a href="/wiki/Extraordinary_Lutheran_Ministries" title="Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries">Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_and_Ecumenical_Women%27s_Caucus" title="Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus">Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus</a>. What is now known as the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_CORE" title="Lutheran CORE">Lutheran Coalition For Renewal</a> (Lutheran CORE) is made up ELCA congregations as well as socially conservative congregations that left the ELCA after it (the ELCA) decided to accept openly gay clergy for ordination and calling. Adherents of <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Catholic" title="Evangelical Catholic">Evangelical Catholicism</a> practice <a href="/wiki/High_Church_Lutheranism" class="mw-redirect" title="High Church Lutheranism">High Church Lutheranism</a> and include the members of the <a href="/wiki/Society_of_the_Holy_Trinity" title="Society of the Holy Trinity">Society of the Holy Trinity</a>. Those oriented toward Confessional Lutheranism, <a href="/wiki/Evangelicalism" title="Evangelicalism">Evangelicalism</a>, or an admixture of the two include the <a href="/wiki/WordAlone" title="WordAlone">WordAlone</a> network. Members of the <a href="/wiki/Charismatic_Movement" class="mw-redirect" title="Charismatic Movement">Charismatic Movement</a> include congregations and pastors associated with the Alliance of Renewal Churches and some ethnic congregations. Additionally, there has been a recent growth in Franciscan spirituality in the ELCA through the <a href="/wiki/Order_of_Lutheran_Franciscans" title="Order of Lutheran Franciscans">Order of Lutheran Franciscans</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Scripture">Scripture</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Scripture"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The ELCA constitution states: "This church accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life."<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>ELCA clergy tend not to subscribe to a doctrine of <a href="/wiki/Biblical_inerrancy" title="Biblical inerrancy">biblical inerrancy</a>, but see validity in various <a href="/wiki/Higher_criticism" class="mw-redirect" title="Higher criticism">scholarly methods</a> of analysis to help in understanding the Bible,<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> a process sometimes called Higher Criticism.<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Sacraments">Sacraments</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Sacraments"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Like other Lutheran church bodies, the ELCA confesses two <a href="/wiki/Sacrament" title="Sacrament">sacraments</a>: <a href="/wiki/Eucharistic_theology#Lutheran_churches" title="Eucharistic theology">Communion</a> (or the <a href="/wiki/Eucharist_in_Lutheranism" title="Eucharist in Lutheranism">Eucharist</a>) and <a href="/wiki/Baptism#Lutheranism" title="Baptism">Holy Baptism</a> (including <a href="/wiki/Infant_baptism#Lutheran_Churches" title="Infant baptism">infant baptism</a>). Guidance on sacramental practices in the ELCA is provided in <i>The Use of the Means of Grace</i>, a statement adopted by the 1997 Churchwide Assembly.<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In addition to the two sacraments, ELCA churches also practice acts which are orders. These include <a href="/wiki/Confirmation_(Lutheran_Church)" title="Confirmation (Lutheran Church)">confirmation</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ordination" title="Ordination">ordination</a>, <a href="/wiki/Anointing_of_the_sick" title="Anointing of the sick">anointing the sick</a>, <a href="/wiki/Confession_in_the_Lutheran_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Confession in the Lutheran Church">confession and absolution</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Marriage" title="Marriage">marriage</a>. </p><p>With respect to the eucharist or the Lord's Supper, the ELCA holds to the Lutheran doctrine of the <a href="/wiki/Sacramental_union" title="Sacramental union">sacramental union</a>, that is, that Christ's body and blood is truly present "in, with and under" the <a href="/wiki/Sacramental_bread" title="Sacramental bread">bread</a> and wine.<sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> All communicants <a href="/wiki/Human_mouth" title="Human mouth">orally</a> receive not only bread and wine, but also the same body and blood of Christ that was given for them on the cross.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Members of other denominations sometimes refer to this as a belief in <a href="/wiki/Consubstantiation" title="Consubstantiation">consubstantiation</a>. Lutherans, however, <a href="/wiki/Sacramental_union#Distinction_from_other_doctrines_of_the_Real_Presence" title="Sacramental union">reject the philosophical explanation of consubstantiation</a>, preferring to consider the presence of the Lord's body and blood as mysterious rather than explainable by human philosophy. The Lutheran belief in the holy mystery character of the consecrated bread and wine is more similar to that of <a href="/wiki/Catholic_Church" title="Catholic Church">Catholic</a> and <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox" class="mw-redirect" title="Eastern Orthodox">Eastern Orthodox</a> belief than to the views of other Protestants. In contrast, some Protestant church bodies doubt or openly deny that the true body and blood of Christ is eaten in the Lord's Supper.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (September 2024)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>Unlike certain other American Lutheran church bodies, the ELCA practices <a href="/wiki/Open_communion" title="Open communion">open communion</a>, permitting all persons baptized in the name of the Trinity with water to receive communion. Some congregations also <a href="/wiki/Infant_communion" title="Infant communion">commune baptized infants</a>, similarly to Eastern Orthodox practice. The ELCA encourages its churches to celebrate the Eucharist at all services, although some churches alternate between non-eucharistic services and those containing the Lord's Supper. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Social_issues">Social issues</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Social issues"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The ELCA's stances on social issues are outlined in its Social Statements and Messages.<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Social Statements, which are usually, but not always, adopted by a two-thirds majority of a Churchwide Assembly, have been adopted on the following topics: </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col" style="column-width: 27em;"> <ul><li>Abortion (1991)</li> <li>Church in Society (1991)</li> <li>Death Penalty (1991)</li> <li>Economic Life (1999)</li> <li>Education (2007)</li> <li>Environment (1993)</li> <li>Genetics (2011)</li> <li>Health and Health Care (2003)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/2009_ELCA_Churchwide_Assembly#Social_Statement" title="2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly">Human Sexuality (2009)</a></li> <li>Peace (1995)</li> <li>Race, Ethnicity & Culture (1993)</li> <li>Migrant Crisis (2019)</li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Role_of_women">Role of women</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Role of women"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The ELCA <a href="/wiki/Ordination_of_women" title="Ordination of women">ordains women as pastors</a>, a practice that all three of its predecessor churches adopted in the 1970s (The <a href="/wiki/American_Lutheran_Church" title="American Lutheran Church">ALC</a> and <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Lutheran Church in America">LCA</a> in 1970, the <a href="/wiki/Association_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches" title="Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches">AELC</a> in 1976). Some women have become bishops. The first female bishop, <a href="/wiki/April_Ulring_Larson" title="April Ulring Larson">April Ulring Larson</a>, was elected in the <a href="/wiki/La_Crosse,_Wisconsin" title="La Crosse, Wisconsin">La Crosse</a> area synod in 1992. In 2018, the ELCA elected its first African-American female bishops: Patricia Davenport in Southeastern <a href="/wiki/Pennsylvania" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a> and Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld in South-Central <a href="/wiki/Wisconsin" title="Wisconsin">Wisconsin</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2013, <a href="/wiki/Elizabeth_Eaton" title="Elizabeth Eaton">Elizabeth Eaton</a> became the first woman to be elected presiding bishop of the ELCA. The most recent ELCA hymnal, <i><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Worship" title="Evangelical Lutheran Worship">Evangelical Lutheran Worship</a></i>, includes alternate gender-neutral invocations and benedictions in all settings. All of the psalms and many of the hymns and parts of the liturgy have been altered to remove masculine pronouns referring to God.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2000, the Cooperative Clergy Study Project surveyed 681 ELCA pastors and found that 95 percent of ELCA clergy thought that all clergy positions should be open to women, while 2 percent disagreed.<sup id="cite_ref-thearda.com_31-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-thearda.com-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Augustana_Lutheran_Church_-_sign.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Augustana_Lutheran_Church_-_sign.JPG/220px-Augustana_Lutheran_Church_-_sign.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="293" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Augustana_Lutheran_Church_-_sign.JPG/330px-Augustana_Lutheran_Church_-_sign.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Augustana_Lutheran_Church_-_sign.JPG/440px-Augustana_Lutheran_Church_-_sign.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2448" data-file-height="3264" /></a><figcaption>Augustana Lutheran Church in <a href="/wiki/Washington,_D.C." title="Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a>, is a "<a href="/wiki/Reconciling_in_Christ" class="mw-redirect" title="Reconciling in Christ">Reconciling in Christ</a>" congregation, meaning they welcome all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Ordination_of_LGBT_clergy_and_blessings_of_same-sex_marriages">Ordination of LGBT clergy and blessings of same-sex marriages</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Ordination of LGBT clergy and blessings of same-sex marriages"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/2009_ELCA_Churchwide_Assembly" title="2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly">2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly</a></div> <p>On August 21, 2009, the ELCA's Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis voted to allow congregations to call and <a href="/wiki/Ordination_of_LGBT_Christian_clergy" class="mw-redirect" title="Ordination of LGBT Christian clergy">ordain gays and lesbians</a> in committed monogamous relationships to serve as clergy.<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> By a vote of 559 to 451, delegates approved a resolution declaring that the church would find a way for people in "publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships" to serve as official ministers. Congregations that do not wish to call these persons to ordained ministry are not required by these policy changes to do so.<sup id="cite_ref-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In reaction, <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_CORE" title="Lutheran CORE">Lutheran CORE</a>, which opposed the decision, stated that it would "initiate a process that we hope will lead to a reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism."<sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In February 2010, Lutheran CORE announced that it would secede from the ELCA and form a new denomination to be named the <a href="/wiki/North_American_Lutheran_Church" title="North American Lutheran Church">North American Lutheran Church</a> (NALC).<sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As of 2008<sup class="plainlinks noexcerpt noprint asof-tag update" style="display:none;"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit">[update]</a></sup>, 37 percent of ELCA pastors were found to support <a href="/wiki/Same-sex_marriage" title="Same-sex marriage">same-sex marriage</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The ELCA, in removing sexual orientation as a bar for candidacy in the professional ministry, joined most of its Lutheran sister churches in Europe, including in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Austria.<sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The ELCA is also among a growing number of Christian churches in the United States to make this move, which include the <a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ" title="United Church of Christ">United Church of Christ</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)" title="Episcopal Church (United States)">Episcopal Church</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_(USA)" title="Presbyterian Church (USA)">Presbyterian Church (USA)</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/United_Methodist_Church" title="United Methodist Church">United Methodist Church</a>. </p><p>In contrast, the board of one of the ELCA's partner churches, the <a href="/wiki/Ethiopian_Evangelical_Church_Mekane_Yesus" title="Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus">Evangelical Mekane Yesus Fellowship in North America</a>, voted in October 2009 to declare disunity with the ELCA. A press release stated that the board was no longer "in good conscience" "able to commune and partner with ELCA Church that has willfully disobeyed the word of God and regrettably departed from the clear instructions of the Holy Scriptures" that "marriage is only between a man and a woman". This was followed by the general synod of the <a href="/wiki/Ethiopian_Evangelical_Church_Mekane_Yesus" title="Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus">Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus</a> also breaking links with the ELCA.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In April 2010, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America adopted revisions to ministry policy documents to bring them in line with the August 2009 vote, as well as adding sections on integrity, substance abuse and addiction. The release noted that the revised ministry policies would be posted on the church's website by the end of April 2010.<sup id="cite_ref-release_april_2010_39-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-release_april_2010-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Since August 2009, according to the office of the ELCA secretary, over 600 congregations have left the ELCA through January 2011. Income declined, with revenue of $66.7 million in 2010, down from $76.5 million in 2009.<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On May 31, 2013, <a href="/wiki/Guy_Erwin" title="Guy Erwin">Guy Erwin</a> became the first openly gay man to be chosen bishop in the ELCA when he was elected to a six-year term as bishop of the Southwest California Synod.<sup id="cite_ref-Erwin_41-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Erwin-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2015, the denomination ordained, officially, the first transgender pastor.<sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Also in 2015, after the Supreme Court legalized <a href="/wiki/Obergefell_v._Hodges" title="Obergefell v. Hodges">same-sex marriage</a> nationally in the US, the office of the presiding bishop released a letter informing members that each congregation is free to marry gay and lesbian couples or to choose not to do so.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Since 2009 <a href="/wiki/Blessing_of_same-sex_unions_in_Christian_churches" title="Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches">blessings of same-sex marriages</a> are allowed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Creation_and_evolution">Creation and evolution</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Creation and evolution"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The ELCA has not adopted an official position on <a href="/wiki/Creationism" title="Creationism">creation</a> or <a href="/wiki/Evolution" title="Evolution">evolution</a>, but there is general agreement on interpreting the Bible within its historical contexts and applying critical methods of research. In 2000, the Cooperative Clergy Study Project surveyed 681 ELCA pastors and found that 26 percent of ELCA clergy thought <a href="/wiki/Creationism#Christianity" title="Creationism">Scientific Creationism</a> should be taught alongside evolution in biology classes, while 57 percent disagreed.<sup id="cite_ref-thearda.com_31-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-thearda.com-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Reproductive_cloning">Reproductive cloning</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Reproductive cloning"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The ELCA has not yet taken an official position regarding reproductive cloning. However, Task Force on Genetics of the church's "Church in Society" initiative is studying the theological and ethical issues that the world is likely to face in coming years as a result of Genetic Science. The task force has issued a draft report<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> for comment and discussion. The draft statement covers a wide range of topics, from <a href="/wiki/Genetic_testing" title="Genetic testing">genetic testing</a> to <a href="/wiki/Genetically_modified_organism" title="Genetically modified organism">GMOs</a>. A section in this report which has been described by an independent reviewer as "a remarkably nuanced analysis and statement regarding a very complex scientific, social, and religious issue."<sup id="cite_ref-Eigen_46-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Eigen-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The task force recommends opposition to reproductive cloning, as almost all religious groups currently do. However, the main theological reasoning is unique. Lewis D. Eigen explains:<sup id="cite_ref-Eigen_46-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Eigen-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <blockquote><p> The argument they articulate is not the common but weak argument that it would be "offensive to God," "against the will of God" or "man encroaching into God's domain", but they observe that the clone would be denied the dignity of possessing a unique human genotype. This is an extremely interesting argument—that each and every human being has the right to his or her own uniqueness—particularly a unique genotype.</p></blockquote> <p>The draft statement further asserts that any clones that might be created should have full acceptance as human beings and access to rites of the church. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Abortion">Abortion</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Abortion"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The issue of <a href="/wiki/Abortion_debate" title="Abortion debate">abortion</a> is a matter of contention within the ELCA. In a Social Statement adopted in 1991,<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> the church set out its position on the matter as follows. The ELCA describes itself as "a community supportive of life", and encourages women to <a href="/wiki/Crisis_pregnancy_center" title="Crisis pregnancy center">explore alternatives</a> to abortion such as <a href="/wiki/Adoption" title="Adoption">adoption</a>. However, the Social Statement asserts that there are certain circumstances under which a decision to end a <a href="/wiki/Pregnancy" title="Pregnancy">pregnancy</a> can be "morally responsible". These include cases where the pregnancy "presents a clear threat to the physical life of the woman", situations where "the pregnancy occurs when both parties do not participate willingly in sexual intercourse", and "circumstances of extreme fetal <a href="/wiki/Disability" title="Disability">abnormality</a>, which will result in severe suffering and very early death of an infant." Regardless of the reason, the ELCA opposes abortion when "a fetus is <a href="/wiki/Viability_(fetal)" class="mw-redirect" title="Viability (fetal)">developed enough to live outside a uterus</a> with the aid of <a href="/wiki/Neonatal_intensive-care_unit" class="mw-redirect" title="Neonatal intensive-care unit">reasonable and necessary technology</a>." The ELCA opposes "laws that deny access to safe and affordable services for morally justifiable abortions", and "laws that are primarily intended to harass those contemplating or deciding for an abortion." The statement emphasizes the prevention of circumstances leading to abortion, specifically encouraging "appropriate forms of <a href="/wiki/Sex_education_in_the_United_States" title="Sex education in the United States">sex education</a> in schools, community <a href="/wiki/Christian_views_on_birth_control#Lutheranism" title="Christian views on birth control">pregnancy prevention</a> programs, and <a href="/wiki/Parenting" title="Parenting">parenting</a> preparation classes." In 2000, the Cooperative Clergy Study Project found that one fifth of ELCA clergy favored banning abortion with a constitutional amendment.<sup id="cite_ref-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_CORE" title="Lutheran CORE">Lutheran CORE</a>, which represents theologically conservative members of ELCA, together with the <a href="/wiki/North_American_Lutheran_Church" title="North American Lutheran Church">North American Lutheran Church</a>, through their Joint Commission an Theology and Doctrine, approved an official <a href="/wiki/Anti-abortion" class="mw-redirect" title="Anti-abortion">anti-abortion</a> stance in the document "The Lord Is with You" – A Word of Counsel to the Church – The Sanctity of Nascent Life", on December 14, 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Euthanasia">Euthanasia</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Euthanasia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The ELCA official statement on "End of Life Decisions", adopted on November 9, 1992, disapproves euthanasia: "We oppose the legalization of <a href="/wiki/Physician_assisted_suicide" class="mw-redirect" title="Physician assisted suicide">physician-assisted death</a>, which would allow the private killing of one person by another. Public control and regulation of such actions would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. The potential for abuse, especially of people who are most vulnerable, would be substantially increased."<sup id="cite_ref-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Ministry">Ministry</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Ministry"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Richard_and_Bonnie_Jensen.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Richard_and_Bonnie_Jensen.jpg/200px-Richard_and_Bonnie_Jensen.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="200" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Richard_and_Bonnie_Jensen.jpg/300px-Richard_and_Bonnie_Jensen.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Richard_and_Bonnie_Jensen.jpg/400px-Richard_and_Bonnie_Jensen.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1852" data-file-height="1852" /></a><figcaption>ELCA ministers <a href="/wiki/Richard_A._Jensen" title="Richard A. Jensen">Richard</a> and <a href="/wiki/Bonnie_L._Jensen" title="Bonnie L. Jensen">Bonnie Jensen</a></figcaption></figure> <p>As a Lutheran church body, the ELCA professes belief in the "<a href="/wiki/Priesthood_of_all_believers" title="Priesthood of all believers">priesthood of all believers</a>" as reflected in Martin Luther's <i><a href="/wiki/To_the_Christian_Nobility_of_the_German_Nation" title="To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation">To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation</a></i>, that all baptized persons have equal access to God and are all called to use their gifts to serve the body of Christ. Some people are called to "rostered ministry", or vocations of church leadership and service. After formation, theological training, and approval by local synods these people are "set aside, but not above" through ordination.<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>An extensive "Study of Ministry" was embarked upon immediately after the 1988 merger as it became apparent that there were still discordant viewpoints and influences, especially by the pressure for a renewal of the office of deacon and its different manifestations to a more ancient and traditional view predating the Reformation into the earliest days of Christianity. The church makes a clear distinction between the deacon's "Ministry of Word and Service", and the Pastor's "Ministry of Word and Sacrament". </p><p>In the ELCA, <a href="/wiki/Ordination" title="Ordination">ordination</a> refers to the setting apart of pastors in the ministry of word and sacrament and deacons in the ministry of word and service (before 2019, consecration was the term for setting apart deacons). The similar rite for setting apart a bishop is called installation. These rites (for bishops, pastors, and deacons) are formal liturgies, with prayer and the laying-on of hands by the bishop, or by the presiding bishop in the case of the installation of a new bishop. Since 2000, the ELCA has required all installations of new bishops to include the laying-on of hands by not fewer than three bishops who are known to be within the historic line of <a href="/wiki/Apostolic_succession" title="Apostolic succession">apostolic succession</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Deacons">Deacons</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Deacons"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Deacons are called to a "Ministry of Word and Service".<sup id="cite_ref-MWS_52-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MWS-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The former lay rosters of deaconess, diaconal minister, and associate in ministry were all merged onto one roster, called Deacons, beginning in January 2017. </p><p>Deacons serve in many roles in and beyond congregations. At their ordination they may be presented with a towel and basin (in reference to Jesus washing the feet of his disciples) as a sign of their servant ministry, but the rite of ordination (published in January 2017) also allows for other symbols to be presented, reflecting the broad range of diaconal service. The rite states: "Other symbols of the ministry of word and service may be given, which may reflect a particular focus of the deacon's call and vocation, such as a vessel containing oil, a Bible, or the book of worship."<sup id="cite_ref-MWS_52-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MWS-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Pastors">Pastors</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Pastors"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Pastors are called to the "Ministry of Word and Sacrament" and considered a "steward of the mysteries" of the Church (the <a href="/wiki/Means_of_grace" title="Means of grace">means of grace</a>). Pastors primarily serve congregations, but some serve in specialized ministries including those of hospital <a href="/wiki/Chaplain" title="Chaplain">chaplain</a> and military chaplain. </p><p>Pastors are ordinarily trained at one of seven <a href="/wiki/List_of_ELCA_seminaries" title="List of ELCA seminaries">ELCA seminaries</a> located throughout the United States, although there are alternative paths for ordination to serve particular communities in which it is difficult to provide trained ministers or to allow rostering of clergy transferred from other denominations. Pastors generally hold a Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent, as well as a four-year <a href="/wiki/Master_of_divinity" class="mw-redirect" title="Master of divinity">master of divinity</a> degree. They are required to learn biblical <a href="/wiki/Hebrew_language" title="Hebrew language">Hebrew</a> and <a href="/wiki/Greek_language" title="Greek language">Greek</a>, and spend at least a summer doing clinical pastoral education—an intensive program that gives them time to reflect on their pastoral craft, usually in a hospital setting. They are required to complete a one-year internship of full-time service in pastoral ministry. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Bishops">Bishops</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Bishops"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A <a href="/wiki/Bishop" title="Bishop">bishop</a> is a pastor called to serve (usually for a six-year term, which may be renewed) as the overseeing minister of a <a href="/wiki/Synod" title="Synod">synod</a>, or called to serve as the <a href="/wiki/Presiding_bishop" title="Presiding bishop">presiding bishop</a> of the ELCA. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Called_to_Common_Mission" title="Called to Common Mission">Called to Common Mission</a> agreement with the <a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)" title="Episcopal Church (United States)">Episcopal Church</a> in 2000 means that bishops are now installed according to Apostolic Succession. The fixed term of service as head of a synod has not changed, and there was no requirement in 2000 for existing ELCA bishops to be re-installed within the historic episcopate; instead, the apostolic succession was received as a sign of historic continuity, without denying the traditional Lutheran belief that the Church is truly present where the sacraments of baptism and holy communion are administered, regardless of the historic nature (or otherwise) of the ministry. Before 2000 a pastor had served in the office of bishop and then returned to being known simply as a pastor when service as a bishop had ended. Following the 2000 agreement a former bishop may still return to the work of a local pastor, but is often referred as bishop emeritus, even if not exercising that ministry. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Worship">Worship</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Worship"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Published in 2006, <i><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Worship" title="Evangelical Lutheran Worship">Evangelical Lutheran Worship</a></i> is the main <a href="/wiki/Hymnal" title="Hymnal">hymnal</a> used in congregations. Some congregations, however, continue to use the older <i><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Book_of_Worship" title="Lutheran Book of Worship">Lutheran Book of Worship</a></i> published by the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship in 1978, and some even continue to use the older <i><a href="/wiki/Service_Book_and_Hymnal" title="Service Book and Hymnal">Service Book and Hymnal</a></i> (SBH) of 1958 or its antecedent precedent-setting <i><a href="/wiki/Divine_Service_(Lutheran)" title="Divine Service (Lutheran)">Common Service</a></i> of 1888 which laid out a traditional American Lutheran liturgy and later was included in subsequent worship books and hymnals of various churches especially <i><a href="/wiki/Divine_Service_(Lutheran)" title="Divine Service (Lutheran)">The Common Service Book</a></i> of 1917, adopted by the old <a href="/wiki/United_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="United Lutheran Church in America">United Lutheran Church in America</a>, a predecessor of the LCA to 1962, and <i>The Lutheran Hymnal</i> (TLH-1941) of the LCMS. Many congregations also make use of supplementary resources recently published as well besides those authorized for the <i>LBW</i> by Augsburg-Fortress, Publishers. Many ELCA congregations are classically <a href="/wiki/Liturgical" class="mw-redirect" title="Liturgical">liturgical</a> churches. Their liturgy is rooted in the Western liturgical tradition, though recent international Lutheran-Orthodox dialog sessions have had some minimal influence on Lutheran liturgy. Because of its use of the <a href="/wiki/Book_of_Concord" title="Book of Concord">Book of Concord</a> of 1580, with the Confessions, documents and beliefs of the Reformers, including the <a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Confession" title="Augsburg Confession">Augsburg Confession</a> of 1530, <a href="/wiki/Luther%27s_Small_Catechism" title="Luther's Small Catechism">Luther's Small Catechism</a> of 1529 and the <a href="/wiki/Luther%27s_Large_Catechism" title="Luther's Large Catechism">Large Catechism</a> and its retention of many pre-Reformation traditions, such as <a href="/wiki/Vestment" title="Vestment">vestments</a>, <a href="/wiki/Feast_days" class="mw-redirect" title="Feast days">feast days</a> and the celebration of the <a href="/wiki/Liturgical_year" title="Liturgical year">Church Year</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Sign_of_the_cross#Lutheranism" title="Sign of the cross">sign of the cross</a>, and the usage of a church-wide <a href="/wiki/Agenda_(liturgy)" title="Agenda (liturgy)">liturgy</a>, there are many aspects of the typical ELCA church that are very catholic and traditional in nature. Many Evangelical Lutheran churches use traditional vestments (<a href="/wiki/Cassock" title="Cassock">cassock</a>, <a href="/wiki/Surplice" title="Surplice">surplice</a>, <a href="/wiki/Stole_(vestment)" title="Stole (vestment)">stole</a> for services of the Word or non-Eucharistic liturgies or <a href="/wiki/Alb" title="Alb">alb</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cincture" title="Cincture">cincture</a>, <a href="/wiki/Stole_(vestment)" title="Stole (vestment)">stole</a>, <a href="/wiki/Chasuble" title="Chasuble">chasuble</a> (pastor) or <a href="/wiki/Dalmatic" title="Dalmatic">dalmatic</a> (deacon), <a href="/wiki/Cope" title="Cope">cope</a> (processions) for Eucharists (Mass, Holy Communion), etc.). On special rare occasions even a bishop's cross/<a href="/wiki/Crozier" title="Crozier">crozier</a> and <a href="/wiki/Mitre" title="Mitre">mitre</a> (bishop's headpiece) have been used to designate the ancient robes and traditions of the Church originating in <a href="/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire" title="Holy Roman Empire">Roman</a> times of which <a href="/wiki/Martin_Luther" title="Martin Luther">Luther</a> and his fellow Reformers like <a href="/wiki/Philip_Melanchthon" title="Philip Melanchthon">Philip Melanchthon</a> considered as "adiaphora" or of permissive use. Since the <a href="/wiki/Second_Vatican_Council" title="Second Vatican Council">Second Vatican Council</a> of the 1960s, most major parts of the ELCA's popular liturgies are worded exactly like the English language Mass of 1970 of the <a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Roman Catholic Church">Roman Catholic Church</a>. Many ELCA congregations use informal styles of worship or a blend of traditional and contemporary liturgical forms. </p><p>Springing from its revered heritage in the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_chorale" title="Lutheran chorale">Lutheran chorale</a>, the musical life of ELCA congregations is just as diverse as its worship. <a href="/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach" title="Johann Sebastian Bach">Johann Sebastian Bach</a>, the most famous Lutheran composer and African songs are part of the heritage and breadth of Evangelical Lutheran church music. The musical portion of the Lutheran liturgy includes <a href="/wiki/Metrical_psalter" title="Metrical psalter">metrical psalter</a>, metrical responses and hymns. <i>Evangelical Lutheran Worship</i> has ten settings of Holy Communion, for example. They range from plainsong chant, to Gospel, to Latin-style music. Congregations worship in many languages, many of which are represented in <i>Evangelical Lutheran Worship</i>. Other books used in ELCA churches include the <i><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Book_of_Worship" title="Lutheran Book of Worship">Lutheran Book of Worship</a></i> (1978), and its supplements: <i>With One Voice</i>, <i>This Far by Faith</i>, and for Latino/Hispanic congregations: <i>Libro de Liturgia y Cántico</i>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Ecumenical_relations">Ecumenical relations</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Ecumenical relations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The ELCA is a member of the <a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Churches" title="National Council of Churches">National Council of Churches</a>, the <a href="/wiki/World_Council_of_Churches" title="World Council of Churches">World Council of Churches</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Christian_Churches_Together" title="Christian Churches Together">Christian Churches Together</a> and is a "partner in mission and dialog" with the <a href="/wiki/Churches_Uniting_in_Christ" title="Churches Uniting in Christ">Churches Uniting in Christ</a> (formerly the Consultation on Church Union) formed in 1960. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Full_communion">Full communion</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Full communion"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Church maintains <a href="/wiki/Full_communion" title="Full communion">full communion</a> relationships with other member churches of the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_World_Federation" title="Lutheran World Federation">Lutheran World Federation</a> (which is a communion of 140 autonomous national/regional Lutheran church bodies in 78 countries around the world, representing nearly 66 million Christians) which was reorganized in 1948 from the earlier Lutheran World Convention of 1923. The ELCA has additionally full communion with the <a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)" title="Episcopal Church (United States)">Episcopal Church</a>, in which several congregations are jointly affiliated and hold mixed services. Also the ELCA has since established official full communion relationships with other Christian denominations such as the <a href="/wiki/Moravian_Church_in_America" class="mw-redirect" title="Moravian Church in America">Moravian Church in America</a> (with the exception of the Alaska Province), the <a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_USA" class="mw-redirect" title="Presbyterian Church USA">Presbyterian Church (USA)</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_in_America" title="Reformed Church in America">Reformed Church in America</a>, the <a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ" title="United Church of Christ">United Church of Christ</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)" title="Episcopal Church (United States)">Episcopal Church</a>, and The <a href="/wiki/United_Methodist_Church" title="United Methodist Church">United Methodist Church</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 2013, the <a href="/wiki/Ethiopian_Evangelical_Church_Mekane_Yesus" title="Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus">Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus</a> severed ties, including communion and pulpit fellowship, with the ELCA over the issue of practices and teachings connected with homosexuality.<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Roman_Catholic_Church">Roman Catholic Church</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Roman Catholic Church"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On October 31, 1999, in <a href="/wiki/Augsburg" title="Augsburg">Augsburg</a>, Germany, the Lutheran World Federation – of which the ELCA is a member – signed the <i><a href="/wiki/Joint_Declaration_on_the_Doctrine_of_Justification" title="Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification">Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification</a></i> with the Roman Catholic Church. The statement is an attempt to reconcile a historical theological divide between the two communions. The <i>Declaration</i> also states that the mutual condemnations between 16th century Lutherans and the Roman Catholic Church no longer apply to those that have signed onto the document. This was part of a series of "Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogues" have been taking place on an official basis every few years with statements and booklets on various theological topics published since 1966. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Lutheran_Church–Missouri_Synod"><span id="Lutheran_Church.E2.80.93Missouri_Synod"></span>Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1251242444"><table class="box-More_citations_needed_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>needs additional citations for <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Special:EditPage/Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">improve this article</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a> in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">April 2015</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The differences between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod">Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod</a> (LCMS) arise from theological, historical, and cultural factors. The LCMS was briefly in fellowship with the former The American Lutheran Church, one of the ELCA predecessor bodies from 1969 to the early 1980s. Although the denominations cooperate through <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_World_Relief" title="Lutheran World Relief">Lutheran World Relief</a> and some university/college student ministries and military chaplaincy, they are not officially in communion with each other. </p><p>When the first Lutheran immigrants came to North America, they started church bodies that reflected, to some degree, the churches they left behind in Europe. Many maintained until the early 20th century their immigrant languages. They sought pastors from the "old country" until patterns for the education of clergy could be developed in North America. Eventually, <a href="/wiki/Seminaries" class="mw-redirect" title="Seminaries">seminaries</a> and church colleges were established in many places to prepare pastors to serve congregations. </p><p>The earliest predecessor synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was constituted on August 25, 1748, in Philadelphia under the influence of <a href="/wiki/Henry_Muhlenberg" title="Henry Muhlenberg">Henry Muhlenberg</a>, known as the "Patriarch of American Lutheranism". It was known as the <a href="/wiki/Ministerium_of_Pennsylvania" class="mw-redirect" title="Ministerium of Pennsylvania">Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States</a>. The earliest nationwide "synod" or "union of synods" was established in 1820 as the <a href="/wiki/General_Synod_(Lutheran)" class="mw-redirect" title="General Synod (Lutheran)">General Synod</a>, followed later by the <a href="/wiki/General_Council_(Lutheran)" class="mw-redirect" title="General Council (Lutheran)">General Council</a>. The ELCA was created in 1988 by the merging of the 2.85-million-member Lutheran Church in America (1962), 2.25-million-member The American Lutheran Church (1960), and the 100,000-member Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (1978). Previously, the ALC and LCA in the early 1960s came into being as a result of two mergers of eight smaller ethnically based Lutheran bodies composed of German, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Slovak, Dutch, and others organized over 150 years. Some of these smaller ethnically based bodies previously had ecumenical arrangements involving the Missouri Synod. </p><p>The LCMS was established in 1847 by German immigrants fleeing the forced <a href="/wiki/Prussian_Union_(Evangelical_Christian_Church)" class="mw-redirect" title="Prussian Union (Evangelical Christian Church)">Prussian Union</a> between Lutherans and Reformed church members in European Germany, who later settled in <a href="/wiki/Perry_County,_Missouri" title="Perry County, Missouri">Perry County, Missouri</a>. It grew through immigration, offspring, and church mergers while participating in some, but not all of the dialogues, controversies, and compromises which affected the various predecessors of the ELCA during the 19th and 20th Centuries. In the mid-1970s the <a href="/wiki/Seminex" title="Seminex">Seminex</a> controversy at their Concordia Seminary in St. Louis over use of historical-critical biblical study led to the formation of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, later one of the predecessor bodies of the ELCA. The LCMS is the second largest Lutheran church body in North America with 1.8 million baptized members. </p><p>The ELCA tends to be more involved in ecumenical endeavors than the LCMS, which prohibits its clergy from worshiping in ecumenical gatherings. The ELCA is a member of the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_World_Federation" title="Lutheran World Federation">Lutheran World Federation</a>, <a href="/wiki/World_Council_of_Churches" title="World Council of Churches">World Council of Churches</a> and the <a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Churches" title="National Council of Churches">National Council of Churches of Christ, USA</a>. The LCMS rejects these as being <a href="/wiki/Indifferentism" title="Indifferentism">unionist</a>. </p><p>Both the LCMS and the ELCA have policies relating to clergy sexual misconduct. Perry C. Francis, a former ELCA pastor turned professor, along with psychology professor Tracy D. Baldo, published the results of their 1994 study of clergy sexual misconduct in the journal <i>Pastoral Psychology</i>. Out of 270 ELCA and 117 LCMS clergy surveyed, 13.7 percent of ELCA clergy and 4.3 percent of LCMS clergy admitted to sexual misconduct with another person since they began their ministry.<sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><b>Comparison to LCMS in ELCA's point of view</b> according to the <i>Honoring Our Neighbor's Faith</i><sup id="cite_ref-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These conclusions are not agreed upon by the WELS or LCMS. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Number </th> <th>LCMS </th> <th>ELCA </th></tr> <tr> <td>1 </td> <td>Believe in <a href="/wiki/Trinity" title="Trinity">triune God</a> </td> <td>Same </td></tr> <tr> <td>2 </td> <td>Accept Lutheran Confessions as <a href="/wiki/Book_of_Concord#Contemporary_subscription" title="Book of Concord">true teachings of biblical faith</a> </td> <td>Same </td></tr> <tr> <td>3 </td> <td>Believe that God comes to us through the <a href="/wiki/Lutheranism#Bible" title="Lutheranism">Word</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Lutheranism#Sacraments" title="Lutheranism">sacraments</a> </td> <td>Same </td></tr> <tr> <td>4 </td> <td>Teach <a href="/wiki/Sola_fide#Lutheranism" title="Sola fide">justification by grace through faith</a> </td> <td>Same </td></tr> <tr> <td>5 </td> <td>Believe that the Bible should <a href="/wiki/Wisconsin_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod#Differences_from_the_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod">not be subject to higher critical methods</a> </td> <td>Many within the ELCA believe that the Bible can speak effectively through the use of higher critical study. </td></tr> <tr> <td>6 </td> <td>Believe that the Bible restricts women from certain church positions including <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod#Ordination" title="Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod">ordained ministry</a> </td> <td>Believes the Bible permits, even encourages, full participation by women in the life of the church </td></tr> <tr> <td>7 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod#Practices" title="Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod">High degree of doctrinal agreement</a> necessary before fellowship is possible </td> <td>Agreement on a more basic level is sufficient for <a href="/wiki/Lutheranism#Church_fellowship" title="Lutheranism">fellowship</a>. </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Demographics">Demographics</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Demographics"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Members">Members</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: Members"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The table below presents demographic data for two different years of the <a href="/wiki/Pew_Research_Center" title="Pew Research Center">Pew Research Center</a> U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, 2007 and 2014.<sup id="cite_ref-PRC_57-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-PRC-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is divided into several demographic categories like age, gender, marital status, etc. The categories have percentages out of 100 for 2007 and 2014, along with a column indicating the percent change (±). </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr style="text-align:center"> <th colspan="2">Demographic<sup id="cite_ref-PRC_57-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-PRC-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></th> <th>2007<br /><small>(%)</small></th> <th>2014<br /><small>(%)</small></th> <th>±<br /><small>(%)</small> </th></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">Age</td> <td>18–29</td> <td>8</td> <td>12</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +4 </td></tr> <tr> <td>30–49</td> <td>36</td> <td>27</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −9 </td></tr> <tr> <td>50–64</td> <td>29</td> <td>30</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +1 </td></tr> <tr> <td>65+</td> <td>27</td> <td>31</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +4 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Gender" title="Gender">Gender</a></td> <td>Male</td> <td>44</td> <td>44</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td>Female</td> <td>56</td> <td>56</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5"><a href="/wiki/Marital_status" title="Marital status">Marital status</a></td> <td>Never married</td> <td>11</td> <td>16</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +5 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Marriage" title="Marriage">Married</a></td> <td>63</td> <td>62</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −1 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Cohabitation" title="Cohabitation">Cohabitation</a></td> <td>3</td> <td>4</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +1 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Divorce" title="Divorce">Divorced</a> or <a href="/wiki/Legal_separation" title="Legal separation">separated</a></td> <td>10</td> <td>9</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −1 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Widow" title="Widow">Widowed</a></td> <td>13</td> <td>9</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −4 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Parent" title="Parent">Parent</a> of <br />of child under 18</td> <td>Yes</td> <td>30</td> <td>24</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −6 </td></tr> <tr> <td>No</td> <td>70</td> <td>76</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +6 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Race and<br />ethnicity</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Non-Hispanic_whites" title="Non-Hispanic whites">White</a> alone</td> <td>97</td> <td>96</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −1 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/African_Americans" title="African Americans">Black</a> alone</td> <td>1</td> <td>2</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +1 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Asian_Americans" title="Asian Americans">Asian</a> alone</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td>Other race alone</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans" title="Hispanic and Latino Americans">Hispanic and Latino</a></td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3">Immigrant status</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Immigration_to_the_United_States" title="Immigration to the United States">Immigrant</a></td> <td>3</td> <td>4</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +1 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Second-generation_immigrants_in_the_United_States" title="Second-generation immigrants in the United States">Second gen.</a></td> <td>6</td> <td>8</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +2 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Immigrant_generations" title="Immigrant generations">Third gen.</a> or higher</td> <td>90</td> <td>89</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −1 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">Region</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Northeastern_United_States" title="Northeastern United States">Northeast</a></td> <td>19</td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">—</td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Midwestern_United_States" title="Midwestern United States">Midwest</a></td> <td>51</td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">—</td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Southern_United_States" title="Southern United States">South</a></td> <td>16</td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">—</td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Western_United_States" title="Western United States">West</a></td> <td>14</td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">—</td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Highest<br /><a href="/wiki/Educational_attainment" title="Educational attainment">educational<br />attainment</a></td> <td>Less than high school</td> <td>6</td> <td rowspan="2">31</td> <td rowspan="2"><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −13 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/High_school" class="mw-redirect" title="High school">High school</a></td> <td>38 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Some college</td> <td>26</td> <td>33</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +7 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Bachelor%27s_degree" title="Bachelor's degree">Bachelor's degree</a></td> <td>19</td> <td>21</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +2 </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Postgraduate_education" title="Postgraduate education">Post-graduate</a></td> <td>11</td> <td>15</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +4 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5"><a href="/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States" title="Household income in the United States">Household income</a></td> <td>Less than $30,000</td> <td>24</td> <td>19</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −5 </td></tr> <tr> <td>$30,000–49,999</td> <td>24</td> <td>22</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −2 </td></tr> <tr> <td>$50,000–74,999</td> <td>35</td> <td>32</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −3 </td></tr> <tr> <td>$100,000 or more</td> <td>17</td> <td>26</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +9 </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Beliefs,_practices,_and_views"><span id="Beliefs.2C_practices.2C_and_views"></span>Beliefs, practices, and views</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Beliefs, practices, and views"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The following table compares beliefs, practices, or views of members of ELCA across two years, 2007 and 2014.<sup id="cite_ref-PRC_57-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-PRC-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Each row represents a specific belief, practice, or view. Columns show the percentages for each year and the change between them. Each entry is broken down into different responses. For example, in the "Do you believe in God or a universal spirit?" row, responses are categorized as "Yes, absolutely certain", "Yes, fairly certain", etc. The percentage of respondents who chose each response for each year is displayed, along with the change in percent from 2007 to 2014. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr style="text-align:center; background:#d8edff;"> <th colspan="2">Belief, practice, or view<sup id="cite_ref-PRC_57-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-PRC-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></th> <th>2007<br /><small>(%)</small></th> <th>2014<br /><small>(%)</small></th> <th>±<br /><small>(%)</small> </th></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Do you believe in God or a universal spirit?</td> <td>Yes, absolutely certain</td> <td>77</td> <td>67</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −10 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Yes, fairly certain</td> <td>19</td> <td>28</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +9 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Yes, not too or at all certain</td> <td>2</td> <td>3</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +1 </td></tr> <tr> <td>No, do not believe</td> <td><1</td> <td>1</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't know, refused, or other</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Importance of religion</td> <td>Very important</td> <td>62</td> <td>58</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −4 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Somewhat important</td> <td>32</td> <td>34</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +2 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Not too important</td> <td>4</td> <td>7</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +3 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Not at all important</td> <td>1</td> <td>1</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't know</td> <td><1</td> <td><1</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">Attendance at religious services</td> <td>Weekly</td> <td>46</td> <td>35</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −11 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Monthly/few times a year</td> <td>43</td> <td>50</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +7 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Seldom or never</td> <td>10</td> <td>14</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +4 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't know</td> <td><1</td> <td><1</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3">Belief in <a href="/wiki/Heaven" title="Heaven">Heaven</a></td> <td>Believe</td> <td>83</td> <td>85</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +2 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't believe</td> <td>8</td> <td>8</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steady"><img alt="Steady" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/11px-Steady2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/17px-Steady2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Steady2.svg/22px-Steady2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300" /></span></span> no change </td></tr> <tr> <td>Other or not sure</td> <td>10</td> <td>7</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −3 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3">Belief in <a href="/wiki/Hell" title="Hell">Hell</a></td> <td>Believe</td> <td>62</td> <td>59</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −3 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't believe</td> <td>24</td> <td>30</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +6 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Other or not sure</td> <td>14</td> <td>11</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −3 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">Interpreting the Bible</td> <td>Word of God to be taken literally word for word</td> <td>23</td> <td>20</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −3 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Word of God, but not literally true word for word</td> <td>49</td> <td>44</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −5 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Not the word of God</td> <td>20</td> <td>29</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +9 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't know or other</td> <td>9</td> <td>8</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −1 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3"><a href="/wiki/Abortion_in_the_United_States" title="Abortion in the United States">Abortion</a></td> <td>Should be legal in all/most cases</td> <td>61</td> <td>65</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +4 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Should be illegal in all/most cases</td> <td>33</td> <td>32</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −1 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't know</td> <td>7</td> <td>2</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −5 </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4"><a href="/wiki/Homosexuality" title="Homosexuality">Homosexuality</a></td> <td>Should be accepted</td> <td>56</td> <td>73</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral increase"><img alt="Neutral increase" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/11px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/17px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Increase_Neutral.svg/22px-Increase_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> +17 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Should be discouraged:</td> <td>33</td> <td>22</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −11 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Neither/other</td> <td>6</td> <td>2</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −4 </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't know</td> <td>5</td> <td>2</td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Neutral decrease"><img alt="Neutral decrease" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/11px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="11" height="11" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/17px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Decrease_Neutral.svg/22px-Decrease_Neutral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="347" data-file-height="346" /></span></span> −3 </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Statistics">Statistics</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: Statistics"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Percent_of_population_members_of_ELCA_by_state,_2010.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Percent_of_population_members_of_ELCA_by_state%2C_2010.svg/250px-Percent_of_population_members_of_ELCA_by_state%2C_2010.svg.png" decoding="async" width="250" height="155" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Percent_of_population_members_of_ELCA_by_state%2C_2010.svg/375px-Percent_of_population_members_of_ELCA_by_state%2C_2010.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Percent_of_population_members_of_ELCA_by_state%2C_2010.svg/500px-Percent_of_population_members_of_ELCA_by_state%2C_2010.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="317" /></a><figcaption>Percent ELCA by state, 2010</figcaption></figure> <p>Over 500,000 people have left the ELCA since the church's human sexuality decision in 2009.<sup id="cite_ref-Stats_58-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Stats-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Approximately 700 congregations have voted to withdraw from the ELCA, representing about 7 percent of its 2009 congregational membership. As of December 31, 2023, the ELCA has a baptized membership of 2,793,899 people.<sup id="cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-elca2023stats-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 2015, Pew Research estimated that 1.4 percent of the U.S. population, or roughly 4.4 million adherents, identify with the ELCA, which is moderately more than rostered membership suggests. Another 0.7 percent, or 2.2 million adherents, identify with mainline Lutheranism in general.<sup id="cite_ref-Religious_Landscape_Study_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Religious_Landscape_Study-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A number of members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are former Roman Catholics.<sup id="cite_ref-Freier2009_59-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Freier2009-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As of December 31, 2023, the ELCA has 8,498 congregations.<sup id="cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-elca2023stats-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239009302">.mw-parser-output .portalbox{padding:0;margin:0.5em 0;display:table;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:175px;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portalborder{border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);padding:0.1em;background:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa)}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-entry{display:table-row;font-size:85%;line-height:110%;height:1.9em;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-image{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-link{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em;vertical-align:middle}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .portalleft{clear:left;float:left;margin:0.5em 1em 0.5em 0}.mw-parser-output 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href="/wiki/Protestantism_in_the_United_States" title="Protestantism in the United States">Protestantism in the United States</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christianity_in_the_United_States" title="Christianity in the United States">Christianity in the United States</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ELCA_synods" title="List of ELCA synods">List of ELCA synods</a></li></ul> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091102232607/http://www2.elca.org/communication/timeline/1987.html">"ELCA Constituting Convention"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www2.elca.org/communication/timeline/1987.html">the original</a> on November 2, 2009<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">February 20,</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=ELCA+Constituting+Convention&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.elca.org%2Fcommunication%2Ftimeline%2F1987.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100420025048/http://www2.elca.org/communication/timeline/19.html#1987">"ELCA Family History 1900s"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www2.elca.org/communication/timeline/19.html#1987">the original</a> on April 20, 2010<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">February 20,</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=ELCA+Family+History+1900s&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.elca.org%2Fcommunication%2Ftimeline%2F19.html%231987&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-elca2023stats-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-elca2023stats_3-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://elcamediaresources.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/wp-content/uploads/Summary_of_Congregational_Statistics_as_of_12-31-2023.pdf">"Summary of Congregational Statistics as of 12/31/2023"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</i>. August 26, 2024. p. 261<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">November 6,</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft.atitle=Summary+of+Congregational+Statistics+as+of+12%2F31%2F2023&rft.pages=261&rft.date=2024-08-26&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Felcamediaresources.blob.core.windows.net%2Fcdn%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FSummary_of_Congregational_Statistics_as_of_12-31-2023.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDavid_Neff" class="citation web cs1">David Neff. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/march/26.57.html?start=2">"<span class="cs1-kern-left"></span>'It's Not About the Past'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. <i>ChristianityToday.com</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121014173222/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/march/26.57.html?start=2">Archived</a> from the original on October 14, 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 12,</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ChristianityToday.com&rft.atitle=%27It%27s+Not+About+the+Past%27&rft.au=David+Neff&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianitytoday.com%2Fct%2F2010%2Fmarch%2F26.57.html%3Fstart%3D2&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Religious_Landscape_Study-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Religious_Landscape_Study_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Religious_Landscape_Study_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/">"Religious Landscape Study"</a>. <i>pewforum.org</i>. Pew Research. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160329123045/http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/">Archived</a> from the original on March 29, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">November 22,</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=pewforum.org&rft.atitle=Religious+Landscape+Study&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pewforum.org%2Freligious-landscape-study%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ncc-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-ncc_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ncccusa.org/news/120209yearbook2012.html">"National Council of Churches USA"</a>. <i>ncccusa.org</i>. March 20, 2012. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130830055026/http://www.ncccusa.org/news/120209yearbook2012.html">Archived</a> from the original on August 30, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 23,</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ncccusa.org&rft.atitle=National+Council+of+Churches+USA&rft.date=2012-03-20&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncccusa.org%2Fnews%2F120209yearbook2012.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span>. As of 2012, churches with more members were the Catholic Church, Southern Baptist Convention, United Methodist Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church of God in Christ, and the National Baptist Convention, USA.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071026063729/http://www.elca.org/communication/quick.html">"Quick Facts"</a>. ELCA. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/communication/quick.html">the original</a> on October 26, 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 13,</span> 2007</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Quick+Facts&rft.pub=ELCA&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2Fcommunication%2Fquick.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/annual-report-2023?_gl=1*1os89ww*_ga*MTEyNzU1MDcuMTcyNDYxNDI4Mw..*_ga_Z0184DBP2L*MTcyNDYxNDI4Mi4xLjAuMTcyNDYxNDI4Mi4wLjAuMA..">"2023 Annual Report"</a>. <i>Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 25,</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Lutheran+Church+-+Missouri+Synod&rft.atitle=2023+Annual+Report&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ffiles.lcms.org%2Ffile%2Fpreview%2Fannual-report-2023%3F_gl%3D1%2A1os89ww%2A_ga%2AMTEyNzU1MDcuMTcyNDYxNDI4Mw..%2A_ga_Z0184DBP2L%2AMTcyNDYxNDI4Mi4xLjAuMTcyNDYxNDI4Mi4wLjAuMA..&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-WELS_ANNUAL_REPORT_2022-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-WELS_ANNUAL_REPORT_2022_9-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://wels.net/annualreport/">"WELS ANNUAL REPORT 2022"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160721163552/http://wels.net/annualreport/">Archived</a> from the original on July 21, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 20,</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=WELS+ANNUAL+REPORT+2022&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwels.net%2Fannualreport%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.elca.org/Faith/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations/Full-Communion">"Full Communion Partners"</a>. <i>ELCA.org</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171116193008/http://www.elca.org/Faith/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations/Full-Communion">Archived</a> from the original on November 16, 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 1,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=ELCA.org&rft.atitle=Full+Communion+Partners&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FFaith%2FEcumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations%2FFull-Communion&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-almen-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-almen_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-almen_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-almen_11-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Lowell Almen, <i>One Great Cloud of Witnesses</i>, (Minneapolis:Augsburg Fortress, 1997) pp.9-12 for a brief recounting of the formation of the ELCA</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">For laity, the figures were 70% LCA, 70% ALC, and 62% LCMS. Including clergy and laity, 4,745 Lutheran adults between the ages of 15 and 65 were surveyed. See Merton P. Strommen et al., <i>A Study of Generations</i> (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing, 1972), p. 283.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070403112446/http://www.elca.org/communication/roots.html">"Roots of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America"</a>. <i>Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/communication/roots.html">the original</a> on April 3, 2007.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft.atitle=Roots+of+the+Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2Fcommunication%2Froots.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-The_Lutherans_in_North_America-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-The_Lutherans_in_North_America_14-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-The_Lutherans_in_North_America_14-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Nelson, E. Clifford. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=q3xyPFA_8O0C&pg=PA509"><i>The Lutherans in North America</i></a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231109201758/https://books.google.com/books?id=q3xyPFA_8O0C&pg=PA509#v=onepage&q&f=false">Archived</a> November 9, 2023, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>. Revised ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1980. p. 509</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.livinglutheran.org/2023/11/elca-church-council-appoints-michael-burk-as-presiding-bishop-pro-tempore/">"ELCA Church Council appoints Michael Burk as presiding bishop pro tempore"</a>. <i>Living Lutheran</i>. November 15, 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">November 28,</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Living+Lutheran&rft.atitle=ELCA+Church+Council+appoints+Michael+Burk+as+presiding+bishop+pro+tempore&rft.date=2023-11-15&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.livinglutheran.org%2F2023%2F11%2Felca-church-council-appoints-michael-burk-as-presiding-bishop-pro-tempore%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/About/Leadership/Conference-of-Bishops">"Conference of Bishops"</a>. ELCA. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180823141907/http://www.elca.org/About/Leadership/Conference-of-Bishops">Archived</a> from the original on August 23, 2018<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 23,</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Conference+of+Bishops&rft.pub=ELCA&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FAbout%2FLeadership%2FConference-of-Bishops&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">For further information about the ELCA's structure and organization, see <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/secretary/constitutions/ConstitutionsBylawsandContinuingResolutions2005.pdf">2005 ELCA Constitution</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070317002930/http://www.elca.org//secretary/constitutions/ConstitutionsBylawsandContinuingResolutions2005.pdf">Archived</a> 2007-03-17 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (pdf document, retrieved March 27, 2007)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">See the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/secretary/constitutions/congregations/index.html">Model Constitution for Congregations</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070317002942/http://www.elca.org//secretary/constitutions/congregations/index.html">Archived</a> 2007-03-17 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> (retrieved March 27, 2007) - especially Chapter 5 "Powers of the Congregation" and Chapter 7 "Property Ownership".</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">See also <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://archive.elca.org/questions/">http://archive.elca.org/questions/</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081011135108/http://archive.elca.org/questions/">Archived</a> October 11, 2008, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090207120421/http://archive.elca.org/communication/brief.html">"Essential Questions - Christianity and Lutheranism"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://archive.elca.org/communication/brief.html">the original</a> on February 7, 2009<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">January 28,</span> 2009</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Essential+Questions+-+Christianity+and+Lutheranism&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Farchive.elca.org%2Fcommunication%2Fbrief.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span> and <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://archive.elca.org/communication/faith.html">http://archive.elca.org/communication/faith.html</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080907134722/http://archive.elca.org/communication/faith.html">Archived</a> September 7, 2008, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.valpo.edu/ils">"Institute of Liturgical Studies"</a>. <i>Valpo.edu</i>. Valparaiso University. July 18, 2013. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131205120430/http://www.valpo.edu/ils/">Archived</a> from the original on December 5, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">November 30,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Valpo.edu&rft.atitle=Institute+of+Liturgical+Studies&rft.date=2013-07-18&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.valpo.edu%2Fils&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Cimino, Richard. <i>Lutherans Today,</i> Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, 2003, 81-101.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">For more information on the history and current documents of the ELCA, look at other resources linked to the "About the ELCA" section of the [ELCA] <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.elca.org">http://www.elca.org</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230731044929/https://www.elca.org/">Archived</a> July 31, 2023, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> Web site. See the series of essays, "With Confidence in God's Future" for more on ELCA's ecumenical outlook. Get it in [Word]<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://archive.elca.org/communication/WithConfidence.doc">http://archive.elca.org/communication/WithConfidence.doc</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080819191647/http://archive.elca.org/communication/WithConfidence.doc">Archived</a> August 19, 2008, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>, or [PDF]<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://archive.elca.org/communication/WithConfidence.pdf">http://archive.elca.org/communication/WithConfidence.pdf</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080819191701/http://archive.elca.org/communication/WithConfidence.pdf">Archived</a> August 19, 2008, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> format.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/New-or-Returning-to-Church/Dig-Deeper/The-Bible.aspx">"the Bible"</a>. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080829173932/http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/New-or-Returning-to-Church/Dig-Deeper/The-Bible.aspx">Archived</a> from the original on August 29, 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">July 6,</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=the+Bible&rft.pub=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+of+America&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FWhat-We-Believe%2FNew-or-Returning-to-Church%2FDig-Deeper%2FThe-Bible.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091018192103/http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?t1=h&word=HIGHERCRITICISM">"Higher Criticism"</a>. <i>Christian Cyclopedia</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?t1=h&word=HIGHERCRITICISM">the original</a> on October 18, 2009.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Christian+Cyclopedia&rft.atitle=Higher+Criticism&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lcms.org%2Fca%2Fwww%2Fcyclopedia%2F02%2Fdisplay.asp%3Ft1%3Dh%26word%3DHIGHERCRITICISM&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091015095945/http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Learning-Center/The-Use-of-the-Means-of-Grace.aspx">"The Use of the Means of Grace - A Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament"</a>. <i>Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</i>. August 19, 1997. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Learning-Center/The-Use-of-the-Means-of-Grace.aspx">the original</a> on October 15, 2009.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft.atitle=The+Use+of+the+Means+of+Grace+-+A+Statement+on+the+Practice+of+Word+and+Sacrament&rft.date=1997-08-19&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FGrowing-In-Faith%2FWorship%2FLearning-Center%2FThe-Use-of-the-Means-of-Grace.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://bookofconcord.org/sd-supper.php#para38">The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article 8, The Holy Supper, paragraph 38</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191021072005/http://bookofconcord.org/sd-supper.php#para38">Archived</a> October 21, 2019, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Cf. unaltered <a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Confession" title="Augsburg Confession">Augsburg Confession</a>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php#article10">Article 10: Of the Lord's Supper</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110810073345/http://bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php#article10">Archived</a> August 10, 2011, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society">"Faith and Society"</a>. <i>Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131125174928/http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society">Archived</a> from the original on November 25, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 19,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft.atitle=Faith+and+Society&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FFaith%2FFaith-and-Society&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKuruvilla2018" class="citation web cs1">Kuruvilla, Carol (May 9, 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/black-women-bishops-are-making-history-for-their-predominantly-white-church_n_5af2fe52e4b0a0d601e8df44">"Black Women Bishops Are Making History In This Predominantly White Church"</a>. <i>HuffPost</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20201023035024/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/black-women-bishops-are-making-history-for-their-predominantly-white-church_n_5af2fe52e4b0a0d601e8df44">Archived</a> from the original on October 23, 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 27,</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=HuffPost&rft.atitle=Black+Women+Bishops+Are+Making+History+In+This+Predominantly+White+Church&rft.date=2018-05-09&rft.aulast=Kuruvilla&rft.aufirst=Carol&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffpost.com%2Fentry%2Fblack-women-bishops-are-making-history-for-their-predominantly-white-church_n_5af2fe52e4b0a0d601e8df44&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">ELCA/ELCiC Celebrate New Hymnal. <i>The Lutheran Hedgehog 1</i>(5). Sept.-October 2006. p 6.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-thearda.com-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-thearda.com_31-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-thearda.com_31-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191025041843/http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Descriptions/COOPCLER.asp">"Summary - The Cooperative Clergy Study Project - Data Archive - The Association of Religion Data Archives"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Descriptions/COOPCLER.asp">the original</a> on October 25, 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">February 13,</span> 2014</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Summary+-+The+Cooperative+Clergy+Study+Project+-+Data+Archive+-+The+Association+of+Religion+Data+Archives&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thearda.com%2FArchive%2FFiles%2FDescriptions%2FCOOPCLER.asp&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091105063915/http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements/JTF-Human-Sexuality.aspx">"Sexuality - Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust"</a>. <i>Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements/JTF-Human-Sexuality.aspx">the original</a> on November 5, 2009.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft.atitle=Sexuality+-+Human+Sexuality%3A+Gift+and+Trust&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FWhat-We-Believe%2FSocial-Issues%2FSocial-Statements%2FJTF-Human-Sexuality.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-33">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLuoCapecchi2009" class="citation news cs1">Luo, Michael; Capecchi, Christina (August 22, 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/us/22lutherans.html?hpw">"Lutheran Group Eases Limits on Gay Clergy"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130515155614/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/us/22lutherans.html?hpw">Archived</a> from the original on May 15, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 1,</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=Lutheran+Group+Eases+Limits+on+Gay+Clergy&rft.date=2009-08-22&rft.aulast=Luo&rft.aufirst=Michael&rft.au=Capecchi%2C+Christina&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2009%2F08%2F22%2Fus%2F22lutherans.html%3Fhpw&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSpring2009" class="citation web cs1">Spring, Paull E. (September 4, 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110727050528/http://www.lutherancore.org/papers/spring_pre_convoc_ltr.shtml">"Update on Lutheran CORE's Convocation"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lutherancore.org/papers/spring_pre_convoc_ltr.shtml">the original</a> on July 27, 2011.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Update+on+Lutheran+CORE%27s+Convocation&rft.date=2009-09-04&rft.aulast=Spring&rft.aufirst=Paull+E.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lutherancore.org%2Fpapers%2Fspring_pre_convoc_ltr.shtml&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100304071324/http://www.lutherancore.org/papers/new_vision.shtml">"A Vision and Plan for The North American Lutheran Church and Lutheran CORE, a community of confessing Lutherans"</a>. <i>Lutheran CORE</i>. February 18, 2010. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lutherancore.org/papers/new_vision.shtml">the original</a> on March 4, 2010.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Lutheran+CORE&rft.atitle=A+Vision+and+Plan+for+The+North+American+Lutheran+Church+and+Lutheran+CORE%2C+a+community+of+confessing+Lutherans&rft.date=2010-02-18&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lutherancore.org%2Fpapers%2Fnew_vision.shtml&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJonesCox" class="citation web cs1">Jones, Robert P.; Cox, Daniel. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100821140414/http://www.publicreligion.org/objects/uploads/fck/file/CVS%20Theology%20and%20LGBT.pdf">"Mainline Protestant Clergy Views on Theology and Gay and Lesbian Issues: Findings from the 2008 Clergy Voices Survey"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. p. 7. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.publicreligion.org/objects/uploads/fck/file/CVS%20Theology%20and%20LGBT.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on August 21, 2010<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">September 26,</span> 2009</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Mainline+Protestant+Clergy+Views+on+Theology+and+Gay+and+Lesbian+Issues%3A+Findings+from+the+2008+Clergy+Voices+Survey&rft.pages=7&rft.aulast=Jones&rft.aufirst=Robert+P.&rft.au=Cox%2C+Daniel&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.publicreligion.org%2Fobjects%2Fuploads%2Ffck%2Ffile%2FCVS%2520Theology%2520and%2520LGBT.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110719065955/http://www.nordelbien.de/nachrichten/newsne.1/one.news/index.html?entry=page.newsne.201101.32">"Streit um homosexuelle Pfarrer"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nordelbien.de/nachrichten/newsne.1/one.news/index.html?entry=page.newsne.201101.32">the original</a> on July 19, 2011.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Streit+um+homosexuelle+Pfarrer&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nordelbien.de%2Fnachrichten%2Fnewsne.1%2Fone.news%2Findex.html%3Fentry%3Dpage.newsne.201101.32&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWeber2013" class="citation web cs1">Weber, Katherine (February 8, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/ethiopian-church-severs-ties-with-lutherans-over-homosexuality.html">"Ethiopian Church Severs Ties With Lutherans Over Homosexuality"</a>. <i>The Christian Post</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210609185811/https://www.christianpost.com/news/ethiopian-church-severs-ties-with-lutherans-over-homosexuality.html">Archived</a> from the original on June 9, 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 9,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Christian+Post&rft.atitle=Ethiopian+Church+Severs+Ties+With+Lutherans+Over+Homosexuality&rft.date=2013-02-08&rft.aulast=Weber&rft.aufirst=Katherine&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianpost.com%2Fnews%2Fethiopian-church-severs-ties-with-lutherans-over-homosexuality.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-release_april_2010-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-release_april_2010_39-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation pressrelease cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4499">"ELCA Council Adopts Significant Revisions to Ministry Policies"</a> (Press release). Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. April 11, 2010. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100429155259/http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4499">Archived</a> from the original on April 29, 2010<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">April 30,</span> 2010</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=ELCA+Council+Adopts+Significant+Revisions+to+Ministry+Policies&rft.pub=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft.date=2010-04-11&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FWho-We-Are%2FOur-Three-Expressions%2FChurchwide-Organization%2FCommunication-Services%2FNews%2FReleases.aspx%3Fa%3D4499&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-40">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.elca.org/Resources/Financial#ChurchwideF">"Financial Reports"</a>. <i>Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210902134511/https://www.elca.org/Resources/Financial#ChurchwideF">Archived</a> from the original on September 2, 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">September 2,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft.atitle=Financial+Reports&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FResources%2FFinancial%23ChurchwideF&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Erwin-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Erwin_41-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://hamptonroads.com/2013/06/lutheran-assembly-elects-first-openly-gay-bishop">"Lutheran assembly elects first openly gay bishop"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Virginian-Pilot" title="The Virginian-Pilot">The Virginian-Pilot</a></i>. June 1, 2013. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130614094457/http://hamptonroads.com/2013/06/lutheran-assembly-elects-first-openly-gay-bishop">Archived</a> from the original on June 14, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 3,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Virginian-Pilot&rft.atitle=Lutheran+assembly+elects+first+openly+gay+bishop&rft.date=2013-06-01&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fhamptonroads.com%2F2013%2F06%2Flutheran-assembly-elects-first-openly-gay-bishop&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2015/07/06/meet-first-trans-pastor-officially-ordained-evangelical-lutheran-church">"Meet the First Trans Pastor Officially Ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church"</a>. July 6, 2015. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160813193229/http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2015/07/06/meet-first-trans-pastor-officially-ordained-evangelical-lutheran-church">Archived</a> from the original on August 13, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 21,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Meet+the+First+Trans+Pastor+Officially+Ordained+by+the+Evangelical+Lutheran+Church&rft.date=2015-07-06&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.advocate.com%2Fpolitics%2Freligion%2F2015%2F07%2F06%2Fmeet-first-trans-pastor-officially-ordained-evangelical-lutheran-church&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7759">"ELCA presiding bishop offers letter on Supreme Court marriage ruling"</a>. <i>elca.org</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160817105144/http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7759?">Archived</a> from the original on August 17, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 21,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=elca.org&rft.atitle=ELCA+presiding+bishop+offers+letter+on+Supreme+Court+marriage+ruling&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FNews-and-Events%2F7759&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-44">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/same-sex-unions-accepted-by-evangelical-lutherans/nQM5R/">"Same-sex unions accepted by Evangelican Lutherans"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150630194931/http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/same-sex-unions-accepted-by-evangelical-lutherans/nQM5R/">Archived</a> from the original on June 30, 2015<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 16,</span> 2015</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Same-sex+unions+accepted+by+Evangelican+Lutherans&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ajc.com%2Fnews%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fsame-sex-unions-accepted-by-evangelical-lutherans%2FnQM5R%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Draft Social Statement on Genetics to be considered by the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, March 2010, <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/Genetics/Draft-Social-Statement.aspx">http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/Genetics/Draft-Social-Statement.aspx</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100321210422/http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/Genetics/Draft-Social-Statement.aspx">Archived</a> March 21, 2010, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Eigen-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Eigen_46-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Eigen_46-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Lewis D. Eigen, "Rights & Protections of Coming Human Clones: A Remarkable Lutheran View", Scriptamus, March 19, 2010, <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://scriptamus.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/rights-protections-of-coming-human-clones-a-remarkable-lutheran-view/#more-475">http://scriptamus.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/rights-protections-of-coming-human-clones-a-remarkable-lutheran-view/#more-475</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100623131951/http://scriptamus.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/rights-protections-of-coming-human-clones-a-remarkable-lutheran-view/#more-475">Archived</a> June 23, 2010, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090327042724/http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements/Abortion.aspx">"Abortion"</a>. <i>Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</i>. September 4, 1991. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements/Abortion.aspx">the original</a> on March 27, 2009.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft.atitle=Abortion&rft.date=1991-09-04&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FWhat-We-Believe%2FSocial-Issues%2FSocial-Statements%2FAbortion.aspx&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=4QI_eBpD7twC&pg=PA53">Pulpit and Politics: Clergy in American Politics at the Advent of the Millennium</a> edited by Corwin E. Smidt</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thenalc.org/documents/Word-of-Counsel-on-Sanctity-of-Nascent-Life.pdf">"The Lord Is with You" – A Word of Counsel to the Church on the Sanctity of Nascent Life", Joint Commission on Theology and Doctrine of the North American Lutheran Church and Lutheran CORE, December 14, 2012</a><sup class="noprint Inline-Template"><span style="white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot"><span title=" Dead link tagged March 2020">permanent dead link</span></a></i><span style="visibility:hidden; color:transparent; padding-left:2px">‍</span>]</span></sup></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith%20and%20Society/Social%20Messages/End%20of%20Life%20Decisions">"End of Life Decisions"</a>. <i>Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</i>. November 9, 1992. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210614001624/https://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith%20and%20Society/Social%20Messages/End%20of%20Life%20Decisions">Archived</a> from the original on June 14, 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 9,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft.atitle=End+of+Life+Decisions&rft.date=1992-11-09&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FFaith%2FFaith%2520and%2520Society%2FSocial%2520Messages%2FEnd%2520of%2520Life%2520Decisions&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-51">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Information on the Division's work and the various types of rostered ministry can be found at the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.elca.org/ministry/">Division's webpage</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20050207161500/http://www.elca.org/ministry/">Archived</a> February 7, 2005, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-MWS-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-MWS_52-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-MWS_52-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Consecration_Ministry_Word_Service.pdf">"Consecration to the Ministry of Word and Service"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. ELCA. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170722101224/http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Consecration_Ministry_Word_Service.pdf">Archived</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> from the original on July 22, 2017<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 23,</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Consecration+to+the+Ministry+of+Word+and+Service&rft.pub=ELCA&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fdownload.elca.org%2FELCA%2520Resource%2520Repository%2FConsecration_Ministry_Word_Service.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-53">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.elca.org/Faith/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations/Full-Communion/History#episcopal">"Full Communion Partners: History"</a>. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211025160655/https://www.elca.org/Faith/Ecumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations/Full-Communion/History#episcopal">Archived</a> from the original on October 25, 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 25,</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Full+Communion+Partners%3A+History&rft.pub=Evangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.elca.org%2FFaith%2FEcumenical-and-Inter-Religious-Relations%2FFull-Communion%2FHistory%23episcopal&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-54">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFWeber2013" class="citation web cs1">Weber, Katherine (February 8, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/ethiopian-church-severs-ties-with-lutherans-over-homosexuality-89745/">"Ethiopian Church Severs Ties With Lutherans Over Homosexuality"</a>. <i>The Christian Post</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195048/http://www.christianpost.com/news/ethiopian-church-severs-ties-with-lutherans-over-homosexuality-89745/">Archived</a> from the original on March 4, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 19,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Christian+Post&rft.atitle=Ethiopian+Church+Severs+Ties+With+Lutherans+Over+Homosexuality&rft.date=2013-02-08&rft.aulast=Weber&rft.aufirst=Katherine&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.christianpost.com%2Fnews%2Fethiopian-church-severs-ties-with-lutherans-over-homosexuality-89745%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-55">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Francis, Perry C. Baldo, Tracy D. (1998) Narcissistic Measures of Lutheran Clergy Who Self-Reported Committing Sexual Misconduct <i>Pastoral Psychology 47</i> Issue 2 <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A%3A1022920528072">pp. 81-96</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231109201727/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1022920528072">Archived</a> November 9, 2023, at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-56">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">p. 86 <i>Honoring Our Neighbor's Faith</i>, Robert Buckley Farlee (ed.), Chicago: Augsburg Fortress, 1999. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8066-3846-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-8066-3846-X">0-8066-3846-X</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-PRC-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-PRC_57-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-PRC_57-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-PRC_57-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-PRC_57-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-denomination/evangelical-lutheran-church-in-america-elca/#beliefs-and-practices">"Religious Landscape Study"</a>. <i>Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project</i>. June 13, 2022<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">January 21,</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Pew+Research+Center%26%23039%3Bs+Religion+%26+Public+Life+Project&rft.atitle=Religious+Landscape+Study&rft.date=2022-06-13&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pewresearch.org%2Freligion%2Freligious-landscape-study%2Freligious-denomination%2Fevangelical-lutheran-church-in-america-elca%2F%23beliefs-and-practices&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Stats-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Stats_58-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDias2013" class="citation magazine cs1">Dias, Elizabeth (August 18, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://swampland.time.com/2013/08/18/meet-the-woman-who-will-lead-evangelical-lutherans-religious-but-not-spiritual/">"Meet the Woman Who Will Lead Evangelical Lutherans: 'Religious but Not Spiritual'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Time_(magazine)" title="Time (magazine)">Time</a></i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130820103519/http://swampland.time.com/2013/08/18/meet-the-woman-who-will-lead-evangelical-lutherans-religious-but-not-spiritual/">Archived</a> from the original on August 20, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 19,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Time&rft.atitle=Meet+the+Woman+Who+Will+Lead+Evangelical+Lutherans%3A+%27Religious+but+Not+Spiritual%27&rft.date=2013-08-18&rft.aulast=Dias&rft.aufirst=Elizabeth&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fswampland.time.com%2F2013%2F08%2F18%2Fmeet-the-woman-who-will-lead-evangelical-lutherans-religious-but-not-spiritual%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Freier2009-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Freier2009_59-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFreier2009" class="citation journal cs1">Freier, Luisa Feline (2009). "How Our Lady of Guadalupe Became Lutheran: Latin American Migration and Religious Change". <i>Migraciones Internacionales</i>. <b>5</b> (2). <a href="/wiki/SciELO" title="SciELO">SciELO</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Migraciones+Internacionales&rft.atitle=How+Our+Lady+of+Guadalupe+Became+Lutheran%3A+Latin+American+Migration+and+Religious+Change&rft.volume=5&rft.issue=2&rft.date=2009&rft.aulast=Freier&rft.aufirst=Luisa+Feline&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AEvangelical+Lutheran+Church+in+America" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Bodensieck, Julius, ed. <i>The encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church</i> (3 vol 1965) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/search.php?query=%22lutheran%20church%22%20Bodensieck%2C">vol 1 and 3 online free</a></li> <li>Brauer, James Leonard and Fred L. Precht, eds. <i>Lutheran Worship: History and Practice</i> (1993)</li> <li>Granquist, Mark. <i>Lutherans in America: A New History</i> (2015)</li> <li>Meyer, Carl S. <i>Moving Frontiers: Readings in the History of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod</i> (1986)</li> <li>Roeber, A. G. <i>Palatines, Liberty, and Property: German Lutherans in Colonial British America</i> (1998)</li> <li>Trexler, Edgar R. <i>Anatomy of a Merger: People, Dynamics, and Decisions That Shaped the ELCA</i> (1992)</li> <li>Wengert, Timothy J. and Mark Granquist, eds. <i>Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions</i> (2017)</li> <li>Wolf, Edmund Jacob. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/thelutheransinam00wolfuoft"><i>The Lutherans in America; a story of struggle, progress, influence and marvelous growth</i></a>. New York: J.A. Hill. 1889. A history of many of the bodies that merged to form the ELCA.</li> <li><i>About the Concordat: 28 Questions about the Agreement between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Church of America [i.e. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America].</i> Cincinnati, Ohio: Forward Movement Publications, [1997?]. 43 p. Without ISBN</li> <li><i>A Commentary on [the Episcopal Church/Evangelical Lutheran Church in America] Concordat of Agreement</i>, ed. by James E. Griffes and Daniel Martensen. Minneapolis, Minn.: Augsburg-Fortress; Cincinnati, Ohio: Forward Movement Publications, 1994. 159 p. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8066-2690-9" title="Special:BookSources/0-8066-2690-9">0-8066-2690-9</a></li> <li><i>Concordat of Agreement [between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]: Supporting Essays</i>, ed. by Daniel F. Martensen. Minneapolis, Minn.: Augsburg-Fortress; Cincinnati, Ohio: Forward Movement Publications, 1995. 234 p. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8066-2667-4" title="Special:BookSources/0-8066-2667-4">0-8066-2667-4</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.elca.org/">Denominational website</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ELCAVideo">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's channel</a> on <a href="/wiki/YouTube_user_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="YouTube user (identifier)">YouTube</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/group-profiles/groups?D=295">Profile on the Association of Religion Data Archives website</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 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class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Africa" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Africa</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Central_and_Eastern_Africa" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Central and Eastern Africa</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th 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style="width:1%">Rwanda</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_of_Rwanda" title="Lutheran Church of Rwanda">Lutheran Church of Rwanda</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Tanzania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Tanzania" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" 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Lutheran Church in Botswana</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Malawi</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Malawi" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Mozambique</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Mozambique" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mozambique">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mozambique</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Namibia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Namibia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_the_Republic_of_Namibia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/German-speaking_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Namibia" title="German-speaking Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (GELK)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">South Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Southern_Africa" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa</a></li> <li>Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Cape Church)</li> <li>Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (N-T)</li> <li>Moravian Church in South Africa</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Zambia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Zambia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Zimbabwe</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Zimbabwe" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Western_Africa" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Western Africa</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Cameroon</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Church_of_the_Lutheran_Brethren_of_Cameroon&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Cameroon (page does not exist)">Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Cameroon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Cameroon" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Central African Republic</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_the_Central_African_Republic&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic (page does not exist)">Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Republic of Congo</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Congo&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Congo (page does not exist)">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Congo</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Ghana</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Ghana" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Liberia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_in_Liberia&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church in Liberia (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church in Liberia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Nigeria</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Church_of_Christ_in_Nigeria" class="mw-redirect" title="The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria">The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Lutheran_Church_of_Nigeria&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="The Lutheran Church of Nigeria (page does not exist)">The Lutheran Church of Nigeria</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Senegal</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Church_of_Senegal" title="The Lutheran Church of Senegal">The Lutheran Church of Senegal</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Sierra Leone</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Sierra_Leone" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Asia_and_Pacific" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Asia and Pacific</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="North_East_Asia" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">North East Asia</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">China – Hong Kong</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Hong_Kong_and_Macau_Lutheran_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church (page does not exist)">Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chinese_Rhenish_Church_Hong_Kong_Synod" title="Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod">Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Hong_Kong" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tsung_Tsin_Mission_of_Hong_Kong" title="Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong">Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Taiwan</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Taiwan_Lutheran_Church" title="Taiwan Lutheran Church">Taiwan Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_of_the_Republic_of_China&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church of the Republic of China (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church of the Republic of China</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Japan</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Japan_Lutheran_Church" title="Japan Lutheran Church">Japan Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Japan_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church">Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kinki_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church">Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">South Korea</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_Korea" title="Lutheran Church in Korea">Lutheran Church in Korea</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="West_and_South_Asia" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">West and South Asia</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Bangladesh</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bangladesh_Lutheran_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Bangladesh Lutheran Church">Bangladesh Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bangladesh_Northern_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church">Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Georgia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Russia,_Ukraine,_Kazakhstan_and_Central_Asia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">India</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Andhra_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church">Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Arcot_Lutheran_Church" title="Arcot Lutheran Church">Arcot Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bodo_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Bodo Evangelical Lutheran Church">Bodo Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Madhya_Pradesh" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_the_Himalayan_States" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States">Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Good_Shepherd_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church">Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gossner_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Chotanagpur_and_Assam" title="Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam">Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/India_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="India Evangelical Lutheran Church">India Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jeypore_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church">Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Northern_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church">Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/South_Andhra_Lutheran_Church" title="South Andhra Lutheran Church">South Andhra Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tamil_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church">Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Israel</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Jordan_and_the_Holy_Land" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Jordan</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Jordan_and_the_Holy_Land" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Kazakhstan</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Russia,_Ukraine,_Kazakhstan_and_Central_Asia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Kyrgyzstan</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Russia,_Ukraine,_Kazakhstan_and_Central_Asia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Myanmar</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Burma" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burma">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_of_Myanmar&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church of Myanmar (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church of Myanmar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Myanmar_Lutheran_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Myanmar Lutheran Church">Myanmar Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mara_Evangelical_Church" title="Mara Evangelical Church">Mara Evangelical Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Nepal</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Nepal_Northern_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Nepal Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (page does not exist)">Nepal Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Palestinian territories</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Jordan_and_the_Holy_Land" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Sri Lanka</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lanka_Lutheran_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Lanka Lutheran Church">Lanka Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Uzbekistan</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Russia,_Ukraine,_Kazakhstan_and_Central_Asia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="South_East_Asia" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">South East Asia</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Australia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_of_Australia" title="Lutheran Church of Australia">Lutheran Church of Australia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Indonesia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Batak_Christian_Community_Church" title="Batak Christian Community Church">Batak Christian Community Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Christian_Communion_of_Indonesia_Church_in_Nias&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Christian Communion of Indonesia Church in Nias (page does not exist)">Christian Communion of Indonesia Church in Nias</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Christian_Protestant_Church_in_Indonesia&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia (page does not exist)">Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Angkola_Protestant_Christian_Church" title="Angkola Protestant Christian Church">Angkola Protestant Christian Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indonesian_Christian_Lutheran_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church (page does not exist)">Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pakpak_Dairi_Christian_Protestant_Church" title="Pakpak Dairi Christian Protestant Church">Pakpak Dairi Christian Protestant Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Batak_Christian_Protestant_Church" title="Batak Christian Protestant Church">Protestant Christian Batak Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Protestant_Christian_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Protestant Christian Church (page does not exist)">Protestant Christian Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Christian_Church_in_Mentawai" title="Protestant Christian Church in Mentawai">Protestant Christian Church in Mentawai</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Simalungun_Protestant_Christian_Church" title="Simalungun Protestant Christian Church">Simalungun Protestant Christian Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Protestant_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="United Protestant Church">United Protestant Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Malaysia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Basel_Christian_Church_of_Malaysia" title="Basel Christian Church of Malaysia">Basel Christian Church of Malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Malaysia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_Malaysia" title="Lutheran Church in Malaysia">Lutheran Church in Malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Sabah" title="Protestant Church in Sabah">Protestant Church in Sabah</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Papua New Guinea</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Papua_New_Guinea" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gutnius_Lutheran_Church" title="Gutnius Lutheran Church">Gutnius Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Philippines</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_the_Philippines" title="Lutheran Church in the Philippines">Lutheran Church in the Philippines</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Singapore</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_Singapore" title="Lutheran Church in Singapore">Lutheran Church in Singapore</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Thailand</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Thailand" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Europe" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Europe</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Austria</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession_in_Austria" title="Protestant Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria">Protestant Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Belarus</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Russia,_Ukraine,_Kazakhstan_and_Central_Asia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Belgium</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/United_Protestant_Church_in_Belgium" title="United Protestant Church in Belgium">Lutheran Church of Belgium: Arlon and Christian Mission</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Croatia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_in_the_Republic_of_Croatia" title="Evangelical Church in the Republic of Croatia">Evangelical Church in the Republic of Croatia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Czech Republic</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Czech_Brethren" title="Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren">Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Silesian_Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession" title="Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession">Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Denmark</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Denmark" title="Church of Denmark">Church of Denmark</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Estonia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Estonian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church">Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Finland</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Finland" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">France</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Union_of_Protestant_Churches_of_Alsace_and_Lorraine" title="Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine">Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Protestant_Church_of_France" title="United Protestant Church of France">United Protestant Church of France</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malagasy_Protestant_Church_in_France" title="Malagasy Protestant Church in France">Malagasy Protestant Church in France</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Germany</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Baden" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baden">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baden</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Bavaria" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Brunswick" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical-Lutheran_Church_of_Hanover" title="Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover">Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Latvian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_Abroad" class="mw-redirect" title="Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad">Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Lippe" title="Church of Lippe">Church of Lippe</a> (Lutheran classis)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_in_Central_Germany" title="Evangelical Church in Central Germany">Evangelical Church in Middle Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Northern_Germany" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Oldenburg" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical-Lutheran_Church_of_Saxony" title="Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony">Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Schaumburg-Lippe" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schaumburg-Lippe">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schaumburg-Lippe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_W%C3%BCrttemberg" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church in Württemberg">Lutheran Church in Württemberg</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Hungary</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical-Lutheran_Church_in_Hungary" title="Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary">Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Iceland</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Iceland" title="Church of Iceland">Church of Iceland</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Ireland</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_Ireland" title="Lutheran Church in Ireland">Lutheran Church in Ireland</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Italy</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Evangelical_Church_in_Italy" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy">Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Latvia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Latvia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Lithuania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Lithuania" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Netherlands</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_the_Netherlands" title="Protestant Church in the Netherlands">Protestant Church in the Netherlands</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Norway</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Norway" title="Church of Norway">Church of Norway</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Free_Church_of_Norway" title="Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway">Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Poland</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession_in_Poland" title="Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland">Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Romania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Augustan_Confession_in_Romania" class="mw-redirect" title="Evangelical Church of Augustan Confession in Romania">Evangelical Church of Augustan Confession in Romania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Romania" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Romania">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Romania</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Russia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Russia,_Ukraine,_Kazakhstan_and_Central_Asia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Ingria" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Serbia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Slovak_Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession_in_Serbia" title="Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia">Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Slovakia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession_in_Slovakia" title="Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia">Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Slovenia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession_in_Slovenia" title="Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovenia">Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovenia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Sweden</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Sweden" title="Church of Sweden">Church of Sweden</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Switzerland</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Federation_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches_in_Switzerland_and_the_Principality_of_Liechtenstein" title="Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein">Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Ukraine</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Russia,_Ukraine,_Kazakhstan_and_Central_Asia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Central Asia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">United Kingdom</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_Great_Britain" title="Lutheran Church in Great Britain">Lutheran Church in Great Britain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Council_of_Great_Britain" title="The Lutheran Council of Great Britain">The Lutheran Council of Great Britain</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Latin_America_and_the_Caribbean" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Latin America and the Caribbean</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Central_America_and_the_Caribbean" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Central America and the Caribbean</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Costa Rica</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Costa_Rica" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Costa Rica">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Costa Rica</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Costa_Rican_Lutheran_Church" title="Costa Rican Lutheran Church">Costa Rican Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">El Salvador</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Salvadoran_Lutheran_Church" title="Salvadoran Lutheran Church">Salvadoran Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Guatemala</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Congregation_%22La_Epifania%22&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Lutheran Congregation "La Epifania" (page does not exist)">Evangelical Lutheran Congregation "La Epifania"</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Honduras</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Lutheran_Church_of_Honduras" title="Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras">Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Mexico</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/German-Speaking_Evangelical_Congregation_in_Mexico" class="mw-redirect" title="German-Speaking Evangelical Congregation in Mexico">German-Speaking Evangelical Congregation in Mexico</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mexican_Lutheran_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Mexican Lutheran Church">Mexican Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Nicaragua</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Nicaraguan_Lutheran_Church_of_Faith_and_Hope" title="Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope">Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="South_America" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">South America</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Argentina</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_River_Plate" title="Evangelical Church of the River Plate">Evangelical Church of the River Plate</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_(Argentina)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="United Evangelical Lutheran Church (Argentina) (page does not exist)">United Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Bolivia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bolivian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church">Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=German_Speaking_Evangelical_Lutheran_Congregation_in_Bolivia&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="German Speaking Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Bolivia (page does not exist)">German Speaking Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Bolivia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Brazil</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_Lutheran_Confession_in_Brazil" title="Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil">Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Chile</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Chile" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_Chile" title="Lutheran Church in Chile">Lutheran Church in Chile</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Colombia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Colombia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=St._Martin%27s_Lutheran_Congregation,_Cali&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="St. Martin's Lutheran Congregation, Cali (page does not exist)">St. Martin's Lutheran Congregation</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=St._Matthew%27s_Lutheran_Church,_Bogota&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Bogota (page does not exist)">St. Matthew's Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Ecuador</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Ecuador" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ecuador">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ecuador</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Guyana</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Guyana" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Peru</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Peru" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Peruvian_Lutheran_Evangelical_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Peruvian Lutheran Evangelical Church (page does not exist)">Peruvian Lutheran Evangelical Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Suriname</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Suriname" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Venezuela</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Venezuela" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="North_America" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">North America</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Canada</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Estonian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church">Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Canada" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">United States</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Mainline_Protestant_denominations" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Mainline_Protestantism_in_the_United_States" title="Template:Mainline Protestantism in the United States"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a 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style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">United States</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">"Seven Sisters"</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><b><a href="/wiki/American_Baptist_Churches_USA" title="American Baptist Churches USA">American Baptist Churches USA</a></b></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Christian_Church_(Disciples_of_Christ)" title="Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)">Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)</a></b></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)" title="Episcopal Church (United States)">Episcopal Church</a></b></li> <li><b><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a></b></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_(USA)" title="Presbyterian Church (USA)">Presbyterian Church (USA)</a></b></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/United_Methodist_Church" title="United Methodist Church">United Methodist Church</a></b></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ" title="United Church of Christ">United Church of Christ</a></b></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Others</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Alliance_of_Baptists" title="Alliance of Baptists">Alliance of Baptists</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Brethren" title="Church of the Brethren">Church of the Brethren</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cooperative_Baptist_Fellowship" title="Cooperative Baptist Fellowship">Cooperative Baptist Fellowship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Estonian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church">Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hungarian_Reformed_Church_in_America" title="Hungarian Reformed Church in America">Hungarian Reformed Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/International_Council_of_Community_Churches" title="International Council of Community Churches">International Council of Community Churches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Latvian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mennonite_Church_USA" title="Mennonite Church USA">Mennonite Church USA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moravian_Church_in_North_America" title="Moravian Church in North America">Moravian Church in North America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Association_of_Congregational_Christian_Churches" title="National Association of Congregational Christian Churches">National Association of Congregational Christian Churches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_in_America" title="Reformed Church in America">Reformed Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Religious_Society_of_Friends" class="mw-redirect" title="Religious Society of Friends">Religious Society of Friends</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church" title="Seventh-day Adventist Church">Seventh-day Adventist Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Universal_Fellowship_of_Metropolitan_Community_Churches" class="mw-redirect" title="Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches">Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">African-American</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church" title="African Methodist Episcopal Church">African Methodist Episcopal Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Zion_Church" title="African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church">African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Methodist_Episcopal_Church" title="Christian Methodist Episcopal Church">Christian Methodist Episcopal Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Ecumenical</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Churches_Uniting_in_Christ" title="Churches Uniting in Christ">Churches Uniting in Christ</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Consultation_on_Church_Union" title="Consultation on Church Union">Consultation on Church Union</a> (defunct)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Canada" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Canada</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Canada" title="Anglican Church of Canada">Anglican Church of Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Church_(Disciples_of_Christ)_in_Canada" title="Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada">Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Canada" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mennonite_Church_Canada" title="Mennonite Church Canada">Mennonite Church Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moravian_Church_in_North_America" title="Moravian Church in North America">Moravian Church in North America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada" title="Presbyterian Church in Canada">Presbyterian Church in Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada" title="United Church of Canada">United Church of Canada</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="National_Council_of_Churches_(NCC)" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:National_Council_of_Churches_members" title="Template:National Council of Churches members"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:National_Council_of_Churches_members" title="Template talk:National Council of Churches members"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:National_Council_of_Churches_members" title="Special:EditPage/Template:National Council of Churches members"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="National_Council_of_Churches_(NCC)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Churches" title="National Council of Churches">National Council of Churches</a> (NCC)</div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><a href="/wiki/Mainline_Protestant" title="Mainline Protestant">Mainline Protestant</a> · <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxy_in_North_America" title="Eastern Orthodoxy in North America">Eastern Orthodoxy</a> · <a href="/wiki/Black_church" title="Black church">Black church</a> · <a href="/wiki/Evangelicalism_in_the_United_States" title="Evangelicalism in the United States">Evangelicalism</a> · <a href="/wiki/Peace_churches" title="Peace churches">Peace churches</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Member<br />churches</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th id="Protestant" scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Protestant</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Baptist</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Alliance_of_Baptists" title="Alliance of Baptists">Alliance of Baptists</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/American_Baptist_Churches_USA" title="American Baptist Churches USA">American Baptist Churches USA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Baptist_Convention,_USA,_Inc." class="mw-redirect" title="National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.">National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Missionary_Baptist_Convention_of_America" title="National Missionary Baptist Convention of America">National Missionary Baptist Convention of America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Progressive_National_Baptist_Convention" title="Progressive National Baptist Convention">Progressive National Baptist Convention</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Lutheran</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Moravian</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Moravian_Church_in_North_America" title="Moravian Church in North America">Moravian Church in North America</a> (Northern and Southern Provinces)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Religious_Society_of_Friends" class="mw-redirect" title="Religious Society of Friends">Religious Society of Friends</a> (Friends United Meeting and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting)</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Methodist</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church" title="African Methodist Episcopal Church">African Methodist Episcopal Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Zion_Church" title="African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church">African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Methodist_Episcopal_Church" title="Christian Methodist Episcopal Church">Christian Methodist Episcopal Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Methodist_Church" title="United Methodist Church">United Methodist Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Reformed</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hungarian_Reformed_Church_in_America" title="Hungarian Reformed Church in America">Hungarian Reformed Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Korean_Presbyterian_Church_Abroad" title="Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad">Korean Presbyterian Church Abroad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mar_Thoma_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Mar Thoma Church">Mar Thoma Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_(USA)" title="Presbyterian Church (USA)">Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_in_America" title="Reformed Church in America">Reformed Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ" title="United Church of Christ">United Church of Christ</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Church_(Disciples_of_Christ)" title="Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)">Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Brethren" title="Church of the Brethren">Church of the Brethren</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)" title="Episcopal Church (United States)">Episcopal Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Orthodox</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Eastern</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America" title="Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America">Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_America" title="Orthodox Church in America">Orthodox Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Patriarchal_Parishes_in_the_USA" title="Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Parishes in the USA">Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Parishes in the USA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Serbian_Orthodox_Church_in_North_and_South_America" title="Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America">Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_the_USA" title="Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA">Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Oriental</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mother_See_of_Holy_Etchmiadzin" title="Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin">Armenian Church of America</a> (Eastern and Western Dioceses)</li> <li>Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malankara_Orthodox_Syrian_Church" title="Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church">Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church</a> (American Diocese)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Syrian_Orthodox_Church_of_Antioch" class="mw-redirect" title="Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch">Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch</a> (Archdiocese of the Eastern United States)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Catholic</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Assyrian_Church_of_the_East" title="Assyrian Church of the East">Assyrian Church of the East</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ecumenical_Catholic_Communion" title="Ecumenical Catholic Communion">Ecumenical Catholic Communion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Polish_National_Catholic_Church" title="Polish National Catholic Church">Polish National Catholic Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/International_Council_of_Community_Churches" title="International Council of Community Churches">International Council of Community Churches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Community_of_Christ" title="Community of Christ">Community of Christ</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swedenborgian_Church_of_North_America" title="Swedenborgian Church of North America">Swedenborgian Church of North America</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">History</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Federal_Council_of_Churches" title="Federal Council of Churches">Federal Council of Churches</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Publishing <br />and research</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Revised_Standard_Version" title="Revised Standard Version">Revised Standard Version</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Revised_Standard_Version" title="New Revised Standard Version">New Revised Standard Version</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yearbook_of_American_and_Canadian_Churches" title="Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches">Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Council_of_Churches_members" title="List of National Council of Churches members">List of members</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="World_Council_of_Churches_(WCC)" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:World_Council_of_Churches" title="Template:World Council of Churches"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:World_Council_of_Churches" title="Template talk:World Council of Churches"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:World_Council_of_Churches" title="Special:EditPage/Template:World Council of Churches"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="World_Council_of_Churches_(WCC)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/World_Council_of_Churches" title="World Council of Churches">World Council of Churches</a> (WCC)</div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><a href="/wiki/Ecumenism" title="Ecumenism">Ecumenism</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="African-initiated" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/African-initiated_church" title="African-initiated church">African-initiated</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Africa_Brotherhood_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Africa Brotherhood Church (page does not exist)">Africa Brotherhood Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=African_Christian_Church_%26_Schools&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="African Christian Church & Schools (page does not exist)">African Christian Church & Schools</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=African_Church_of_the_Holy_Spirit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="African Church of the Holy Spirit (page does not exist)">African Church of the Holy Spirit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/African_Israel_Church_Nineveh" title="African Israel Church Nineveh">African Israel Church Nineveh</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Church_of_Christ_-_Harris_Mission_(Harrist_Church)&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Church of Christ - Harris Mission (Harrist Church) (page does not exist)">Church of Christ - Harris Mission (Harrist Church)</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Church_of_Christ_Light_of_the_Holy_Spirit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Church of Christ Light of the Holy Spirit (page does not exist)">Church of Christ Light of the Holy Spirit</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Council_of_African_Instituted_Churches_of_Southern_Africa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Council of African Instituted Churches of Southern Africa (page does not exist)">Council of African Instituted Churches of Southern Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_African_Church" title="The African Church">The African Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Lord_(Aladura)" title="Church of the Lord (Aladura)">Church of the Lord (Aladura)</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_First_African_Church_Mission&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="The First African Church Mission (page does not exist)">The First African Church Mission</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Anglicanism" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Anglicanism" title="Anglicanism">Anglicanism</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Burundi" class="mw-redirect" title="Anglican Church of Burundi">Anglican Church of Burundi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Kenya" title="Anglican Church of Kenya">Anglican Church of Kenya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Rwanda" title="Anglican Church of Rwanda">Anglican Church of Rwanda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Southern_Africa" title="Anglican Church of Southern Africa">Anglican Church of Southern Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Tanzania" title="Anglican Church of Tanzania">Anglican Church of Tanzania</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Church_of_Christ_in_Congo_-_Anglican_Community_of_Congo&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Church of Christ in Congo - Anglican Community of Congo (page does not exist)">Church of Christ in Congo - Anglican Community of Congo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Nigeria" title="Church of Nigeria">Church of Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Province_of_Central_Africa" title="Church of the Province of Central Africa">Church of the Province of Central Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Province_of_West_Africa" title="Church of the Province of West Africa">Church of the Province of West Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Uganda" title="Church of Uganda">Church of Uganda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Episcopal/Anglican_Province_of_Alexandria" title="Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria">Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Province_of_the_Episcopal_Church_of_South_Sudan" title="Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan">Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Province_of_the_Episcopal_Church_of_Sudan" title="Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan">Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_in_Japan" title="Anglican Church in Japan">Anglican Church in Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Korea" title="Anglican Church of Korea">Anglican Church of Korea</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Ceylon" title="Church of Ceylon">Church of Ceylon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Province_of_Myanmar" title="Church of the Province of Myanmar">Church of the Province of Myanmar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Province_of_the_Indian_Ocean" title="Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean">Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_in_Jerusalem_and_the_Middle_East" title="Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East">Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_in_the_Philippines" title="Episcopal Church in the Philippines">Episcopal Church in the Philippines</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_in_Wales" title="Church in Wales">Church in Wales</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_England" title="Church of England">Church of England</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Ireland" title="Church of Ireland">Church of Ireland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lusitanian_Catholic_Apostolic_Evangelical_Church" title="Lusitanian Catholic Apostolic Evangelical Church">Lusitanian Church of Portugal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Episcopal_Church" title="Scottish Episcopal Church">Scottish Episcopal Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spanish_Reformed_Episcopal_Church" title="Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church">Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Canada" title="Anglican Church of Canada">Anglican Church of Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Episcopal_Church_(United_States)" title="Episcopal Church (United States)">Episcopal Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_South_America" title="Anglican Church of South America">Anglican Church of South America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Episcopal_Church_of_Brazil" title="Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil">Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Oceania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_in_Aotearoa,_New_Zealand_and_Polynesia" title="Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia">Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Australia" title="Anglican Church of Australia">Anglican Church of Australia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anglican_Church_of_Melanesia" title="Anglican Church of Melanesia">Anglican Church of Melanesia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Assyrian_Church" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Assyrian Church</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Global</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Holy_Apostolic_Catholic_Assyrian_Church_of_the_East" class="mw-redirect" title="Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East">Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Baptists" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Baptists" title="Baptists">Baptists</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Association_of_Baptist_Churches_in_Rwanda&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Association of Baptist Churches in Rwanda (page does not exist)">Association of Baptist Churches in Rwanda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baptist_Community_of_Congo" title="Baptist Community of Congo">Baptist Community of Congo</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Community_of_Baptist_Churches_in_Central_Africa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Community of Baptist Churches in Central Africa (page does not exist)">Community of Baptist Churches in Central Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baptist_Evangelical_Church_in_Angola" title="Baptist Evangelical Church in Angola">Baptist Evangelical Church in Angola</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Episcopal_Baptist_Community_in_Africa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Episcopal Baptist Community in Africa (page does not exist)">Episcopal Baptist Community in Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Native_Baptist_Church_of_Cameroon" title="Native Baptist Church of Cameroon">Native Baptist Church of Cameroon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nigerian_Baptist_Convention" title="Nigerian Baptist Convention">Nigerian Baptist Convention</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Union_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Cameroon" title="Union of Baptist Churches of Cameroon">Union of Baptist Churches of Cameroon</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bangladesh_Baptist_Church_Sangha" title="Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha">Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bengal_Orissa_Bihar_Baptist_Convention" title="Bengal Orissa Bihar Baptist Convention">Bengal Orissa Bihar Baptist Convention</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Convention_of_Philippine_Baptist_Churches" title="Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches">Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Council_of_Baptist_Churches_in_Northeast_India" title="Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India">Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Myanmar_Baptist_Convention" title="Myanmar Baptist Convention">Myanmar Baptist Convention</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Samavesam_of_Telugu_Baptist_Churches" title="Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches">Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Baptist_Union_of_Denmark" title="Baptist Union of Denmark">Baptist Union of Denmark</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baptists_Together" title="Baptists Together">Baptist Union of Great Britain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baptist_Church_of_Hungary" title="Baptist Church of Hungary">Baptist Union of Hungary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baptist_Evangelical_Christian_Union_of_Italy" title="Baptist Evangelical Christian Union of Italy">Baptist Evangelical Christian Union of Italy</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/American_Baptist_Churches_USA" title="American Baptist Churches USA">American Baptist Churches USA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Baptist_Convention_of_America_International,_Inc." class="mw-redirect" title="National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc.">National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Baptist_Convention,_USA,_Inc." class="mw-redirect" title="National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.">National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Progressive_National_Baptist_Convention" title="Progressive National Baptist Convention">Progressive National Baptist Convention</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Jamaica_Baptist_Union" title="Jamaica Baptist Union">Jamaica Baptist Union</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baptist_Convention_of_Haiti" title="Baptist Convention of Haiti">Baptist Convention of Haiti</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Baptist_Association_of_El_Salvador&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Baptist Association of El Salvador (page does not exist)">Baptist Association of El Salvador</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baptist_Convention_of_Nicaragua" title="Baptist Convention of Nicaragua">Baptist Convention of Nicaragua</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Oceania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Baptist_Churches_of_New_Zealand" title="Baptist Churches of New Zealand">Baptist Union of New Zealand</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Disciples_of_Christ_&amp;_Christian_Churches" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Disciples_of_Christ" class="mw-redirect" title="Disciples of Christ">Disciples of Christ & Christian Churches</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Community_of_Disciples_of_Christ" title="Community of Disciples of Christ">Church of Christ in Congo - Community of Disciples of Christ in Congo</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/United_Reformed_Church" title="United Reformed Church">United Reformed Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Church_(Disciples_of_Christ)_in_Canada" title="Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada">Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Church_(Disciples_of_Christ)" title="Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)">Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Church_of_the_Disciples_of_Christ_in_Argentina&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Church of the Disciples of Christ in Argentina (page does not exist)">Evangelical Church of the Disciples of Christ in Argentina</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Oceania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Christian_Churches_New_Zealand&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Christian Churches New Zealand (page does not exist)">Christian Churches New Zealand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Churches_of_Christ_in_Australia" title="Churches of Christ in Australia">Churches of Christ in Australia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Eastern_Orthodoxy" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxy" title="Eastern Orthodoxy">Eastern Orthodoxy</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Patriarchate_of_Alexandria_and_All_Africa" class="mw-redirect" title="Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa">Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Eastern Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_Japan" title="Orthodox Church in Japan">Orthodox Church in Japan</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe & Western Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate" class="mw-redirect" title="Ecumenical Patriarchate">Ecumenical Patriarchate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Cyprus" title="Church of Cyprus">Church of Cyprus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Greece" title="Church of Greece">Church of Greece</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Patriarchate_of_Antioch_and_All_the_East" class="mw-redirect" title="Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East">Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Patriarchate_of_Jerusalem" title="Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem">Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orthodox_Autocephalous_Church_of_Albania" class="mw-redirect" title="Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania">Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orthodox_Church_of_the_Czech_Lands_and_Slovakia" title="Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia">Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orthodox_Church_of_Finland" title="Orthodox Church of Finland">Orthodox Church of Finland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Polish_Autocephalous_Orthodox_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church">Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Romanian_Orthodox_Church" title="Romanian Orthodox Church">Romanian Orthodox Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Church" title="Russian Orthodox Church">Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Serbian_Orthodox_Church" title="Serbian Orthodox Church">Serbian Orthodox Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_America" title="Orthodox Church in America">Orthodox Church in America</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Evangelical" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Evangelical" class="mw-redirect" title="Evangelical">Evangelical</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Africa_Inland_Church_Sudan" title="Africa Inland Church Sudan">African Inland Church of South Sudan and Sudan</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lao_Evangelical_Church" title="Lao Evangelical Church">Lao Evangelical Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Lutheranism" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Lutheranism" title="Lutheranism">Lutheranism</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ethiopian_Evangelical_Church_Mekane_Yesus" title="Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus">Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Congo" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Ghana" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Namibia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_the_Republic_of_Namibia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia">Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Southern_Africa" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Tanzania" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Zimbabwe" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kenya_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church">Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_in_Liberia&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church in Liberia (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church in Liberia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malagasy_Lutheran_Church" title="Malagasy Lutheran Church">Malagasy Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Batak_Christian_Community_Church" title="Batak Christian Community Church">Batak Christian Community Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Protestant_Angkola_Church" title="Christian Protestant Angkola Church">Christian Protestant Angkola Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Christian_Protestant_Church_in_Indonesia&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia (page does not exist)">Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Jordan_and_the_Holy_Land" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Papua_New_Guinea" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Indonesian_Christian_Church" title="The Indonesian Christian Church">The Indonesian Christian Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Christian_Church_of_Nias" title="Protestant Christian Church of Nias">Protestant Christian Church of Nias</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Christian_Batak_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant Christian Batak Church">Protestant Christian Batak Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Sabah" title="Protestant Church in Sabah">Protestant Church in Sabah</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Simalungun_Protestant_Christian_Church" title="Simalungun Protestant Christian Church">Simalungun Protestant Christian Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches_in_India" title="United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India">United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Norway" title="Church of Norway">Church of Norway</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Sweden" title="Church of Sweden">Church of Sweden</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Estonian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church">Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession_in_Poland" title="Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland">Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession_in_Romania" title="Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania">Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession_in_Slovakia" title="Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia">Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Denmark" class="mw-redirect" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Hungary" class="mw-redirect" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Finland" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Iceland" title="Church of Iceland">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Latvia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Romania" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Romania">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Romania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Latvian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_Abroad" class="mw-redirect" title="Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad">Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Germany" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant Church in Germany">Protestant Church in Germany</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Bavaria" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria">Bavaria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Brunswick" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick">Brunswick</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_in_Central_Germany" title="Evangelical Church in Central Germany">Central Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical-Lutheran_Church_of_Hanover" title="Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover">Hanover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Northern_Germany" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany">Northern Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Oldenburg" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg">Oldenburg</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical-Lutheran_Church_of_Saxony" title="Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony">Saxony</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Schaumburg-Lippe" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schaumburg-Lippe">Schaumburg-Lippe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_W%C3%BCrttemberg" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church in Württemberg">Württemberg</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Silesian_Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession" title="Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession">Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slovak_Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_Confession_in_Serbia" title="Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia">Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Canada" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bolivian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church">Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_Lutheran_Confession_in_Brazil" title="Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil">Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_Chile" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Salvadorean_Lutheran_Synod&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Salvadorean Lutheran Synod (page does not exist)">Salvadorean Lutheran Synod</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Iglesia_Evang%C3%A9lica_Luterana_Unida&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Unida (page does not exist)">United Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Mar_Thoma_Church" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Mar Thoma Church</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Global</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mar_Thoma_Syrian_Church_of_Malabar" class="mw-redirect" title="Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar">Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Methodism" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Methodism" title="Methodism">Methodism</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_Ghana" title="Methodist Church Ghana">Methodist Church Ghana</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Methodist_Church_in_Kenya&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Methodist Church in Kenya (page does not exist)">Methodist Church in Kenya</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Methodist_Church_in_Zimbabwe&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Methodist Church in Zimbabwe (page does not exist)">Methodist Church in Zimbabwe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_Nigeria" class="mw-redirect" title="Methodist Church Nigeria">Methodist Church Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_Methodist_Church_of_Ivory_Coast&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="United Methodist Church of Ivory Coast (page does not exist)">United Methodist Church of Ivory Coast</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Methodist_Church_in_the_Philippine_Islands" title="Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands">Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Korean_Methodist_Church" title="Korean Methodist Church">Korean Methodist Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_India" title="Methodist Church in India">Methodist Church in India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_Indonesia" title="Methodist Church in Indonesia">Methodist Church in Indonesia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_Malaysia" title="Methodist Church in Malaysia">Methodist Church in Malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_Singapore" title="Methodist Church in Singapore">Methodist Church in Singapore</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_Sri_Lanka" title="Methodist Church in Sri Lanka">Methodist Church in Sri Lanka</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Upper_Myanmar" title="Methodist Church, Upper Myanmar">Methodist Church, Upper Myanmar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Methodist_Church_in_Benin" title="Protestant Methodist Church in Benin">Protestant Methodist Church in Benin</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Evangelical_Church_in_Italy" title="Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy">Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Methodist Church">Methodist Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_Ireland" title="Methodist Church in Ireland">Methodist Church in Ireland</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church" title="African Methodist Episcopal Church">African Methodist Episcopal Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Zion_Church" title="African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church">African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Methodist_Episcopal_Church" title="Christian Methodist Episcopal Church">Christian Methodist Episcopal Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Methodist_Church" title="United Methodist Church">United Methodist Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Methodist_Church_in_Argentina" title="Evangelical Methodist Church in Argentina">Evangelical Methodist Church in Argentina</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Methodist_Church_in_Bolivia" title="Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia">Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_Brazil" title="Methodist Church in Brazil">Methodist Church in Brazil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_the_Caribbean_and_the_Americas" title="Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas">Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_in_Chile" title="Methodist Church in Chile">Methodist Church in Chile</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Methodist_Church_in_Mexico&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Methodist Church in Mexico (page does not exist)">Methodist Church in Mexico</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Oceania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Free_Wesleyan_Church_of_Tonga" title="Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga">Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Methodist_Church_of_Fiji_and_Rotuma" title="Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma">Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Moravian_and_Historic_Peace_Churches" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Moravian_Church" title="Moravian Church">Moravian</a> and <a href="/wiki/Peace_Churches" class="mw-redirect" title="Peace Churches">Historic Peace</a> Churches</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Brethren_in_Nigeria" title="Church of the Brethren in Nigeria">Church of the Brethren in Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Moravian_Church_in_South_Africa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Moravian Church in South Africa (page does not exist)">Moravian Church in South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Moravian_Church_in_Tanzania&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Moravian Church in Tanzania (page does not exist)">Moravian Church in Tanzania</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Philippine_Independent_Church" title="Philippine Independent Church">Philippine Independent Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mennonites_in_the_Netherlands" title="Mennonites in the Netherlands">Mennonite Church in the Netherlands</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Moravian_Church_in_Western_Europe&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Moravian Church in Western Europe (page does not exist)">Moravian Church in Western Europe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Yearly_Meeting" title="Canadian Yearly Meeting">Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_the_Brethren" title="Church of the Brethren">Church of the Brethren</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moravian_Church_in_America" class="mw-redirect" title="Moravian Church in America">Moravian Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Polish_National_Catholic_Church" title="Polish National Catholic Church">Polish National Catholic Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Friends_General_Conference" title="Friends General Conference">Religious Society of Friends: Friends General Conference</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Friends_United_Meeting" title="Friends United Meeting">Religious Society of Friends: Friends United Meeting</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Moravian_Church,_Eastern_West_Indies_Province&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Moravian Church, Eastern West Indies Province (page does not exist)">Moravian Church, Eastern West Indies Province</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moravian_Church_in_Jamaica" class="mw-redirect" title="Moravian Church in Jamaica">Moravian Church in Jamaica</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Moravian_Church_in_Nicaragua&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Moravian Church in Nicaragua (page does not exist)">Moravian Church in Nicaragua</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Moravian_Church_in_Suriname&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Moravian Church in Suriname (page does not exist)">Moravian Church in Suriname</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Old-Catholic" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Old_Catholic_Church" title="Old Catholic Church">Old-Catholic</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Catholic_Diocese_of_the_Old_Catholics_in_Germany" title="Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany">Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Old_Catholic_Church_of_Austria" title="Old Catholic Church of Austria">Old Catholic Church of Austria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Old_Catholic_Church_of_the_Netherlands" title="Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands">Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Catholic_Church_of_Switzerland" title="Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland">Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Old_Catholic_Mariavite_Church_in_Poland&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Old Catholic Mariavite Church in Poland (page does not exist)">Old Catholic Mariavite Church in Poland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Polish_Catholic_Church_in_Poland" class="mw-redirect" title="Polish Catholic Church in Poland">Polish Catholic Church in Poland</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Pentecostal" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Pentecostal" class="mw-redirect" title="Pentecostal">Pentecostal</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Pentecostal_Mission_of_Angola&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Pentecostal Mission of Angola (page does not exist)">Evangelical Pentecostal Mission of Angola</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Apostolic_Faith_Mission_of_South_Africa" title="Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa">Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=International_Evangelical_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="International Evangelical Church (page does not exist)">International Evangelical Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Association_The_Church_of_God&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Association The Church of God (page does not exist)">Association The Church of God</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Christian_Biblical_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Christian Biblical Church (page does not exist)">Christian Biblical Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Free_Pentecostal_Missions_Church_of_Chile&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Free Pentecostal Missions Church of Chile (page does not exist)">Free Pentecostal Missions Church of Chile</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Pentecostal_Church_of_Chile&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Pentecostal Church of Chile (page does not exist)">Pentecostal Church of Chile</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Pentecostal_Mission_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Pentecostal Mission Church (page does not exist)">Pentecostal Mission Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Oriental_Orthodoxy" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Oriental_Orthodox_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Oriental Orthodox Church">Oriental Orthodoxy</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Church" title="Coptic Orthodox Church">Coptic Orthodox Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eritrean_Orthodox_Tewahedo_Church" title="Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church">Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Tewahedo_Church" title="Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church">Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Eastern Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Malankara_Orthodox_Syrian_Church" title="Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church">Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe & Western Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Syriac_Orthodox_Church" title="Syriac Orthodox Church">Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Holy_See_of_Cilicia" title="Holy See of Cilicia">Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mother_See_of_Holy_Etchmiadzin" title="Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin">Armenian Apostolic Church (Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="Reformed" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Reformed_churches" class="mw-redirect" title="Reformed churches">Reformed</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/African_Protestant_Church" title="African Protestant Church">African Protestant Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Association_of_Reformed_Evangelical_Church_of_Burkina_Faso" class="mw-redirect" title="Association of Reformed Evangelical Church of Burkina Faso">Association of Reformed Evangelical Church of Burkina Faso</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Central_Africa_Presbyterian_%E2%80%93_Blantyre_Synod" title="Church of Central Africa Presbyterian – Blantyre Synod">Church of Central Africa Presbyterian – Blantyre Synod</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Community_in_Congo" title="Evangelical Community in Congo">Evangelical Community in Congo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Community_in_Congo" title="Presbyterian Community in Congo">Presbyterian Community in Congo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Community_in_Kinshasa" title="Presbyterian Community in Kinshasa">Presbyterian Community in Kinshasa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Jesus_Christ_in_Madagascar" title="Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar">Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Cameroon" title="Evangelical Church of Cameroon">Evangelical Church of Cameroon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Congo" title="Evangelical Church of Congo">Evangelical Church of Congo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Gabon" title="Evangelical Church of Gabon">Evangelical Church of Gabon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Congregational_Church_in_Angola" title="Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola">Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Presbyterian_Church,_Ghana" title="Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana">Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Presbyterian_Church_in_South_Africa" title="Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa">Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Egypt_(Synod_of_the_Nile)" title="Evangelical Church of Egypt (Synod of the Nile)">Evangelical Church of Egypt (Synod of the Nile)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Presbyterian_Church_of_Togo" title="Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Togo">Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Togo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Reformed_Church_of_Angola" class="mw-redirect" title="Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola">Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lesotho_Evangelical_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Lesotho Evangelical Church">Lesotho Evangelical Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Cameroon" title="Presbyterian Church in Cameroon">Presbyterian Church in Cameroon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Rwanda" title="Presbyterian Church in Rwanda">Presbyterian Church in Rwanda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Africa" title="Presbyterian Church of Africa">Presbyterian Church of Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Cameroon" title="Presbyterian Church of Cameroon">Presbyterian Church of Cameroon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_East_Africa" title="Presbyterian Church of East Africa">Presbyterian Church of East Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Ghana" title="Presbyterian Church of Ghana">Presbyterian Church of Ghana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Liberia" title="Presbyterian Church in Liberia">Presbyterian Church in Liberia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Mozambique" class="mw-redirect" title="Presbyterian Church of Mozambique">Presbyterian Church of Mozambique</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Nigeria" title="Presbyterian Church of Nigeria">Presbyterian Church of Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Sudan" title="Presbyterian Church in Sudan">Presbyterian Church of South Sudan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_of_Algeria" title="Protestant Church of Algeria">Protestant Church of Algeria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_in_Zambia" title="Reformed Church in Zambia">Reformed Church in Zambia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_in_Zimbabwe" title="Reformed Church in Zimbabwe">Reformed Church in Zimbabwe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_of_Christ_in_Nigeria" title="Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria">Reformed Church of Christ for Nations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Presbyterian_Church_of_Equatorial_Guinea" title="Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea">Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Central_Sulawesi_Christian_Church" title="Central Sulawesi Christian Church">Central Sulawesi Christian Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Church_of_Sumba" title="Christian Church of Sumba">Christian Church of Sumba</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Evangelical_Church_in_Minahasa" title="Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa">Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Evangelical_Church_in_Sangihe-Talaud" title="Christian Evangelical Church in Sangihe-Talaud">Christian Evangelical Church in Sangihe-Talaud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Christ_in_Thailand" title="Church of Christ in Thailand">Church of Christ in Thailand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_North_India" title="Church of North India">Church of North India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Pakistan" title="Church of Pakistan">Church of Pakistan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_South_India" title="Church of South India">Church of South India</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/East_Java_Christian_Church" title="East Java Christian Church">East Java Christian Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Christian_Church_in_Halmahera" title="Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera">Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Presbyterian_Church_of_Iran" title="Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Iran">Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Iran</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_in_Kalimantan" title="Evangelical Church in Kalimantan">Evangelical Church in Kalimantan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hong_Kong_Council_of_the_Church_of_Christ_in_China" title="Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China">Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indonesian_Christian_Church_Synod" title="Indonesian Christian Church Synod">Indonesian Christian Church Synod</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Javanese_Christian_Churches" class="mw-redirect" title="Javanese Christian Churches">Javanese Christian Churches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Karo_Batak_Protestant_Church" title="Karo Batak Protestant Church">Karo Batak Protestant Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Korean_Christian_Church_in_Japan" title="Korean Christian Church in Japan">Korean Christian Church in Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mara_Evangelical_Church" title="Mara Evangelical Church">Mara Evangelical Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Evangelical_Synod_of_Syria_and_Lebanon" title="National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon">National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pasundan_Christian_Church" title="Pasundan Christian Church">Pasundan Christian Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Taiwan" title="Presbyterian Church in Taiwan">Presbyterian Church in Taiwan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_the_Republic_of_Korea" title="Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea">Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Korea" title="Presbyterian Church of Korea">Presbyterian Church of Korea</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Pakistan" title="Presbyterian Church of Pakistan">Presbyterian Church of Pakistan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Christian_Church_in_Bali" title="Protestant Christian Church in Bali">Protestant Christian Church in Bali</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Indonesia" title="Protestant Church in Indonesia">Protestant Church in Indonesia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Southeast_Sulawesi" title="Protestant Church in Southeast Sulawesi">Protestant Church in Southeast Sulawesi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_the_Moluccas" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant Church in the Moluccas">Protestant Church in the Moluccas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Western_Indonesia" title="Protestant Church in Western Indonesia">Protestant Church in Western Indonesia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_East_Timor" title="Protestant Church in East Timor">Protestant Church in East Timor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Evangelical_Church_in_Timor" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant Evangelical Church in Timor">Protestant Evangelical Church in Timor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Toraja_Church" title="Toraja Church">Toraja Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Scotland" title="Church of Scotland">Church of Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Czechoslovak_Hussite_Church" title="Czechoslovak Hussite Church">Czechoslovak Hussite Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dutch_Reformed_Church" title="Dutch Reformed Church">Dutch Reformed Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Czech_Brethren" title="Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren">Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Church_of_the_Augsburg_and_Helvetic_Confessions_in_Austria&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Church of the Augsburg and Helvetic Confessions in Austria (page does not exist)">Evangelical Church of the Augsburg and Helvetic Confessions in Austria</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Presbyterian_Church_of_Portugal" class="mw-redirect" title="Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal">Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Greek_Evangelical_Church" title="Greek Evangelical Church">Greek Evangelical Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Wales" title="Presbyterian Church of Wales">Presbyterian Church of Wales</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Germany" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant Church in Germany">Protestant Church in Germany</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Lippe" title="Church of Lippe">Church of Lippe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Reformed_Church_in_Germany" title="Evangelical Reformed Church in Germany">Evangelical Reformed Church in Germany</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_the_Netherlands" title="Protestant Church in the Netherlands">Protestant Church in the Netherlands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_of_Switzerland" title="Protestant Church of Switzerland">Protestant Church of Switzerland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Christian_Church_in_Serbia" title="Reformed Christian Church in Serbia">Reformed Christian Church in Serbia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Christian_Church_in_Slovakia" title="Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia">Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_in_Hungary" title="Reformed Church in Hungary">Reformed Church in Hungary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_in_Romania" title="Reformed Church in Romania">Reformed Church in Romania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Remonstrant_Brotherhood" class="mw-redirect" title="Remonstrant Brotherhood">Remonstrant Brotherhood</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spanish_Evangelical_Church" title="Spanish Evangelical Church">Spanish Evangelical Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hungarian_Reformed_Church_in_America" title="Hungarian Reformed Church in America">Hungarian Reformed Church in America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada" title="Presbyterian Church in Canada">Presbyterian Church in Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_(USA)" title="Presbyterian Church (USA)">Presbyterian Church (USA)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reformed_Church_in_America" title="Reformed Church in America">Reformed Church in America</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_River_Plate" title="Evangelical Church of the River Plate">Evangelical Church of the River Plate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Independent_Presbyterian_Church_of_Brazil" title="Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil">Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Colombia" class="mw-redirect" title="Presbyterian Church of Colombia">Presbyterian Church of Colombia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Trinidad_and_Tobago" title="Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago">Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian-Reformed_Church_in_Cuba" class="mw-redirect" title="Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba">Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Oceania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Church_in_American_Samoa" title="Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa">Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Church_in_Samoa" class="mw-redirect" title="Congregational Christian Church in Samoa">Congregational Christian Church in Samoa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Church_of_Niue" title="Congregational Christian Church of Niue">Congregational Christian Church of Niue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Church_of_Tuvalu" class="mw-redirect" title="Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu">Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_in_New_Caledonia_and_the_Loyalty_Islands" class="mw-redirect" title="Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands">Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kiribati_Uniting_Church" title="Kiribati Uniting Church">Kiribati Uniting Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maohi_Protestant_Church" title="Maohi Protestant Church">Maohi Protestant Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Aotearoa_New_Zealand" title="Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand">Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Vanuatu" title="Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu">Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background#"><div id="United_christianity" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">United christianity</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Africa</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ_in_Zimbabwe" title="United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe">United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Zambia" class="mw-redirect" title="United Church of Zambia">United Church of Zambia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Congregational_Church_of_Southern_Africa" title="United Congregational Church of Southern Africa">United Congregational Church of Southern Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uniting_Presbyterian_Church_in_Southern_Africa" title="Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa">Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uniting_Reformed_Church_in_Southern_Africa" title="Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa">Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Asia</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/China_Christian_Council" title="China Christian Council">China Christian Council</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_Bangladesh" title="Church of Bangladesh">Church of Bangladesh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Union_of_the_Armenian_Evangelical_Churches_in_the_Near_East" title="Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East">Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ_in_Japan" title="United Church of Christ in Japan">United Church of Christ in Japan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ_in_the_Philippines" title="United Church of Christ in the Philippines">United Church of Christ in the Philippines</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Europe</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Germany" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant Church in Germany">Protestant Church in Germany</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Bremen" title="Evangelical Church of Bremen">Bremen</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_in_Berlin,_Brandenburg_and_Silesian_Upper_Lusatia" title="Evangelical Church in Berlin, Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia">Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Oberlausitz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_in_the_Rhineland" title="Evangelical Church in the Rhineland">Rhineland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Anhalt" class="mw-redirect" title="Evangelical Church of Anhalt">Anhalt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Hesse_Electorate-Waldeck" class="mw-redirect" title="Evangelical Church of Hesse Electorate-Waldeck">Kurhessen-Waldeck</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_the_Palatinate" title="Evangelical Church of the Palatinate">Palatinate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Church_of_Westphalia" title="Evangelical Church of Westphalia">Westphalia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Baden" title="Protestant Church in Baden">Baden</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protestant_Church_in_Hesse_and_Nassau" title="Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau">Hesse and Nassau</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Union_of_Protestant_Churches_of_Alsace_and_Lorraine" title="Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine">Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Union_of_Welsh_Independents" title="Union of Welsh Independents">Union of Welsh Independents</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Free_Church_of_Scotland" title="United Free Church of Scotland">United Free Church of Scotland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Protestant_Church_in_Belgium" title="United Protestant Church in Belgium">United Protestant Church in Belgium</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Protestant_Church_of_France" title="United Protestant Church of France">United Protestant Church of France</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uniting_Church_in_Sweden" title="Uniting Church in Sweden">Uniting Church in Sweden</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Union_of_Methodist_and_Waldensian_Churches" title="Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches">Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">North America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/International_Council_of_Community_Churches" title="International Council of Community Churches">International Council of Community Churches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada" title="United Church of Canada">United Church of Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ" title="United Church of Christ">United Church of Christ</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Latin America</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_in_Jamaica_and_the_Cayman_Islands" title="United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands">United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Presbyterian_Church_of_Brazil" title="United Presbyterian Church of Brazil">United Presbyterian Church of Brazil</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=United_Protestant_Church_of_Cura%C3%A7ao&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="United Protestant Church of Curaçao (page does not exist)">United Protestant Church of Curaçao</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:lavender;">Oceania</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_in_Papua_New_Guinea_and_Solomon_Islands" title="United Church in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands">United Church in Papua New Guinea</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_in_the_Solomon_Islands" class="mw-redirect" title="United Church in the Solomon Islands">United Church in the Solomon Islands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/United_Church_of_Christ_-_Congregational_in_the_Marshall_Islands" class="mw-redirect" title="United Church of Christ - Congregational in the Marshall Islands">United Church of Christ - Congregational in the Marshall Islands</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uniting_Church_in_Australia" title="Uniting Church in Australia">Uniting Church in Australia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow hlist" colspan="2"><div> <dl><dt>Africa</dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/All_Africa_Conference_of_Churches" title="All Africa Conference of Churches">AACC</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Organization_of_African_Instituted_Churches" title="Organization of African Instituted Churches">OAIC</a></dd> <dt>Asia</dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Christian_Conference_of_Asia" title="Christian Conference of Asia">CCA</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Churches_in_Australia" title="National Council of Churches in Australia">NCCA</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Churches_in_the_Philippines" title="National Council of Churches in the Philippines">NCCP</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Middle_East_Council_of_Churches" title="Middle East Council of Churches">MECC</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Conference_of_Churches" title="Pacific Conference of Churches">PCC</a></dd> <dt>Europe</dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Conference_of_European_Churches" title="Conference of European Churches">CEC</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Council_of_Christian_Churches_of_an_African_Approach_in_Europe" title="Council of Christian Churches of an African Approach in Europe">CCCAAE</a></dd> <dt>Latin America</dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Caribbean_Conference_of_Churches" title="Caribbean Conference of Churches">CCC</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Latin_American_Council_of_Churches" title="Latin American Council of Churches">LACC</a></dd> <dt>North America</dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Council_of_Churches" title="Canadian Council of Churches">CCE</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/National_Council_of_Churches" title="National Council of Churches">NCC</a></dd></dl> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" 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