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class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Origins"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>Origins</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Origins-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Saxon_immigration" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Saxon_immigration"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1.1</span> <span>Saxon immigration</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Saxon_immigration-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Löhe_missionaries" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Löhe_missionaries"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1.2</span> <span>Löhe missionaries</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Löhe_missionaries-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Founding_and_early_years" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Founding_and_early_years"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2</span> <span>Founding and early years</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Founding_and_early_years-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Synodical_Conference" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Synodical_Conference"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.3</span> <span>Synodical Conference</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Synodical_Conference-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-English_transition" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#English_transition"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.4</span> <span>English transition</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-English_transition-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Post-WWII" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Post-WWII"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.5</span> <span>Post-WWII</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Post-WWII-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Foreign_missions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Foreign_missions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Foreign missions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Foreign_missions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </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-Doctrinal_sources" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Doctrinal_sources"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Doctrinal sources</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Doctrinal_sources-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Salvation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Salvation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.1</span> <span>Salvation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Salvation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Means_of_grace" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Means_of_grace"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.2</span> <span>Means of grace</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Means_of_grace-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Sacramental_Union_and_the_Eucharist" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Sacramental_Union_and_the_Eucharist"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.3</span> <span>Sacramental Union and the Eucharist</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Sacramental_Union_and_the_Eucharist-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Eschatology" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Eschatology"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.4</span> <span>Eschatology</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Eschatology-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Law_and_Gospel" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Law_and_Gospel"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1.5</span> <span>Law and Gospel</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Law_and_Gospel-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Other_doctrine" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_doctrine"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Other doctrine</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Other_doctrine-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Antichrists" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Antichrists"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2.1</span> <span>Antichrists</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Antichrists-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Creationism" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Creationism"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2.2</span> <span>Creationism</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Creationism-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Freemasonry" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Freemasonry"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2.3</span> <span>Freemasonry</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Freemasonry-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Baptism_and_other_doctrine" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Baptism_and_other_doctrine"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Baptism and other doctrine</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Baptism_and_other_doctrine-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Practices" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Practices"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Practices</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Practices-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 Practices subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Practices-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Worship_and_music" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Worship_and_music"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Worship and music</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Worship_and_music-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Reception_of_communion" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Reception_of_communion"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Reception of communion</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Reception_of_communion-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ordination" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ordination"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Ordination</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ordination-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Role_of_women_in_the_church" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Role_of_women_in_the_church"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.4</span> <span>Role of women in the church</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Role_of_women_in_the_church-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Interfaith_services" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Interfaith_services"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.5</span> <span>Interfaith services</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Interfaith_services-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-LCMS_National_Youth_Gathering" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#LCMS_National_Youth_Gathering"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.6</span> <span>LCMS National Youth Gathering</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-LCMS_National_Youth_Gathering-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Church_structure" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Church_structure"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Church structure</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Church_structure-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 Church structure subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Church_structure-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Synod" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Synod"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1</span> <span>Synod</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Synod-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Presidents" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Presidents"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1.1</span> <span>Presidents</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Presidents-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Districts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Districts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.2</span> <span>Districts</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Districts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Congregations" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Congregations"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.3</span> <span>Congregations</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Congregations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Organizations" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Organizations"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Organizations</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Organizations-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 Organizations subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Organizations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Educational_institutions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Educational_institutions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>Educational institutions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Educational_institutions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Auxiliary_organizations" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Auxiliary_organizations"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.2</span> <span>Auxiliary organizations</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Auxiliary_organizations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Relationship_with_other_Evangelical_Lutheran_bodies" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Relationship_with_other_Evangelical_Lutheran_bodies"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Relationship with other Evangelical Lutheran bodies</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Relationship_with_other_Evangelical_Lutheran_bodies-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Membership_and_demographics" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Membership_and_demographics"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Membership and demographics</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Membership_and_demographics-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> <button aria-controls="toc-Further_reading-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 Further reading subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Further_reading-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-History_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#History_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.1</span> <span>History</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-History_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Seminex" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Seminex"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.2</span> <span>Seminex</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Seminex-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Missions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Missions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.3</span> <span>Missions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Missions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Doctrine" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Doctrine"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.4</span> <span>Doctrine</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Doctrine-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Primary_sources" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Primary_sources"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11.5</span> <span>Primary sources</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Primary_sources-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </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> <button aria-controls="toc-External_links-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 External links subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Official_LCMS_websites" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Official_LCMS_websites"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12.1</span> <span>Official LCMS websites</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Official_LCMS_websites-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Additional_resource_websites" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Additional_resource_websites"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12.2</span> <span>Additional resource websites</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Additional_resource_websites-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </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">Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod</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 18 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-18" 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">18 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-af mw-list-item"><a href="https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Church_-_Missouri_Synod" title="Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod – Afrikaans" lang="af" hreflang="af" data-title="Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod" data-language-autonym="Afrikaans" data-language-local-name="Afrikaans" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Afrikaans</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutersk%C3%A1_c%C3%ADrkev_%E2%80%93_Missoursk%C3%A1_synoda" title="Luterská církev – Missourská synoda – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Luterská církev – Missourská synoda" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod" title="Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod" 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%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-%CE%A3%CF%8D%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%BF%CF%82_%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85_%CE%9C%CE%B9%CE%B6%CE%BF%CF%8D%CF%81%CE%B9" title="Λουθηρανική Εκκλησία-Σύνοδος του Μιζούρι – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Λουθηρανική Εκκλησία-Σύνοδος του Μιζούρι" 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_luterana_S%C3%ADnodo_de_Misuri" title="Iglesia luterana Sínodo de Misuri – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Iglesia luterana Sínodo de Misuri" 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 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id="mw-content-subtitle"><span class="mw-redirectedfrom">(Redirected from <a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod&redirect=no" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod">Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod</a>)</span></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">Christian denomination in the United States</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p><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%;">The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Blue_LCMS_Logo_2012.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/53/Blue_LCMS_Logo_2012.png/300px-Blue_LCMS_Logo_2012.png" decoding="async" width="300" height="85" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/Blue_LCMS_Logo_2012.png 1.5x" data-file-width="360" data-file-height="102" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">The LCMS logo (2020)</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Abbreviation</th><td class="infobox-data">LCMS</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Classification</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Protestant" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant">Protestant</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Orientation</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Confessional_Lutheran" class="mw-redirect" title="Confessional Lutheran">Confessional 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">Synodical/modified congregational</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Structure</th><td class="infobox-data">National synod, 35 <a href="/wiki/Middle_judicatory" title="Middle judicatory">middle level</a> districts, and local congregations</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">President</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Matthew_C._Harrison" class="mw-redirect" title="Matthew C. Harrison">Matthew C. Harrison</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="/wiki/Altar_and_pulpit_fellowship" title="Altar and pulpit fellowship">Altar and pulpit fellowship</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/American_Association_of_Lutheran_Churches" title="American Association of Lutheran Churches">American Association of Lutheran Churches</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Latvia" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Associations</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/International_Lutheran_Council" title="International Lutheran Council">International Lutheran Council</a></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>, especially in the <a href="/wiki/Upper_Midwest" title="Upper Midwest">Upper Midwest</a>.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Headquarters</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Kirkwood,_Missouri" title="Kirkwood, Missouri">Kirkwood, Missouri</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Founder</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/C._F._W._Walther" title="C. F. W. Walther">C. F. W. Walther</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Origin</th><td class="infobox-data">April 26, 1847 <br /><a href="/wiki/Chicago" title="Chicago">Chicago</a>, <a href="/wiki/Illinois" title="Illinois">Illinois</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="/wiki/Schism" title="Schism">Separated from</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Bruderrat_der_Evangelischen_Kirche" class="mw-redirect" title="Bruderrat der Evangelischen Kirche">German Landeskirchen</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Absorbed</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod_of_Illinois" title="Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Illinois">Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Illinois and Other States</a> (1880)<br />Evangelical Lutheran Concordia Synod of Pennsylvania and Other States (1886)<br /><a href="/wiki/English_District_(LCMS)" class="mw-redirect" title="English District (LCMS)">English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri and Other States</a> (1911)<br /><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Synodical_Conference_of_North_America#African-American_mission_work" title="Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America">Synodical Conference Negro Mission</a> (1961)<br /><a href="/wiki/National_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="National Evangelical Lutheran Church">National Evangelical Lutheran Church</a> (1964)<br /><a href="/wiki/Synod_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches" title="Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches">Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches</a> (1971)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Separations</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Orthodox_Lutheran_Conference" class="mw-redirect" title="Orthodox Lutheran Conference">Orthodox Lutheran Conference</a> (1951)<br /><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Churches_of_the_Reformation" title="Lutheran Churches of the Reformation">Lutheran Churches of the Reformation</a> (1964)<br /><a href="/wiki/Association_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches" title="Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches">Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches</a> (1976),<br /><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Brazil" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil</a> (1980)<br /><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Argentina" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina</a> (1986)<br /><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Canada" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church–Canada">Lutheran Church–Canada</a> (1988)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Congregations</th><td class="infobox-data">5,914</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Members</th><td class="infobox-data">1,708,125 baptized<br /> 1,354,684 confirmed<sup id="cite_ref-LCMS_Inc.-_Annual_Report2023_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LCMS_Inc.-_Annual_Report2023-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="/wiki/Primary_education" title="Primary education">Primary schools</a></th><td class="infobox-data">822<sup id="cite_ref-SchoolStats_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SchoolStats-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/Secondary_education" title="Secondary education">Secondary schools</a></th><td class="infobox-data">99<sup id="cite_ref-SchoolStats_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SchoolStats-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/501c3" class="mw-redirect" title="501c3">Tax status</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Internal_Revenue_Service" title="Internal Revenue Service">IRS</a> <a href="/wiki/501(c)(3)_organization" title="501(c)(3) organization">501(c)(3) organization</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="/wiki/Higher_education" class="mw-redirect" title="Higher education">Tertiary institutions</a></th><td class="infobox-data">2 seminaries, 7 colleges and universities</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Other name(s)</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/German_language" title="German language">German</a>: <i lang="de">Die Deutsche Evangelisch-Lutherische Synode von Missouri, Ohio und andern Staaten</i><br />German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Publications</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Witness" class="mw-redirect" title="The Lutheran Witness">The Lutheran Witness</a><br />Reporter</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://lcms.org">lcms<wbr />.org</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod</b> (<b>LCMS</b>), also known as the <b>Missouri Synod</b>,<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is a <a href="/wiki/Confessional_Lutheran" class="mw-redirect" title="Confessional Lutheran">confessional Lutheran</a> <a href="/wiki/Christian_denomination" title="Christian denomination">denomination</a> in the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>. With 1.7 million members as of 2022<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> it is the second-largest <a href="/wiki/Lutheranism" title="Lutheranism">Lutheran</a> body in the United States, behind the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a>. The LCMS was organized in 1847 at a meeting in <a href="/wiki/Chicago,_Illinois" class="mw-redirect" title="Chicago, Illinois">Chicago</a>, as the <b>German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States</b> (<a href="/wiki/German_language" title="German language">German</a>: <i lang="de">Die Deutsche Evangelisch-Lutherische Synode von Missouri, Ohio und andern Staaten</i>), a name which partially reflected the geographic locations of the founding congregations. </p><p>The LCMS has congregations in all 50 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, but over half of its members are located in the <a href="/wiki/Midwestern_United_States" title="Midwestern United States">Midwest</a>. It is a member of the <a href="/wiki/International_Lutheran_Council" title="International Lutheran Council">International Lutheran Council</a> and is in <a href="/wiki/Altar_and_pulpit_fellowship" title="Altar and pulpit fellowship">altar and pulpit fellowship</a> with most of that group's members.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The LCMS is headquartered in <a href="/wiki/Kirkwood,_Missouri" title="Kirkwood, Missouri">Kirkwood, Missouri</a>, a suburb west of <a href="/wiki/St._Louis" title="St. Louis">St. Louis</a> and is divided into 35 <a href="/wiki/Districts_of_the_Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod" title="Districts of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod">districts</a>—33 of which are geographic and two (the <a href="/wiki/English_District_of_the_Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod" title="English District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod">English</a> and the <a href="/wiki/SELC_District_of_the_Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod" title="SELC District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod">SELC</a>) non-geographic. 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Harrison</a>, who took office on September 1, 2010. </p> <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 .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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.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 href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">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"><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 class="mw-selflink selflink">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> <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=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&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: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">See also: <a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod" title="Timeline of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod">Timeline of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Origins">Origins</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Origins"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Missouri Synod emerged from several communities of German Lutheran immigrants during the 1830s and 1840s. Isolated Germans in dense forests of the American frontier in <a href="/wiki/Indiana" title="Indiana">Indiana</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ohio" title="Ohio">Ohio</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a> were brought together and ministered to by missionary <a href="/wiki/F._C._D._Wyneken" title="F. C. D. Wyneken">F. C. D. Wyneken</a>. A <a href="/wiki/Saxon_Lutheran_immigration_of_1838%E2%80%9339" title="Saxon Lutheran immigration of 1838–39">communal emigration from Saxony</a> under Bishop <a href="/wiki/Martin_Stephan" title="Martin Stephan">Martin Stephan</a> created a community in <a href="/wiki/Perry_County,_Missouri" title="Perry County, Missouri">Perry County, Missouri</a>, and in <a href="/wiki/St._Louis" title="St. Louis">St. Louis</a>. In Michigan and Ohio, missionaries sent by <a href="/wiki/Wilhelm_L%C3%B6he" class="mw-redirect" title="Wilhelm Löhe">Wilhelm Löhe</a> ministered to scattered congregations and founded German Lutheran communities in <a href="/wiki/Frankenmuth,_Michigan" title="Frankenmuth, Michigan">Frankenmuth, Michigan</a>, and the Saginaw Valley of Michigan.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Saxon_immigration">Saxon immigration</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Saxon immigration"><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/Saxon_Lutheran_immigration_of_1838%E2%80%9339" title="Saxon Lutheran immigration of 1838–39">Saxon Lutheran immigration of 1838–39</a></div> <p>In the 19th-century German <a href="/wiki/Kingdom_of_Saxony" title="Kingdom of Saxony">Kingdom of Saxony</a>, Lutheran pastor Martin Stephan and many of his followers found themselves increasingly at odds with <a href="/wiki/Rationalism" title="Rationalism">Rationalism</a>, <a href="/wiki/Christian_ecumenism" class="mw-redirect" title="Christian ecumenism">Christian ecumenism</a>, and the prospect of a forced unionism of the Lutheran church with the <a href="/wiki/Reformed_tradition" class="mw-redirect" title="Reformed tradition">Reformed</a> church. In the neighboring <a href="/wiki/Kingdom_of_Prussia" title="Kingdom of Prussia">Kingdom of Prussia</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Prussian_Union_(Evangelical_Christian_Church)" class="mw-redirect" title="Prussian Union (Evangelical Christian Church)">Prussian Union of 1817</a> put in place what they considered non-Lutheran <a href="/wiki/Eucharist" title="Eucharist">communion</a> and <a href="/wiki/Baptism" title="Baptism">baptismal</a> doctrine and practice.<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> In order to freely practice their <a href="/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity">Christian</a> faith in accordance with the Lutheran confessions outlined in the <a href="/wiki/Book_of_Concord" title="Book of Concord">Book of Concord</a>, Stephan and between 600 and 700 other Saxon Lutherans left for the United States in November 1838.<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> </p><p>Their ships arrived between December 31, 1838, and January 20, 1839, in <a href="/wiki/New_Orleans" title="New Orleans">New Orleans</a> with one ship lost at sea.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Most of the remaining immigrants left almost immediately, with the first group arriving in St. Louis on January 19, 1839.<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> The final group, led by Stephan, remained in New Orleans for ten days, possibly to wait for the passengers of the lost ship <i>Amalia</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The immigrants ultimately settled in <a href="/wiki/Perry_County,_Missouri" title="Perry County, Missouri">Perry County, Missouri</a>, and in and around St. Louis. Stephan was initially the <a href="/wiki/Bishop" title="Bishop">bishop</a> of the new settlement, but he soon became embroiled in charges of corruption and sexual misconduct with members of the congregation and was expelled from the settlement, leaving <a href="/wiki/C._F._W._Walther" title="C. F. W. Walther">C. F. W. Walther</a> as the leader of the colony.<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> </p><p>During that period, there was considerable debate within the settlement over the proper status of the church in the <a href="/wiki/New_World" title="New World">New World</a>: whether it was a new church or whether it remained within the Lutheran hierarchy in Germany. Walther's view that they could consider themselves a new church prevailed.<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-heading4"><h4 id="Löhe_missionaries"><span id="L.C3.B6he_missionaries"></span>Löhe missionaries</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Löhe missionaries"><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">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Frankenmuth,_Michigan#History" title="Frankenmuth, Michigan">Frankenmuth, Michigan § History</a></div> <p>Beginning in 1841, the parish pastor in <a href="/wiki/Neuendettelsau" title="Neuendettelsau">Neuendettelsau</a>, Bavaria—<a href="/wiki/Johann_Konrad_Wilhelm_L%C3%B6he" title="Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe">Wilhelm Löhe</a>—inspired by appeals for aid to the German immigrants in North America, began to solicit funds for missionary work among them. He also began training men to become pastors and teachers, sending his first two students—Adam Ernst and Georg Burger—to America on August 5, 1842.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Löhe ultimately sent over 80 pastors and students of theology to America; these pastors founded and served congregations throughout Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.<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>Löhe also led an early and largely abortive effort to send missionaries to convert the Native Americans. In 1844 and 1845, he solicited colonists to form a German Lutheran settlement in Michigan, with the thought that this settlement would also serve as the base for missionary activity among the Native Americans. The colonists left Germany on April 20, 1845, under the leadership of Pastor August Crämer, and arrived in <a href="/wiki/Saginaw_County,_Michigan" title="Saginaw County, Michigan">Saginaw County, Michigan</a>, in August of that year. They founded several villages—<a href="/wiki/Frankenmuth,_Michigan" title="Frankenmuth, Michigan">Frankenmuth</a>, <a href="/wiki/Frankenlust_Township,_Michigan" title="Frankenlust Township, Michigan">Frankenlust</a>, <a href="/wiki/Blumfield_Township,_Michigan" title="Blumfield Township, Michigan">Frankentrost</a>, and Frankenhilf (now known as <a href="/wiki/Denmark_Township,_Michigan" title="Denmark Township, Michigan">Richville</a>)—and worked to convert the Native Americans. They had limited success, however, and the villages became nearly exclusively German settlements within a few years.<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><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> </p><p>In addition to sending pastors, theological students, and colonists to America, Löhe played an instrumental role in the formation of <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Theological_Seminary" title="Concordia Theological Seminary">Concordia Theological Seminary</a> in <a href="/wiki/Fort_Wayne,_Indiana" title="Fort Wayne, Indiana">Fort Wayne, Indiana</a>, raising funds for the new institution and sending eleven theological students and a professor from Germany to help found it. The seminary's first president, <a href="/wiki/Wilhelm_Sihler" title="Wilhelm Sihler">Wilhelm Sihler</a>, had also been sent by Löhe to America several years before. </p><p>Due to Löhe's great zeal and indefatigable labors, LCMS' first president, C. F. W. Walther, said of him, "Next to God, it is Pastor Loehe to whom our Synod is indebted for its happy beginning and rapid growth in which it rejoices; it may well honor him as its spiritual father. It would fill the pages of an entire book to recount even briefly what for many years this man, with tireless zeal in the noblest unselfish spirit, has done for our Lutheran Church and our Synod in particular."<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="Founding_and_early_years">Founding and early years</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Founding and early years"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:StPaulsMissouriSynod.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/StPaulsMissouriSynod.JPG/100px-StPaulsMissouriSynod.JPG" decoding="async" width="100" height="68" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/StPaulsMissouriSynod.JPG/150px-StPaulsMissouriSynod.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/StPaulsMissouriSynod.JPG/200px-StPaulsMissouriSynod.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1037" data-file-height="708" /></a><figcaption>St. Paul's in Chicago, where the first meeting of the Missouri Synod was held<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></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Friedrich_August_Br%C3%BCnn.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Friedrich_August_Br%C3%BCnn.jpg/100px-Friedrich_August_Br%C3%BCnn.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="141" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Friedrich_August_Br%C3%BCnn.jpg/150px-Friedrich_August_Br%C3%BCnn.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Friedrich_August_Br%C3%BCnn.jpg/200px-Friedrich_August_Br%C3%BCnn.jpg 2x" data-file-width="568" data-file-height="800" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Old_Lutherans" title="Old Lutherans">Old Lutheran</a> free church leader Friedrich August Brünn sent about 235 men to serve as pastors in the Missouri Synod.<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></figcaption></figure> <p>In 1844 and 1845, these two groups (the Saxons and the Löhe men) as well as Wyneken and one of his assistants began discussing the possibility of forming a new, <a href="/wiki/Confessional_Lutheranism" title="Confessional Lutheranism">confessional Lutheran</a> church body. As a result of the discussions, the Löhe missionaries and Wyneken and his assistant (F. W. Husmann) decided to leave their synods. Planning meetings were held in St. Louis in May 1846 and in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in July 1846.<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> On April 26, 1847, twelve pastors representing fourteen German Lutheran congregations met in Chicago and officially founded the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States. Walther became the fledgling denomination's first president.<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>The synod was quickly noted for its conservatism and self-professed orthodoxy. The synod's constitution required all members (both pastors and congregations) to pledge fealty to the entire <a href="/wiki/Book_of_Concord" title="Book of Concord">Book of Concord</a>, to reject unionism and <a href="/wiki/Syncretism" title="Syncretism">syncretism</a> of every kind, to use only doctrinally pure books in both church and school, and to provide for the Christian education of their children.<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> Among other things, these requirements meant that altar and pulpit fellowship was usually restricted to those Lutheran congregations and synods who were in complete doctrinal agreement with the Missouri Synod.<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><p>The LCMS' conservatism soon drew it into conflict with other Lutheran synods, the majority of which were then experimenting with so-called "<a href="/wiki/Samuel_Simon_Schmucker" title="Samuel Simon Schmucker">American Lutheranism</a>". In addition, the LCMS also quickly became embroiled in a dispute with the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Synod_of_Buffalo" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Synod of Buffalo">Buffalo Synod</a> and its leader, <a href="/wiki/Johannes_Andreas_August_Grabau" title="Johannes Andreas August Grabau">Johannes Andreas August Grabau</a>, over the proper understanding of the church and the <a href="/wiki/Minister_(Christianity)" title="Minister (Christianity)">ministry</a>. Within a few years, this conflict led to a separation between the Missouri Synod and Löhe, as Löhe's views were close to those of Grabau.<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>Despite these conflicts, the Missouri Synod experienced fairly rapid growth in its early years, leading to the subdivision of the synod into four <a href="/wiki/Districts_of_the_Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod">district synods</a> (Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western) in 1854. This growth was due largely to the synod's efforts, under the leadership of its second president, F. C. D. Wyneken, to care for German immigrants, help them find a home among other Germans, build churches and <a href="/wiki/Parochial_school" title="Parochial school">parochial schools</a>, and train pastors and teachers. The synod continued these outreach efforts throughout the 19th century, becoming the largest Lutheran church body in the United States by 1888.<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> By the synod's fiftieth anniversary in 1897, it had grown to 687,000 members.<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> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Synodical_Conference">Synodical Conference</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Synodical Conference"><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/Evangelical_Lutheran_Synodical_Conference_of_North_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America">Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America</a></div> <p>Between 1856 and 1859, the Missouri Synod hosted a series of four free conferences in order to explore the possibility of entering into fellowship agreements with other conservative Lutheran synods.<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> As a result of these conferences, the LCMS entered into fellowship with the <a href="/wiki/Synod_of_the_Norwegian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">Norwegian Synod</a> in 1857. In 1872, these two synods joined the <a href="/wiki/Wisconsin_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod" title="Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod">Wisconsin</a>, <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Joint_Synod_of_Ohio" title="Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio">Ohio</a>, Minnesota, and <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod_of_Illinois" title="Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Illinois">Illinois</a> Synods, which were also conservative Lutheran bodies, to form the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Synodical_Conference_of_North_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America">Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America</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> </p><p>In 1876, the constituent synods of the Synodical Conference considered a plan to reorganize into a single unified church body with a single seminary. Some preliminary moves were made in this direction (including the 1880 absorption of the Illinois Synod into the LCMS' Illinois District), but opposition from some synods postponed the complete implementation of this plan, and the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Synodical_Conference_of_North_America#Predestinarian_Controversy" title="Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America">Predestinarian Controversy</a> of the 1880s scuttled the plan entirely. As a result of the controversy, several pastors and congregations withdrew from the Ohio Synod to form the Concordia Synod; this synod merged with the LCMS in 1886.<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> </p><p>Efforts were made in the 1920s to establish fellowship with the Ohio, <a href="/wiki/Iowa_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Iowa Synod">Iowa</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Synod" title="Buffalo Synod">Buffalo</a> synods. Representatives from the synods formulated the <i>Chicago Theses</i> as a for agreement, but the 1929 LCMS synodical convention did not accept them and instead created a committee that, in 1932, produced the <i>Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod</i>. After the Ohio, Iowa, and Buffalo synods merged in 1930 to form the first <a href="/wiki/American_Lutheran_Church_(1930)" title="American Lutheran Church (1930)">American Lutheran Church</a> (ALC), representatives from the ALC and the LCMS came to agreement on the <i>Brief Statement</i> and the ALC's <i>Declaration</i> in 1938, but again no further action was taken.<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="English_transition">English transition</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: English transition"><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">Further information: <a href="/wiki/English_District_of_the_Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="English District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod">English District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod</a></div> <p>For the first thirty years of its existence, the Missouri Synod focused almost exclusively on meeting the spiritual needs of German-speaking Lutherans, leaving work among English-speaking Lutherans to other synods, particularly the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Tennessee_Synod" title="Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod">Tennessee</a> and Ohio synods. In 1872, members of the Tennessee Synod invited representatives from the Missouri, Holston, and Norwegian synods to discuss the promotion of English work among the more "Americanized" Lutherans, resulting in the organization of the "English Evangelical Lutheran Conference of Missouri." This conference was reorganized in 1888 as an independent church body, the English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri and Other States, which subsequently merged into the LCMS as its <a href="/wiki/English_District_of_the_Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod" title="English District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod">English District</a> in 1911.<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><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> In its first twenty years, the English Synod became responsible for two colleges, organized dozens of congregations and parochial schools, took over the publication of <a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Witness" class="mw-redirect" title="The Lutheran Witness"><i>The</i> <i>Lutheran Witness</i></a> (an English-language newspaper published by LCMS pastors in <a href="/wiki/Cleveland" title="Cleveland">Cleveland</a>, Ohio), and published several hymnals and other books. </p><p>English work became more widespread in the LCMS during the first two decades of the twentieth century, with older members of the synod continuing to speak primarily <a href="/wiki/German_language" title="German language">German</a> and younger members increasingly switching to <a href="/wiki/English_language" title="English language">English</a>. As one scholar has explained, "The overwhelming evidence from internal documents of these [Missouri Synod] churches, and particularly their schools ... indicates that the German-American school was a bilingual one much (perhaps a whole generation or more) earlier than 1917, and that the majority of the pupils may have been English-dominant bilinguals from the early 1880s on."<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> The anti-German sentiment during the wars hastened the "Americanization" of the church and caused many churches to add English services and in some cases, drop German services entirely. During the years of language transition, the synod's membership continued to grow, until by 1947, the synod had grown to over 1.5 million members.<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> </p> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:FranzPieper.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/FranzPieper.jpg/100px-FranzPieper.jpg" decoding="async" width="100" height="126" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/FranzPieper.jpg/150px-FranzPieper.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/FranzPieper.jpg/200px-FranzPieper.jpg 2x" data-file-width="363" data-file-height="456" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Franz_Pieper" title="Franz Pieper">Franz Pieper</a>, June 27, 1852 – June 3, 1931</figcaption></figure> <p>During this time, the LCMS expanded its missionary efforts through the creation of its own radio station—<a href="/wiki/KFUO_(AM)" title="KFUO (AM)">KFUO (AM)</a> (1924)—and its own international radio program—<i><a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Hour" title="The Lutheran Hour">The Lutheran Hour</a></i> (1930). Several years later, the synod began broadcasting its own TV drama—<i><a href="/wiki/This_Is_the_Life_(TV_series)" title="This Is the Life (TV series)">This Is the Life</a></i> (1952). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Post-WWII">Post-WWII</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Post-WWII"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1945, a group of 44 leaders and theologians in the synod issued a statement criticizing the synod's approach toward other Lutheran bodies. The document, known as 'A Statement of the Forty-four",. was signed by Theodore Graebner and four other professors at Concordia Seminary and by H. B. Hemmeter, who had recently retired as president of Concordia Theological Seminary, among others. The statement provoked immediate response from others in the synod.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_36-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1947, its centennial year, the church body shortened its name from "The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States" to the present one, "The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod". The 1947 convention also directed the Committee on Doctrinal Unity to meet with the Fellowship Commission of the ALC to develop a set of doctrinal theses. The first meeting was on May 17, 1948, and, after additional meetings, the <i>Common Confession</i>, Part I, was approved by the two committees on December 5–6, 1949. Both the ALC and the LCMS accepted the document in 1950. The two committees continued meeting to develop Part II of the <i>Common Confession</i> covering additional topics. The ALC accepted Part II in 1954. The 1956 convention of the LCMS recognized the <i>Common Confession</i> as one document in two parts that is a statement "in harmony with the Sacred Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions"; however, it also declared that the document should not be "regarded or employed as a functioning basic document toward the establishment of altar and pulpit fellowship with other church bodies".<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> </p><p>The renewed interest in the ALC led a number of parties to fear that the synod was losing its doctrinal basis. In 1951, a small group of pastors and congregations left the synod to form the <a href="/wiki/Orthodox_Lutheran_Conference" class="mw-redirect" title="Orthodox Lutheran Conference">Orthodox Lutheran Conference</a>, but the main impetus for the move was not church fellowship, but the question of whether breaking an <a href="/wiki/Engagement" title="Engagement">engagement</a> (in the modern sense) is the same as the breaking of a <a href="/wiki/Betrothal" class="mw-redirect" title="Betrothal">betrothal</a> (historically) and therefore a sin, as those leaving the synod contended.<sup id="cite_ref-:02_38-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:02-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Concerns about the LCMS becoming more open to less conservative Lutheran bodies caused problems in the Synodical Conference. In 1955, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) broke fellowship with the LCMS, and in 1957, the WELS publicly admonished the LCMS, and, in 1961, it finally broke fellowship with the LCMS. Both the ELS and the WELS withdrew from the Synodical Conference in 1963, leaving only the LCMS and the <a href="/wiki/Synod_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches" title="Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches">Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches</a> (SELC), an historically <a href="/wiki/Slovak_American" class="mw-redirect" title="Slovak American">Slovak-American</a> church, as members.<sup id="cite_ref-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1971, the SELC merged with the LCMS, forming the <a href="/wiki/SELC_District_(LCMS)" class="mw-redirect" title="SELC District (LCMS)">SELC District</a>.<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> The <a href="/wiki/National_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="National Evangelical Lutheran Church">National Evangelical Lutheran Church</a>, an historically <a href="/wiki/Finnish-American" class="mw-redirect" title="Finnish-American">Finnish-American</a> Lutheran church, had already merged with the LCMS on January 1, 1964.<sup id="cite_ref-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>When the 1959 synodical convention did not take any action against the liberal movement, a number of pastors and laymen met in a State of the Church Conference at Trinity Lutheran Church in <a href="/wiki/New_Haven,_Missouri" title="New Haven, Missouri">New Haven, Missouri</a>, in which that church's pastor, Herman Otten, presented a book of documentation of the various controversies that had arisen in the LCMS since 1950 and before. Several additional conferences were held, with the one in Milwaukee on May 15–16, 1961, attracting over 400 people. Plans were made at that conference for actions they wanted the 1962 synodical convention to take. The failure of the convention to do so led a dozen or so congregations and pastors to form the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Churches_of_the_Reformation" title="Lutheran Churches of the Reformation">Lutheran Churches of the Reformation</a> on April 28–29, 1964, at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Chicago. However, many of those opposed to the direction of the LCMS decided to remain in the synod, hoping to influence its direction.<sup id="cite_ref-:02_38-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:02-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1967, the LCMS agreed with the second <a href="/wiki/American_Lutheran_Church" title="American Lutheran Church">American Lutheran Church</a> (the successor to the first ALC) and the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Lutheran Church in America">Lutheran Church in America</a> (LCA) to form the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Council_in_the_United_States_of_America" title="Lutheran Council in the United States of America">Lutheran Council in the United States of America</a> (LCUSA), but only on the assurance that a program of theological discussion would be implemented.<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> With the election of <a href="/wiki/J._A._O._Preus_II" title="J. A. O. Preus II">J. A. O. Preus II</a> as its president over the incumbent, <a href="/wiki/Oliver_Harms" title="Oliver Harms">Oliver Harms</a>, in 1969, the LCMS began a sharp turn towards a more conservative direction. A dispute over the use of the <a href="/wiki/Historical_criticism" title="Historical criticism">historical-critical method</a> for Biblical interpretation led to the suspension of <a href="/wiki/John_Tietjen" title="John Tietjen">John Tietjen</a> as president of <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Seminary" title="Concordia Seminary">Concordia Seminary</a>. In response, many of the faculty and students left the seminary and formed <a href="/wiki/Seminex" title="Seminex">Seminex</a> (Concordia Seminary in Exile), which took up residence at the nearby <a href="/wiki/Eden_Theological_Seminary" title="Eden Theological Seminary">Eden Theological Seminary</a> in suburban St. Louis. </p><p>The same convention which elected Preus as president also established altar and pulpit fellowship with the ALC. This was seen by many as a gesture toward Harms, who had supported the declaration of fellowship. Eight years later, the 1977 convention declared a state of "fellowship in protest" as the ALC exhibited closer ties to the more liberal LCA. The 1981 convention terminated the fellowship agreement.<sup id="cite_ref-Cyclopedia2_43-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Cyclopedia2-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A number of pastors and others did not think that Preus's method of dealing with false doctrine would be successful. On November 1–2, 1971, members of the Conference for Authentic Lutheranism in California and the Free Association for Authentic Lutheranism in the Midwest met in <a href="/wiki/Libertyville,_Illinois" title="Libertyville, Illinois">Libertyville, Illinois</a>, north of Chicago, to form a new church body, the Federation for Authentic Lutheranism (FAL). They expected 50 to 60 congregations to join, but in the end, only six did as the conservative wing continued to gain strength in the LCMS. FAL declared fellowship with the WELS in 1973, but did not survive very long thereafter.<sup id="cite_ref-:02_38-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:02-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1976, about 250 of the congregations supporting Seminex left the LCMS to form the <a href="/wiki/Association_of_Evangelical_Lutheran_Churches" title="Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches">Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches</a> (AELC). The LCMS restricted its participation with LCUSA shortly after the AELC schism and announced that it would not participate in any merger discussions. In 1988, the AELC, ALC, and LCA merged to form the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a>, and LCUSA was dissolved. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Foreign_missions">Foreign missions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Foreign missions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1900, the LCMS began sending missionaries to Brazil to minister to German-speaking immigrants in that country, and in 1904 created the Brazil District for the administration of the resulting congregations. Work was begun in Argentina in 1905 as part of the Brazil District. A separate Argentina District was established in 1926/1927. Both districts became independent church bodies that retain close relationships with the LCMS: the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Brazil" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil</a> in 1980, and the <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Argentina" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina</a> in 1988.<sup id="cite_ref-Cyclopedia_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Cyclopedia-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The LCMS supervised an extensive roster of congregations in <a href="/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a> until 1988, when the Canadian component became a separate and autonomous organization, <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church-Canada" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church-Canada">Lutheran Church-Canada</a>. However, this was an administrative, not theological division, and the two groups still share close ties and are in <a href="/wiki/Altar_and_pulpit_fellowship" title="Altar and pulpit fellowship">full communion</a> with one another. A small number of congregations in <a href="/wiki/Ontario" title="Ontario">Ontario</a> and <a href="/wiki/Quebec" title="Quebec">Quebec</a> that are in the non-geographical English and SELC districts remain within the LCMS.<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><sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <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=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Beliefs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Doctrinal_sources">Doctrinal sources</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Doctrinal sources"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>One of the signature teachings of the <a href="/wiki/Protestant_Reformation" class="mw-redirect" title="Protestant Reformation">Lutheran Reformation</a> is <i><a href="/wiki/Sola_scriptura" title="Sola scriptura">Sola scriptura</a></i>—"Scripture alone." The LCMS believes that the <a href="/wiki/Bible" title="Bible">Bible</a> is the only standard by which church teachings can be judged, and holds that Scripture is best explained and interpreted by the <i><a href="/wiki/Book_of_Concord" title="Book of Concord">Book of Concord</a></i>—a series of confessions of faith adopted by Lutherans in the 16th century. LCMS pastors and congregations agree to teach in harmony with the Book of Concord <i><a href="/wiki/Confessional_Lutheranism#"Quia"_versus_"Quatenus"_subscription" title="Confessional Lutheranism">because</a></i> they believe that it teaches and faithfully explains the Word of God, not based on its own authority alone. Since the LCMS is a <a href="/wiki/Confessional_church" class="mw-redirect" title="Confessional church">confessional church</a> body, its ordained and commissioned ministers of religion are sworn by their oaths of ordination or installation, or both, to interpret the Sacred Scriptures according to the <i>Book of Concord</i>.<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> Its ordained and commissioned ministers of religion are asked to honor and uphold other official teachings of the synod, meaning "to abide by, act, and teach in accordance with," but are not sworn to believe, confess and teach them as correct interpretations of the Sacred Scriptures.<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> The Missouri Synod also teaches <a href="/wiki/Biblical_inerrancy" title="Biblical inerrancy">biblical inerrancy</a>,<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> the teaching that the Bible is inspired by God and is without error. For this reason, they reject much—if not all—of modern <a href="/wiki/Liberal_Christianity" title="Liberal Christianity">liberal</a> scholarship. The <i>Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod</i>, written by <a href="/wiki/Franz_August_Otto_Pieper" class="mw-redirect" title="Franz August Otto Pieper">Franz August Otto Pieper</a>, was adopted by the synodical convention in 1932 as a summary of the major beliefs of the LCMS.<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-heading4"><h4 id="Salvation">Salvation</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Salvation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The LCMS believes that <a href="/wiki/Justification_(theology)" title="Justification (theology)">justification</a> comes from God "by <a href="/wiki/Divine_grace" title="Divine grace">divine grace</a> alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone." It teaches that <a href="/wiki/Jesus" title="Jesus">Jesus</a> is the focus of the entire Bible and that <a href="/wiki/Faith" title="Faith">faith</a> in him alone is the way to eternal <a href="/wiki/Salvation" title="Salvation">salvation</a>. The synod rejects any attempt to attribute salvation to anything other than Christ's <a href="/wiki/Death_and_Resurrection_of_Jesus" class="mw-redirect" title="Death and Resurrection of Jesus">death and resurrection</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Means_of_grace">Means of grace</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Means of grace"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The synod teaches that the Word of God, both written and preached, and the <a href="/wiki/Sacrament" title="Sacrament">Sacraments</a> are <a href="/wiki/Means_of_grace" title="Means of grace">means of grace</a> through which the <a href="/wiki/Holy_Spirit" title="Holy Spirit">Holy Spirit</a> gives the gift of God's grace, creates faith in the hearts of individuals, forgives sins for the sake of Christ's death on the <a href="/wiki/Christian_cross" title="Christian cross">cross</a>, and grants eternal life and salvation. Many Missouri Synod Lutherans define a sacrament as an action instituted by Jesus that combines a promise in God's Word with a physical element, although the synod holds no official definition for sacrament. This means that some may disagree on the number of sacraments. All agree that <a href="/wiki/Baptism" title="Baptism">Baptism</a> and <a href="/wiki/Eucharist" title="Eucharist">Communion</a> are sacraments.<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> <a href="/wiki/Confession_(religion)#Confession_of_sins" title="Confession (religion)">Confession and absolution</a> is called a sacrament in the <a href="/wiki/Apology_of_the_Augsburg_Confession" title="Apology of the Augsburg Confession">Apology of the Augsburg Confession</a> and so is also considered by many Lutherans to be a sacrament, because it was instituted by Christ and has His promise of grace, even though it is not tied to a physical element. </p><p>Unlike <a href="/wiki/Calvinism" class="mw-redirect" title="Calvinism">Calvinists</a>, Lutherans agree that the means of grace are <a href="/wiki/Irresistible_grace#Lutheran" title="Irresistible grace">resistible</a>; this belief is based on numerous biblical references as discussed in the <i>Book of Concord</i>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Sacramental_Union_and_the_Eucharist">Sacramental Union and the Eucharist</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Sacramental Union and the Eucharist"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Regarding the <a href="/wiki/Eucharist" title="Eucharist">Eucharist</a>, the LCMS rejects both the <a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Roman Catholic Church">Roman Catholic</a> doctrine of <a href="/wiki/Transubstantiation" title="Transubstantiation">transubstantiation</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Reformed_churches" class="mw-redirect" title="Reformed churches">Reformed</a> teaching that the true body and blood of Christ are not consumed with the consecrated bread and wine in the Eucharist. Rather, it believes in the doctrine of the <a href="/wiki/Sacramental_union" title="Sacramental union">sacramental union</a>, <a href="/wiki/Real_Presence" class="mw-redirect" title="Real Presence">Real Presence</a>, that the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present "in, with, and under" the elements of bread and wine. Or, as the <a href="/wiki/Smalcald_Articles" title="Smalcald Articles">Smalcald Articles</a> express this mystery: "Of the Sacrament of the Altar, we hold that the bread and wine in the Supper are Christ's true body and blood."<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This is commonly known as the doctrine of <a href="/wiki/Consubstantiation" title="Consubstantiation">consubstantiation</a>, though the term is generally rejected by Lutherans and is explicitly rejected by the LCMS as an attempt to define the holy mystery of Christ's presence.<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> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Eschatology">Eschatology</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Eschatology"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Missouri Synod flatly rejects <a href="/wiki/Millennialism" title="Millennialism">millennialism</a><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> and considers itself <a href="/wiki/Amillennialism" title="Amillennialism">amillennialist.</a><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> This means that it believes there will be no literal 1000-year visible earthly kingdom of Jesus, a view termed as "realized millennialism" in which the "thousand years" of Rev 20:1–10 is taken figuratively as a reference to the time of Christ's reign as king from the day of his ascension. Hence, the millennium is a present reality (Christ's heavenly reign), not a future hope for a rule of Christ on earth after his return (the <a href="/wiki/Parousia" class="mw-redirect" title="Parousia">parousia</a>)<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> (cf. Mt 13:41–42; Mt 28:18; Eph 2:6; Col 3:1–3). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Law_and_Gospel">Law and Gospel</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Law and Gospel"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The LCMS believes that the Holy Scriptures contain two crucial teachings—<a href="/wiki/Law_and_Gospel" title="Law and Gospel">Law and Gospel</a>. The Law is all those demands in the Bible which must be obeyed in order to gain salvation. However, because all people are <a href="/wiki/Sin#Christianity" title="Sin">sinners</a>, it is impossible for people to completely obey the Law. Therefore, the Law implies an inevitable consequence of God's wrath, judgment, and damnation. The Gospel, on the other hand, is the promise of free salvation from God to sinners. The Law condemns; the Gospel saves. Both the Law and the Gospel are gifts from God; both are necessary. The function of the law is to show people their sinful nature and drive them to <span class="cleanup-needed-content" style="padding-left:0.1em; padding-right:0.1em; color:var(--color-subtle, #54595d); border:1px solid var(--border-color-subtle, #c8ccd1);">the Gospel, in which the forgiveness of sin is promised for the sake of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.</span><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="margin-left:0.1em; white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="Meaning is unclear. See "Word Salad in "Law and Gospel" thread on talk page. (April 2022)">clarification needed</span></a></i>]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The LCMS holds that the <a href="/wiki/Old_Testament" title="Old Testament">Old Testament</a> and the <a href="/wiki/New_Testament" title="New Testament">New Testament</a> both contain both <a href="/wiki/Law_and_Gospel" title="Law and Gospel">Law and Gospel</a>. The Old Testament, therefore, is valuable to Christians. Its teachings point forward in time to the Cross of Christ in the same way that the New Testament points backward in time to the Cross. That Lutheran doctrine is summarized by C. F. W. Walther in <i>The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel</i>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Other_doctrine">Other doctrine</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Other doctrine"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Antichrists">Antichrists</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Antichrists"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The LCMS holds that all "false teachers who teach contrary to Christ's Word are opponents of Christ" and, insofar as they do so, are anti-Christ.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQs_59-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQs-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The LCMS does not teach, nor has it ever taught, that any individual <a href="/wiki/Pope" title="Pope">pope</a> as a person is to be identified with the Antichrist.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQs_59-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQs-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, to the extent that the papacy continues to claim as official dogma the canons and decrees of the <a href="/wiki/Council_of_Trent" title="Council of Trent">Council of Trent</a>, the LCMS position is that the office of the <a href="/wiki/Papacy" class="mw-redirect" title="Papacy">papacy</a> is the Antichrist.<sup id="cite_ref-FAQs_59-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FAQs-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Creationism">Creationism</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Creationism"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The LCMS officially supports literal <a href="/wiki/Creationism" title="Creationism">creationism</a> but does not have an official position on the precise age of the Earth.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An official publication of the synod, the <i>Brief Statement</i> of 1932, states under the heading "Of Creation": "We teach that God has created heaven and earth, and that in the manner and in the space of time recorded in the Holy Scriptures, especially Gen. 1 and 2, namely, by His almighty creative word, and in six days."<sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> According to the recent 2004 LCMS synodical resolution 2-08A "To commend preaching and teaching Creation", all LCMS churches and educational institutions—including preschool through 12th grade, universities, and seminaries—are "to teach creation from the Biblical perspective." The LCMS web site says that an individual's personal views regarding creation do not disqualify a person from being a member of the LCMS.<sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Freemasonry">Freemasonry</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Freemasonry"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The LCMS believes that the teachings of <a href="/wiki/Freemasonry" title="Freemasonry">Freemasonry</a> are in direct conflict with the Gospel and instructs its pastors and laypeople to <a href="/wiki/Anti-Masonry" title="Anti-Masonry">avoid membership or participation in it</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-63" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-63"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>63<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Baptism_and_other_doctrine">Baptism and other doctrine</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Baptism and other doctrine"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The LCMS practices infant baptism, based on Acts 2:38–39<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>64<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and other passages of Scripture. It subscribes to the statement of faith found in the Apostles' Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer being applicable to daily life. The doctrines are emphasized in <i><a href="/wiki/Luther%27s_Small_Catechism" title="Luther's Small Catechism">Luther's Small Catechism</a></i>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Practices">Practices</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Practices"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Worship_and_music">Worship and music</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Worship and music"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The original constitution of the LCMS stated that one of its purposes is to strive toward uniformity in practice, while more recent changes to those documents also encourage responsible and doctrinally sound diversity. The synod requires that <a href="/wiki/Hymn" title="Hymn">hymns</a>, songs, <a href="/wiki/Liturgy" title="Liturgy">liturgies</a>, and practices be in harmony with the <a href="/wiki/Bible" title="Bible">Bible</a> and <i><a href="/wiki/Book_of_Concord" title="Book of Concord">Book of Concord</a></i>. Worship in LCMS congregations is generally thought of as orthodox and liturgical, utilizing a printed order of service and hymnal, and is typically accompanied by a <a href="/wiki/Pipe_organ" title="Pipe organ">pipe organ</a> or <a href="/wiki/Piano" title="Piano">piano</a>. The contents of LCMS hymnals from the past, such as <i><a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Hymnal" title="The Lutheran Hymnal">The Lutheran Hymnal</a></i> and <i><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Worship" title="Lutheran Worship">Lutheran Worship</a></i>, and those of its newest hymnal, <i><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Service_Book" title="Lutheran Service Book">Lutheran Service Book</a></i>, highlight the synod's unwavering stance towards more traditional styles of hymnody and liturgy. More traditional LCMS Lutherans point to the Lutheran Confessions in their defense of liturgical worship.<sup id="cite_ref-examples_65-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-examples-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Towards the later parts of the twentieth century and up until present day, some congregations have adopted a more progressive style of worship, employing different styles such as <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_Christian_music" title="Contemporary Christian music">contemporary Christian music</a> with guitars and praise bands and often project song lyrics onto screens instead of using hymnals. While this shift in style challenges the traditionalism of hymnody that the LCMS holds strongly, the LCMS has released a statement on worship stating that, "The best of musical traditions, both ancient and modern, are embraced by the Lutheran church in its worship, with an emphasis on congregational singing, reinforced by the choir."<sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Reception_of_communion">Reception of communion</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Reception of communion"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The LCMS endorses the doctrine of close or <a href="/wiki/Closed_communion" title="Closed communion">closed communion</a><sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>67<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>68<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>—the policy of sharing the <a href="/wiki/Eucharist" title="Eucharist">Eucharist</a> ordinarily only with those who are <a href="/wiki/Baptism" title="Baptism">baptized</a> and <a href="/wiki/Confirmation" title="Confirmation">confirmed</a> members of one of the congregations of the LCMS or of a congregation of one of its <a href="/wiki/Sister_Churches_(ecclesiology)" class="mw-redirect" title="Sister Churches (ecclesiology)">sister churches</a> with which it has formally declared altar and pulpit fellowship (i.e., agreement in all articles of doctrine). Missouri Synod congregations implement closed communion in various ways, requiring conformity to official doctrine in various degrees. Usually, visitors are asked to speak with the pastor before coming to that congregation's altar for the first time. Most congregations invite those uneducated on the subject of the Eucharist to join in the fellowship and receive a blessing instead of the body and blood of Christ. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ordination">Ordination</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Ordination"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Ordination is seen as a public ceremony of recognition that a man has received and accepted a divine call, and hence is considered to be in the office of the Holy Ministry. The <a href="/wiki/Treatise_on_the_Power_and_Primacy_of_the_Pope" title="Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope">Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope</a> agrees that "ordination was nothing else than such a ratification" of local elections by the people.<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>69<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The LCMS does not believe that the rite of ordination, though an accepted and praiseworthy ceremony, is divinely mandated<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>70<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> or an extension of an episcopal form of <a href="/wiki/Apostolic_succession" title="Apostolic succession">apostolic succession</a> but sees the office grounded in the Word and Sacrament ministry of the Gospel, arguing that Scripture makes no distinction between a presbyter (priest) and a bishop (see <a href="/wiki/Treatise_on_the_Power_and_Primacy_of_the_Pope" title="Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope">Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope</a>, paragraphs 63,64, citing St. <a href="/wiki/Jerome" title="Jerome">Jerome</a>). The <a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Confession" title="Augsburg Confession">Augsburg Confession</a> (Article XIV) holds that no one is to preach, teach, or administer the sacraments without a regular call. </p><p>LCMS pastors are generally required to have a four-year bachelor's degree (in any discipline), as well as a four-year <a href="/wiki/Master_of_Divinity" title="Master of Divinity">Master of Divinity</a> degree, which is usually obtained from one of these institutions: <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Seminary" title="Concordia Seminary">Concordia Seminary</a> in St. Louis or the <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Theological_Seminary" title="Concordia Theological Seminary">Concordia Theological Seminary</a> in <a href="/wiki/Fort_Wayne,_Indiana" title="Fort Wayne, Indiana">Fort Wayne, Indiana</a> or at the two seminaries run by the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Canada" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Church–Canada">Lutheran Church–Canada</a>. Candidates may earn their Master of Divinity degree at other seminaries but may then be required to take colloquy classes at either St. Louis or Ft. Wayne. Seminary training includes classwork in historical theology, Biblical languages (<a href="/wiki/Greek_language#Koine_Greek" title="Greek language">Biblical Greek</a> and <a href="/wiki/Hebrew_language" title="Hebrew language">Hebrew</a>), practical application (education, preaching, and mission), and doctrine (the basic teachings and beliefs of the synod). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Role_of_women_in_the_church">Role of women in the church</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Role of women in the church"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Missouri Synod teaches that the <a href="/wiki/Ordination_of_women" title="Ordination of women">ordination of women</a> as clergy is contrary to scripture. The issue of women's roles in the church body has continued to be a subject of debate within the synod. During the Cooperative Clergy Study Project in 2000, 10% out of 652 LCMS pastors surveyed stated that all clergy positions should be open to women, while 82% disagreed.<sup id="cite_ref-71" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-71"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>71<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Congregations were permitted to enact <a href="/wiki/Female_suffrage" class="mw-redirect" title="Female suffrage">female suffrage</a> within Missouri Synod congregations in 1969, and it was affirmed at the synod's 2004 convention that women may also "serve in humanly established offices" as long as those offices do not include any of the "distinctive functions of the pastoral office". Thus in some congregations of the LCMS, women now serve as congregation president or chairperson, etc. This is the cause of contention within the LCMS, with some congregations utilizing women in public worship to read lessons and assist in the distribution of holy communion. Other traditional Lutherans reject such practices as unbiblical, with a minority of congregations continuing the historic practice of <a href="/wiki/Wisconsin_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod#Differences_from_LCMS_(Lutheran_Church–Missouri_Synod)" title="Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod">male suffrage</a>, similar to the <a href="/wiki/Wisconsin_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Wisconsin Synod">Wisconsin Synod</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Interfaith_services">Interfaith services</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Interfaith services"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The LCMS bars its clergy from worshiping with other faiths, holding "that church fellowship or merger between church bodies in doctrinal disagreement with one another is not in keeping with what the Bible teaches about church fellowship."<sup id="cite_ref-72" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-72"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>72<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In practice of this, a Connecticut LCMS pastor was asked to apologize by the president of the denomination, and did so, for participating in an interfaith prayer vigil for the 26 children and adults <a href="/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting" title="Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting">killed at a Newtown elementary school</a>, and an LCMS pastor in New York was suspended for praying at an interfaith vigil in 2001, 12 days after the <a href="/wiki/September_11_attacks" title="September 11 attacks">September 11 attacks</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="LCMS_National_Youth_Gathering">LCMS National Youth Gathering</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: LCMS National Youth Gathering"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The National Youth Gathering is held every three years. The most recent gathering took place from July 9–13, 2022, in <a href="/wiki/Houston" title="Houston">Houston</a> with a theme of "In All Things." The 2019 gathering was held in <a href="/wiki/Minneapolis" title="Minneapolis">Minneapolis</a>, <a href="/wiki/Minnesota" title="Minnesota">Minnesota</a>, with a theme of "Real. Present. God." The theme for the 2016 gathering in <a href="/wiki/New_Orleans" title="New Orleans">New Orleans</a> was "In Christ Alone." The previous gathering took place in 2013 in <a href="/wiki/San_Antonio" title="San Antonio">San Antonio</a>, <a href="/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</a> from July 1–5, 2013. It was based on the theme, "Live Love(d)." The 2010 gathering in New Orleans was based on the theme "We Believe". In both 2007 and 2004, The LCMS National Youth Gatherings were held at the <a href="/wiki/Orange_County_Convention_Center" title="Orange County Convention Center">Orange County Convention Center</a> in <a href="/wiki/Orlando,_Florida" title="Orlando, Florida">Orlando, Florida</a>. The gathering's theme in 2007 was "Chosen." The gathering in 2007 was originally planned to be held in New Orleans, but due to <a href="/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina" title="Hurricane Katrina">Hurricane Katrina</a> the location was changed to Orlando. About 25,000 youth attend each gathering. Many Christian bands and artists perform at the gatherings.<sup id="cite_ref-74" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-74"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>74<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Church_structure">Church structure</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: Church structure"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:LCMS_corporate_seal.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3d/LCMS_corporate_seal.jpg/220px-LCMS_corporate_seal.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="219" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/LCMS_corporate_seal.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="317" data-file-height="315" /></a><figcaption>Official seal of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod</figcaption></figure> <p>The LCMS has a synodical polity, which can be described as modified <a href="/wiki/Congregationalist_polity" class="mw-redirect" title="Congregationalist polity">congregational polity</a> with <a href="/wiki/Episcopal_polity" title="Episcopal polity">episcopal polity</a> elements.<sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-75"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>75<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is organized into <a href="/wiki/Districts_of_the_Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod">35 districts</a>, each of which has a president who oversees the parishes in his district, akin to the role of <a href="/wiki/Bishop" title="Bishop">bishop</a> used in other church traditions. However, resolutions passed by the synod and the respective districts are not binding on a congregation if they are not according to Scripture or are inexpedient for a congregation.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_76-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>76<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> That is somewhat different from some other Lutheran bodies which have maintained complete <a href="/wiki/Episcopal_polity" title="Episcopal polity">episcopal polity</a>; however, this is not a point of doctrine, as the LCMS is in fellowship with some Lutheran church bodies in Europe and elsewhere that have an episcopal structure. </p><p>The LCMS is formally composed of two types of members: self-governing local congregations<sup id="cite_ref-:1_76-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-76"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>76<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> that qualify for membership by mutual agreement to adhere to stated principles, and clergymen who qualify by similar means. Congregations hold legal title to their church buildings and other property, and call (hire) and dismiss their own clergy. It allows the congregations to work together on projects too large for even a local consortium of congregations to accomplish, such as foreign mission work. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Synod">Synod</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Synod"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The LCMS as a whole is led by an ordained synodical president, currently <a href="/wiki/Matthew_Harrison_(minister)" title="Matthew Harrison (minister)">Matthew C. Harrison</a>. The president is chosen at a synodical convention, a gathering of the two membership groups (clergymen and <a href="/wiki/Laity" title="Laity">lay representatives</a> from the member congregations). The convention is held every three years; discussions of doctrine and policy take place at these events, and elections are held to fill various synod positions. The latest LCMS convention took place in 2023 in <a href="/wiki/Milwaukee" title="Milwaukee">Milwaukee, Wisconsin</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-77"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>77<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Local conventions within each <a href="/wiki/Circuit_(LCMS)" title="Circuit (LCMS)">circuit</a> and district are held in the intervening years. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Presidents">Presidents</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: Presidents"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:MatthewHarrisonattheConvention.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/MatthewHarrisonattheConvention.jpg/220px-MatthewHarrisonattheConvention.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="145" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/MatthewHarrisonattheConvention.jpg 1.5x" data-file-width="243" data-file-height="160" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Matthew_C._Harrison" class="mw-redirect" title="Matthew C. Harrison">Matthew C. Harrison</a> is the current president of the Missouri Synod.</figcaption></figure> <ul><li>1847–1850 <a href="/wiki/C._F._W._Walther" title="C. F. W. Walther">Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther</a></li> <li>1850–1864 <a href="/wiki/F._C._D._Wyneken" title="F. C. D. Wyneken">Friedrich Conrad Dietrich Wyneken</a></li> <li>1864–1878 Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther</li> <li>1878–1899 <a href="/wiki/Heinrich_Christian_Schwan" title="Heinrich Christian Schwan">Heinrich Christian Schwan</a></li> <li>1899–1911 <a href="/wiki/Franz_August_Otto_Pieper" class="mw-redirect" title="Franz August Otto Pieper">Franz August Otto Pieper</a></li> <li>1911–1935 <a href="/wiki/Friedrich_Pfotenhauer" title="Friedrich Pfotenhauer">Friedrich Pfotenhauer</a></li> <li>1935–1962 <a href="/wiki/John_William_Behnken" class="mw-redirect" title="John William Behnken">John William Behnken</a></li> <li>1962–1969 <a href="/wiki/Oliver_Raymond_Harms" class="mw-redirect" title="Oliver Raymond Harms">Oliver Raymond Harms</a></li> <li>1969–1981 <a href="/wiki/J._A._O._Preus_II" title="J. A. O. Preus II">Jacob A. O. Preus II</a></li> <li>1981–1992 <a href="/wiki/Ralph_Arthur_Bohlmann" class="mw-redirect" title="Ralph Arthur Bohlmann">Ralph Arthur Bohlmann</a></li> <li>1992–2001 <a href="/wiki/Alvin_L._Barry" title="Alvin L. Barry">Alvin L. Barry</a></li> <li>2001–2001 <a href="/wiki/Robert_T._Kuhn" title="Robert T. Kuhn">Robert T. Kuhn</a></li> <li>2001–2010 <a href="/wiki/Gerald_B._Kieschnick" title="Gerald B. Kieschnick">Gerald B. Kieschnick</a></li> <li>2010–present <a href="/wiki/Matthew_Harrison_(cleric)" class="mw-redirect" title="Matthew Harrison (cleric)">Matthew C. Harrison</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Districts">Districts</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: Districts"><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/Districts_of_the_Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod" class="mw-redirect" title="Districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod">Districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod</a></div> <p>The entire synod is divided into 35 districts. Of these, 33 have jurisdiction over specific geographic areas. The other two, the <a href="/wiki/English_District_(LCMS)" class="mw-redirect" title="English District (LCMS)">English</a> and the <a href="/wiki/SELC_District_(LCMS)" class="mw-redirect" title="SELC District (LCMS)">SELC</a>, are non-geographic and were formed when the English Missouri Synod and the Slovak Synod, respectively, merged with the formerly German-speaking Missouri Synod. Each district is led by an elected district president, who must be an ordained clergyman. Most district presidencies are full-time positions, but there are a few exceptions in which the district president also serves as a parish pastor. The districts are subdivided into <a href="/wiki/Circuit_(LCMS)" title="Circuit (LCMS)">circuits</a>, each of which is led by a circuit visitor, who is an ordained pastor from one of the member congregations. Districts are analogous to dioceses in other Christian communities. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Congregations">Congregations</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: Congregations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Most congregations are served by full-time clergy. Some congregations, usually in rural areas, are served by ordained bi-vocational ministers (worker-priests) who maintain secular employment for sustenance and receive a small stipend or none at all. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Organizations">Organizations</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: Organizations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Educational_institutions">Educational institutions</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: Educational institutions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In addition to its two seminaries, the LCMS operates seven universities, known as the <a href="/wiki/Concordia_University_System" title="Concordia University System">Concordia University System</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Auxiliary_organizations">Auxiliary organizations</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=36" title="Edit section: Auxiliary organizations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Among the LCMS's other auxiliary organizations are the Lutheran Laymen's League (now known as <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Hour_Ministries" title="Lutheran Hour Ministries">Lutheran Hour Ministries</a>), which conducts outreach ministries including <i><a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Hour" title="The Lutheran Hour">The Lutheran Hour</a></i> radio program; and the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Women%27s_Missionary_League" title="Lutheran Women's Missionary League">Lutheran Women's Missionary League</a>. The synod also operates <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>, through which it publishes its official magazine, <i><a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Witness" class="mw-redirect" title="The Lutheran Witness">The Lutheran Witness</a>,</i><sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-78"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>78<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and newspaper, <i>Reporter</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-79"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>79<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The LCMS also operates the <a href="/wiki/LCMS_Foundation" title="LCMS Foundation">LCMS Foundation</a> for trust and benefit purposes<sup id="cite_ref-80" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-80"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>80<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the Lutheran Church Extension Fund to provide loans to LCMS congregations, organizations, and workers.<sup id="cite_ref-81" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-81"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>81<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Relationship_with_other_Evangelical_Lutheran_bodies">Relationship with other Evangelical Lutheran bodies</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=37" title="Edit section: Relationship with other Evangelical Lutheran bodies"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Maintaining its position as a confessional church body emphasizing the importance of full agreement in the teachings of the <a href="/wiki/Bible" title="Bible">Bible</a>, the LCMS is not associated with the majority of ecumenical religious organizations such as the [[National Council of Churches[National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. / National Council of Churches]] (NCCC-USA) the <a href="/wiki/National_Association_of_Evangelicals" title="National Association of Evangelicals">National Association of Evangelicals</a> (NAE), the <a href="/wiki/World_Council_of_Churches" title="World Council of Churches">World Council of Churches</a> (wCC) or the <a href="/wiki/Lutheran_World_Federation" title="Lutheran World Federation">Lutheran World Federation</a> (LWF). It is, however, a member of the <a href="/wiki/International_Lutheran_Council" title="International Lutheran Council">International Lutheran Council</a> (ILC), made up of over 50 Evangelical Lutheran churches worldwide that support the conservative / confessional doctrines of the <a href="/wiki/Bible" title="Bible">Bible</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Confession" title="Augsburg Confession">Unaltered Augsburg Confession</a> of 1530, among other generally accepted theological documents, most included in the subsequent seminal <a href="/wiki/Book_of_Concord" title="Book of Concord">Book of Concord</a> of 1580, accepted by worldwide <a href="/wiki/Lutheranism" title="Lutheranism">Evangelical Lutheranism</a>. </p><p>At the 2007 LC-MS convention, the delegates voted to establish altar and pulpit fellowship with the recently established <a href="/wiki/American_Association_of_Lutheran_Churches" title="American Association of Lutheran Churches">American Association of Lutheran Churches</a> (AALC). </p><p>Although its strongly conservative views on theology and ethics might seem to make the LCMS politically compatible with other <a href="/wiki/Protestantism" title="Protestantism">Protestant</a> <a href="/wiki/Evangelicalism" title="Evangelicalism">evangelicals</a> and <a href="/wiki/Fundamentalism" title="Fundamentalism">fundamentalists</a> in the <a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> and around the world, the LCMS largely eschews political activity, partly out of concerns to keep the denomination untainted with potential heresies and also because of its strict understanding of the Lutheran distinction between the <a href="/wiki/Doctrine_of_the_two_kingdoms" class="mw-redirect" title="Doctrine of the two kingdoms">Two Kingdoms</a>. However, many LCMS and evangelicals share the common belief that life begins and should be protected by law since conception.<sup id="cite_ref-82" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-82"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>82<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The LCMS is distinguished from the also conservative <a href="/wiki/Wisconsin_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod" title="Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod">Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod</a> (WELS) (the third largest Evangelical Lutheran denomination in the U.S.) by three main theological beliefs: </p> <ol><li>The biblical understanding of fellowship: the LCMS believes in a distinction between the altar, pulpit fellowship, and other manifestations of <a href="/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity">Christian</a> fellowship (in other words, a prayer fellowship). The WELS does not.</li> <li>The doctrine of the ministry: the LCMS believes that the Pastoral office is divinely established, but all other offices are human institutions and hence are not divinely established. The WELS believes that the Ministry of the Word is divinely established and that congregations and the synod may choose the forms of public ministry they wish to use.</li> <li>The role of women in the church: Although both the LCMS and WELS agree that Scripture reserves the pastoral office and <a href="/wiki/Ordination" title="Ordination">ordination</a> for men, the WELS also believes that Scripture forbids women's suffrage in the congregation and councils.</li></ol> <p>Respondents to the recent <a href="/wiki/Pew_Research_Center" title="Pew Research Center">Pew Research Center</a>'s U.S. Religious Landscape Survey of 2008 included members of the LCMS and the larger <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a> (ELCA)<sup id="cite_ref-pewstudy_83-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-pewstudy-83"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>83<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" border="1" style="text-align: right;"> <tbody><tr style="text-align:center; background:#d8edff;"> <th colspan="2">Pew Survey Results by Denomination</th> <th>LCMS</th> <th>ELCA </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Number of adults surveyed out of total of 35,556:</td> <td>588</td> <td>869 </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Percent of adults in the United States:</td> <td>1.4%</td> <td>2.0% </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">Percent of adult Protestants in the United States:</td> <td>2.7%</td> <td>3.8% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">Do you believe in God or a universal spirit?</td> <td>Absolutely Certain:</td> <td>84%</td> <td>77% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Fairly Certain:</td> <td>12%</td> <td>19% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Do not believe in God:</td> <td>1%</td> <td>0% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't Know/Refused/Other:</td> <td>1%</td> <td>1% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">The Bible</td> <td>Word of God to be taken literally word for word:</td> <td>42%</td> <td>23% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Word of God, but not literally true word for word/Unsure if literally true:</td> <td>39%</td> <td>48% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Book written by men, not the word of God:</td> <td>15%</td> <td>20% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't Know/Refused/Other:</td> <td>4%</td> <td>9% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Abortion</td> <td>Abortion should be legal in all cases:</td> <td>16%</td> <td>18% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Abortion should be legal in most cases:</td> <td>35%</td> <td>42% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Abortion should be illegal in most cases:</td> <td>32%</td> <td>26% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Abortion should be illegal in all cases:</td> <td>13%</td> <td>6% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't know/Refused:</td> <td>5%</td> <td>7% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">Interpretation of Religious Teachings</td> <td>There is only ONE true way to interpret the teachings of my religion:</td> <td>28%</td> <td>15% </td></tr> <tr> <td>There is MORE than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion:</td> <td>68%</td> <td>82% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Neither/Both Equally:</td> <td>1%</td> <td>1% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't Know/Refused:</td> <td>3%</td> <td>2% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">Homosexuality</td> <td>Homosexuality should be accepted:</td> <td>44%</td> <td>56% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Homosexuality should be discouraged:</td> <td>47%</td> <td>33% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Neither/Both Equally:</td> <td>4%</td> <td>3% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Don't Know/Refused:</td> <td>5%</td> <td>3% </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Membership_and_demographics">Membership and demographics</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=38" title="Edit section: Membership and demographics"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Membership growth was substantial in the first half of the 20th century. According to the <i>Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches</i>,<sup id="cite_ref-Yearbook_84-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Yearbook-84"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>84<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> the LCMS had 628,695 members in 1925. By 1950 the number of members had grown to over 1.6 million. Membership peaked in 1970 at just under 2.8 million. In 2020,the LCMS reported 1,861,129 members and 5,976 churches, with 5,938 active clergy.<sup id="cite_ref-LCMS_Inc._Annual_Report-_2020_85-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LCMS_Inc._Annual_Report-_2020-85"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>85<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> LCMS membership continues to be concentrated in the Upper Midwest. The five states with the highest rates of adherence are Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.<sup id="cite_ref-2000_Religious_Congregations_and_Membership_Study_86-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2000_Religious_Congregations_and_Membership_Study-86"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>86<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed collapsible collapsed" border="1" style="text-align: right;"> <tbody><tr style="text-align:center; background:#d8edff;"> <th colspan="5">LCMS Membership Statistics </th></tr> <tr> <th>Year</th> <th>Pastors</th> <th>Congregations</th> <th>Members</th> <th>References </th></tr> <tr> <td>1847</td> <td>22</td> <td>NA</td> <td>NA</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1848</td> <td>50</td> <td>NA</td> <td>NA</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1849</td> <td>61</td> <td>NA</td> <td>NA</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1850</td> <td>75</td> <td>NA</td> <td>NA</td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1872</td> <td>415</td> <td>543</td> <td>NA</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-87" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-87"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>87<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1897</td> <td>1,564</td> <td>1,986</td> <td>687,334</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-88" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-88"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>88<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1922</td> <td>3,073</td> <td>NA</td> <td>1,041,514</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-89" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-89"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>89<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1925</td> <td>3,062</td> <td>3,849</td> <td>628,695</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1929</td> <td>3,279</td> <td>3,542</td> <td>696,967</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1935</td> <td>3,605</td> <td>4,224</td> <td>1,230,705</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1939</td> <td>NA</td> <td>4,205</td> <td>1,277,097</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1941</td> <td>NA</td> <td>4,326</td> <td>1,320,510</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1944</td> <td>NA</td> <td>4,075</td> <td>1,356,665</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1946</td> <td>NA</td> <td>4,430</td> <td>1,469,213</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1950</td> <td>4,621</td> <td>4,430</td> <td>1,674,901</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1951</td> <td>4,661</td> <td>4,478</td> <td>1,728,989</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1953</td> <td>4,817</td> <td>4,592</td> <td>1,850,100</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1954</td> <td>4,916</td> <td>4,701</td> <td>1,932,000</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1955</td> <td>5,020</td> <td>4,805</td> <td>2,004,110</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1956</td> <td>5,037</td> <td>4,989</td> <td>2,076,550</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1957</td> <td>5,178</td> <td>4,979</td> <td>2,150,230</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1958</td> <td>5,299</td> <td>5,028</td> <td>2,234,844</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1959</td> <td>5,398</td> <td>5,109</td> <td>2,304,962</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1960</td> <td>5,506</td> <td>5,215</td> <td>2,391,195</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1961</td> <td>5,658</td> <td>5,276</td> <td>2,464,436</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1962</td> <td>5,756</td> <td>5,432</td> <td>2,522,095</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1963</td> <td>6,091</td> <td>5,519</td> <td>2,591,762</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1964</td> <td>6,257</td> <td>5,556</td> <td>2,650,857</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1965</td> <td>6,395</td> <td>5,639</td> <td>2,692,889</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1966</td> <td>6,469</td> <td>5,647</td> <td>2,729,897</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1967</td> <td>6,572</td> <td>5,707</td> <td>2,759,308</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1968</td> <td>6,719</td> <td>5,733</td> <td>2,781,892</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1969</td> <td>6,758</td> <td>5,745</td> <td>2,786,102</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1970</td> <td>6,866</td> <td>5,690</td> <td>2,788,536</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1971</td> <td>7,041</td> <td>5,724</td> <td>2,788,110</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1972</td> <td>7,174</td> <td>5,741</td> <td>2,781,297</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1973</td> <td>7,316</td> <td>5,777</td> <td>2,776,104</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1974</td> <td>7,331</td> <td>5,813</td> <td>2,769,594</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1975</td> <td>7,425</td> <td>5,797</td> <td>2,763,545</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1976</td> <td>7,414</td> <td>5,832</td> <td>2,757,271</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1977</td> <td>7,163</td> <td>5,687</td> <td>2,673,321</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-33" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1978</td> <td>7,161</td> <td>5,669</td> <td>2,631,374</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1979</td> <td>7,211</td> <td>5,689</td> <td>2,623,181</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1980</td> <td>7,296</td> <td>5,694</td> <td>2,625,650</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1981</td> <td>7,376</td> <td>5,710</td> <td>2,636,715</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1982</td> <td>7,559</td> <td>5,752</td> <td>2,630,823</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1983</td> <td>7,682</td> <td>5,829</td> <td>2,630,947</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-39" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1984</td> <td>7,823</td> <td>5,812</td> <td>2,628,133</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1985</td> <td>7,954</td> <td>5,876</td> <td>2,638,164</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-41" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1986</td> <td>8,044</td> <td>5,897</td> <td>2,630,588</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1987</td> <td>8,139</td> <td>5,912</td> <td>2,614,375</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1988</td> <td>8,193</td> <td>5,939</td> <td>2,604,278</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-44" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1989</td> <td>8,271</td> <td>5,990</td> <td>2,609,025</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1990</td> <td>8,301</td> <td>5,296</td> <td>2,602,849</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1991</td> <td>8,389</td> <td>5,364</td> <td>2,607,309</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1992</td> <td>8,799</td> <td>5,369</td> <td>2,609,905</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-48" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1993</td> <td>8,844</td> <td>6,134</td> <td>2,598,935</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1994</td> <td>8,879</td> <td>6,148</td> <td>2,596,927</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-50" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1995</td> <td>8,140</td> <td>6,154</td> <td>2,594,555</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1996</td> <td>8,215</td> <td>6,099</td> <td>2,601,144</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1997</td> <td>8,672</td> <td>6,215</td> <td>2,603,036</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1998</td> <td>8,316</td> <td>6,218</td> <td>2,594,404</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>1999</td> <td>8,365</td> <td>6,220</td> <td>2,582,440</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2000</td> <td>8,257</td> <td>6,150</td> <td>2,554,088</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-56" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2001</td> <td>8,497</td> <td>6,187</td> <td>2,540,045</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-57" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2002</td> <td>8,505</td> <td>6,142</td> <td>2,512,714</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2003</td> <td>8,515</td> <td>6,160</td> <td>2,488,936</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2004</td> <td>8,515</td> <td>6,151</td> <td>2,463,747</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2005</td> <td>8,502</td> <td>6,144</td> <td>2,440,864</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2006</td> <td>8,601</td> <td>6,155</td> <td>2,417,997</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2007</td> <td>8,901</td> <td>6,167</td> <td>2,383,084</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-63" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2008</td> <td>9,010</td> <td>6,123</td> <td>2,337,349</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2009</td> <td>9,357</td> <td>6,178</td> <td>2,312,111</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-65" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2010</td> <td>8,927</td> <td>6,158</td> <td>2,278,586</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-ARDA_90-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>90<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2011</td> <td>7,879</td> <td>6,145</td> <td>2,231,858</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-91"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>91<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2012</td> <td>NA</td> <td>6,151</td> <td>2,196,788</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-92" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-92"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>92<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2013</td> <td>8,948</td> <td>6,151</td> <td>2,163,698</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-2014Stats_93-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2014Stats-93"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>93<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2014</td> <td>9,042</td> <td>6,136</td> <td>2,097,258</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-2014Stats_93-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2014Stats-93"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>93<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2015</td> <td>6,049</td> <td>6,101</td> <td>2,060,514</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-94" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-94"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>94<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2016</td> <td>NA</td> <td>6,100</td> <td>2,017,834</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-95" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-95"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>95<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2018</td> <td>6,473</td> <td>6,046</td> <td>1,968,641</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-96" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-96"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>96<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2020</td> <td>6,308</td> <td>5,976</td> <td>1,861,129</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-LCMS_Inc.-_Annual_Report_97-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LCMS_Inc.-_Annual_Report-97"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>97<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> <tr> <td>2021</td> <td>6,116</td> <td>5,914</td> <td>1,807,408</td> <td><sup id="cite_ref-LCMS_Inc.-_Annual_Report2021_98-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-LCMS_Inc.-_Annual_Report2021-98"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>98<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Pew_Research_Center" title="Pew Research Center">Pew Research Center</a>'s U.S. Religious Landscape Survey in 2014 found that the LCMS was the third-least racially diverse major religious group in the country. The <a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in America">Evangelical Lutheran Church in America</a> was second and the <a href="/wiki/National_Baptist_Convention,_USA,_Inc." class="mw-redirect" title="National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.">National Baptist Convention</a> was the least diverse.<sup id="cite_ref-99" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-99"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>99<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The 2008 figures were:<sup id="cite_ref-100" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-100"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>100<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed collapsible collapsed" border="1" style="text-align: right;"> <tbody><tr style="text-align:center; background:#d8edff;"> <th colspan="2">Demographic Results for 2008</th> <th>ELCA</th> <th>LCMS</th> <th>Total Population </th></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">Age</td> <td>18–29</td> <td>8%</td> <td>11%</td> <td>20% </td></tr> <tr> <td>30–49</td> <td>36%</td> <td>32%</td> <td>39% </td></tr> <tr> <td>50–64</td> <td>29%</td> <td>31%</td> <td>25% </td></tr> <tr> <td>65+</td> <td>27%</td> <td>26%</td> <td>16% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Marital Status</td> <td>Never Married</td> <td>11%</td> <td>11%</td> <td>19% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Married</td> <td>63%</td> <td>60%</td> <td>54% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Living with Partner</td> <td>3%</td> <td>5%</td> <td>6% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Divorced/Separated</td> <td>10%</td> <td>11%</td> <td>12% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Widowed</td> <td>13%</td> <td>13%</td> <td>8% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Children at home under 18</td> <td>No Children</td> <td>70%</td> <td>72%</td> <td>65% </td></tr> <tr> <td>One Child</td> <td>11%</td> <td>11%</td> <td>13% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Two Children</td> <td>13%</td> <td>10%</td> <td>13% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Three Children</td> <td>5%</td> <td>5%</td> <td>6% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Four or more Children</td> <td>1%</td> <td>2%</td> <td>3% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Race</td> <td>White (non-Hispanic)</td> <td>97%</td> <td>95%</td> <td>71% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Black (non-Hispanic)</td> <td>1%</td> <td>2%</td> <td>11% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Asian (non-Hispanic)</td> <td>1%</td> <td>1%</td> <td>3% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Other/Mixed (non-Hispanic)</td> <td>1%</td> <td>1%</td> <td>3% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Hispanic</td> <td>1%</td> <td>1%</td> <td>12% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="4">Region</td> <td>Northeast</td> <td>19%</td> <td>7%</td> <td>19% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Midwest</td> <td>51%</td> <td>64%</td> <td>23% </td></tr> <tr> <td>South</td> <td>16%</td> <td>16%</td> <td>36% </td></tr> <tr> <td>West</td> <td>14%</td> <td>13%</td> <td>22% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2">Gender</td> <td>Male</td> <td>44%</td> <td>47%</td> <td>48% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Female</td> <td>56%</td> <td>53%</td> <td>52% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Level of Education</td> <td>Less than High School</td> <td>6%</td> <td>9%</td> <td>14% </td></tr> <tr> <td>High School Graduate</td> <td>38%</td> <td>38%</td> <td>36% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Some College</td> <td>26%</td> <td>25%</td> <td>23% </td></tr> <tr> <td>College Graduate</td> <td>19%</td> <td>18%</td> <td>16% </td></tr> <tr> <td>Post-graduate</td> <td>11%</td> <td>9%</td> <td>11% </td></tr> <tr> <td rowspan="5">Family Income</td> <td>Less than $30,000</td> <td>24%</td> <td>24%</td> <td>31% </td></tr> <tr> <td>$30,000–$49,999</td> <td>24%</td> <td>20%</td> <td>22% </td></tr> <tr> <td>$50,000–$74,999</td> <td>21%</td> <td>20%</td> <td>17% </td></tr> <tr> <td>$75,000–$99,999</td> <td>15%</td> <td>18%</td> <td>13% </td></tr> <tr> <td>$100,000 or more</td> <td>17%</td> <td>17%</td> <td>18% </td></tr></tbody></table> <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=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=39" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Church_of_Australia" title="Lutheran Church of Australia">Lutheran Church of Australia</a></li> <li><a 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></ul> <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=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=40" 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"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-LCMS_Inc.-_Annual_Report2023-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-LCMS_Inc.-_Annual_Report2023_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="error mw-ext-cite-error" lang="en" dir="ltr">Cite error: The named reference <code>LCMS Inc.- Annual Report2023</code> was invoked but never defined (see the <a href="/wiki/Help:Cite_errors/Cite_error_references_no_text" title="Help:Cite errors/Cite error references no text">help page</a>).</span></li> <li id="cite_note-SchoolStats-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-SchoolStats_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-SchoolStats_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></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://files.lcms.org/file/preview/DDCFD8B0-7812-4213-93D2-022A50CC2B94?">"LCMS Inc. Annual Report- 2021"</a>. Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">July 7,</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=LCMS+Inc.+Annual+Report-+2021&rft.pub=Lutheran+Church%E2%80%93Missouri+Synod&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ffiles.lcms.org%2Ffile%2Fpreview%2FDDCFD8B0-7812-4213-93D2-022A50CC2B94%3F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</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/wl/?id=FCLD7gkuZecVzfLi72lIGmoqthCmiG0F">"The Official Stylebook of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod"</a>. <i>The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod</i>. February 2018<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">November 29,</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Lutheran+Church%E2%80%94Missouri+Synod&rft.atitle=The+Official+Stylebook+of+The+Lutheran+Church%E2%80%94Missouri+Synod&rft.date=2018-02&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Ffiles.lcms.org%2Fwl%2F%3Fid%3DFCLD7gkuZecVzfLi72lIGmoqthCmiG0F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" 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 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>. 2023<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.date=2023&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%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKieschnick2007" class="citation journal cs1">Kieschnick, Jerry (November 2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://witness.lcms.org/2007/worldwide-partners-in-the-gospel-11-2007/">"Worldwide Partners in the Gospel"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Lutheran_Witness" class="mw-redirect" title="The Lutheran Witness">The Lutheran Witness</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 26,</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Lutheran+Witness&rft.atitle=Worldwide+Partners+in+the+Gospel&rft.date=2007-11&rft.aulast=Kieschnick&rft.aufirst=Jerry&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwitness.lcms.org%2F2007%2Fworldwide-partners-in-the-gospel-11-2007%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLueker1965" class="citation encyclopaedia cs1">Lueker, Erwin L. (1965). "Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod". In Bodensieck, Julius (ed.). <i>The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church</i>. Vol. 2. <a href="/wiki/Augsburg_Publishing_House" class="mw-redirect" title="Augsburg Publishing House">Augsburg Publishing House</a>. pp. 1408–1409.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Lutheran+Church%E2%80%94Missouri+Synod&rft.btitle=The+Encyclopedia+of+the+Lutheran+Church&rft.pages=1408-1409&rft.pub=Augsburg+Publishing+House&rft.date=1965&rft.aulast=Lueker&rft.aufirst=Erwin+L.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" class="Z3988"></span></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">Baepler, Walter A., <i>A Century of Grace: A History of the Missouri Synod, 1847–1947</i> (St. Louis: <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>, 1947), 9-12.</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">Forster, Walter O., <i>Zion on the Mississippi</i> (St. Louis: <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>, 1953), 199f.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Baepler, 28; Forster, 202-217.</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">Forster, 203.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Forster, 218.</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">Lueker, 1408</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">Baepler, 46ff.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Graebner, Theodore, "The Loehe Foundations" in H. 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Dau, ed., <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=fIgSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR1">Ebenezer: Reviews of the Work of the Missouri Synod during Three Quarters of a Century</a></i> (St. Louis: <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>, 1922), 78–81.</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">Pless, John T., <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/PlessLoeheMissouriSynod.pdf">"Wilhelm Loehe and the Missouri Synod: Forgotten Paternity or Living Legacy?"</a> (paper presented to the International Loehe Society assembled at <a href="/wiki/Wartburg_Theological_Seminary" title="Wartburg Theological Seminary">Wartburg Theological Seminary</a>, July 12. 2005), 6.</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">Graebner, 87–93.</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"><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.frankenmuth.org/about-frankenmuth/history">"Michigan's Little Bavaria"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Heintzen, <i>Love Leaves Home: Wilhelm Loehe and the Missouri Synod</i> (St. Louis: <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>, 1973), 73.</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">Mezger, George. <i><a href="//archive.org/details/denksteinzumfnf00synogoog/page/n55" class="extiw" title="iarchive:denksteinzumfnf00synogoog/page/n55"> Denkstein zum fünfundsiebzigjährigen Jubiläum der Missourisynode, 1847–1922</a></i>. <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>. St. Louis: 1922.</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://cyclopedia.lcms.org/display.asp?t1=b&word=BRUNN.FRIEDRICHAUGUST">"Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Christian Cyclopedia"</a>. Brunn, Friedrich August.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Lutheran+Church+-+Missouri+Synod+-+Christian+Cyclopedia&rft.pages=Brunn%2C+Friedrich+August&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fcyclopedia.lcms.org%2Fdisplay.asp%3Ft1%3Db%26word%3DBRUNN.FRIEDRICHAUGUST&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" 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">W. G. Polack, <i>Fathers and Founders</i> (St. Louis: <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>, 1938), 66–68.</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">Baepler, 98f.</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">Polack, 72f.</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">Baepler, 100.</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">D. H. Steffens, "The Doctrine of the Church and the Ministry" in H. W. T. Dau, ed., <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=fIgSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR1">Ebenezer: Reviews of the Work of the Missouri Synod during Three Quarters of a Century</a></i> (St. Louis: <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>, 1922), <i>150ff.</i></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">Matthias Sheeleigh, ed., <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.ah3kaa;view=1up;seq=488">The Lutheran Almanac and Year-Book for the Year of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1889</a></i> (Philadelphia: Lutheran Publication Society, 1889), 20–21. Note that this is the first year the LCMS was larger than all of the constituent synods of the General Council combined. If comparing the LCMS to individual synods within the General Synod or General Council, it had been the largest American Lutheran synod since around the year 1870.</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">Baepler, 217.</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 id="CITEREFLuekerPoellotJackson2000" class="citation web cs1">Lueker, Erwin L.; Poellot, Luther; Jackson, Paul, eds. (2000). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://cyclopedia.lcms.org/display.asp?t1=f&word=FREELUTHERANCONFERENCES">"Free Lutheran Conferences"</a>. <i>Christian Cyclopedia</i>. 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(Augsburg Confession XXIV:40) Also, "We on our part also retain many ceremonies and traditions (such as the liturgy of the Mass and various canticles, festivals, and the like) which serve to preserve order in the church." (Augburg Confession Article XXVI:40) And, "We gladly keep the old traditions set up in the church because they are useful and promote tranquility...Our enemies falsely accuse us of abolishing good ordinances and church discipline...the public liturgy is more decent than in theirs." (Apology to the Augsburg Confession, Article XV:38–39) And, "...we do not abolish the Mass but religiously keep and defend it." (Apology to the Augsburg Confession Article XXIV:1)And, "We on our part also retain many ceremonies and traditions (such as the liturgy of the Mass and various canticles, festivals, and the like) which serve to preserve order in the church." (Augburg Confession, Article XXVI:40)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-66">^</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://lcms.org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=1090">"What About...Lutheran Worship"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>LCMS.org</i>. Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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(St. Louis: <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>; Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, 2000, 2006).</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-68">^</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/20090326221334/http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/wa_fellowship-lordssupper.pdf">"Fellowship in the Lord's Supper"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/wa_fellowship-lordssupper.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on March 26, 2009.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Fellowship+in+the+Lord%27s+Supper&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lcms.org%2Fgraphics%2Fassets%2Fmedia%2FLCMS%2Fwa_fellowship-lordssupper.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" class="Z3988"></span>, LCMS</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-69">^</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.bookofconcord.com/treatise.php#para70">"Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope - Book of Concord"</a>. paragraph 70.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Treatise+on+the+Power+and+Primacy+of+the+Pope+-+Book+of+Concord&rft.pages=paragraph+70&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bookofconcord.com%2Ftreatise.php%23para70&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-70">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Adopted at Synod Convention, 1849 1, 97 Ordination, though an accepted, praiseworthy ceremony, has no command of God. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ctsfw.edu/bsmith-cts/etext/lcms/Synod/resolutions.pdf">Official Missouri Synod Doctrinal Statements</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090225041133/http://www.ctsfw.edu/bsmith-cts/etext/lcms/Synod/resolutions.pdf">Archived</a> 2009-02-25 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-71"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-71">^</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.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Descriptions/COOPCLER.asp">"Summary - The Cooperative Clergy Study Project - Data Archive - The Association of Religion Data Archives"</a>.</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%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-72"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-72">^</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.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=415">"Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Concordia_Publishing_House" title="Concordia Publishing House">Concordia Publishing House</a>. 1932<span class="reference-accessdate">. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 4,</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=2000+Religious+Congregations+and+Membership+Study&rft.pub=Glenmary+Research+Center&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thearda.com%2FDenoms%2FD_887_d.asp&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-87"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-87">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Baepler, p. 113</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-88"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-88">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Baepler, p. 167</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-89"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-89">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Baepler, p. 217</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-ARDA-90"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-8"><sup><i><b>i</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-9"><sup><i><b>j</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-10"><sup><i><b>k</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-11"><sup><i><b>l</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-12"><sup><i><b>m</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-13"><sup><i><b>n</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-14"><sup><i><b>o</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-15"><sup><i><b>p</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-16"><sup><i><b>q</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-17"><sup><i><b>r</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-18"><sup><i><b>s</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-19"><sup><i><b>t</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-20"><sup><i><b>u</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-21"><sup><i><b>v</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-22"><sup><i><b>w</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-23"><sup><i><b>x</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-24"><sup><i><b>y</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-25"><sup><i><b>z</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-26"><sup><i><b>aa</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-27"><sup><i><b>ab</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-28"><sup><i><b>ac</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-29"><sup><i><b>ad</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-30"><sup><i><b>ae</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-31"><sup><i><b>af</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-32"><sup><i><b>ag</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-33"><sup><i><b>ah</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-34"><sup><i><b>ai</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-35"><sup><i><b>aj</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-36"><sup><i><b>ak</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-37"><sup><i><b>al</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-38"><sup><i><b>am</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-39"><sup><i><b>an</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-40"><sup><i><b>ao</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-41"><sup><i><b>ap</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-42"><sup><i><b>aq</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-43"><sup><i><b>ar</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-44"><sup><i><b>as</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-45"><sup><i><b>at</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-46"><sup><i><b>au</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-47"><sup><i><b>av</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-48"><sup><i><b>aw</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-49"><sup><i><b>ax</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-50"><sup><i><b>ay</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-51"><sup><i><b>az</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-52"><sup><i><b>ba</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-53"><sup><i><b>bb</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-54"><sup><i><b>bc</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-55"><sup><i><b>bd</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-56"><sup><i><b>be</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-57"><sup><i><b>bf</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-58"><sup><i><b>bg</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-59"><sup><i><b>bh</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-60"><sup><i><b>bi</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-ARDA_90-61"><sup><i><b>bj</b></i></sup></a> <a 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Washington D.C.: Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. June 2008.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=U.S.+Religious+Landscape+Survey%3A+Religious+Beliefs+and+Practices%2C+Diverse+and+Politically+Relevant%3A+Detailed+Data+Tables&rft.place=Washington+D.C.&rft.pub=Pew+Forum+on+Religion+and+Public+Life&rft.date=2008-06&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Freligions.pewforum.org%2Freports%2Fdetailed_tables&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALutheran+Church+%E2%80%93+Missouri+Synod" class="Z3988"></span> For 2014 demographics, see <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2015/05/RLS-08-26-full-report.pdf">the updated survey</a>.</span> </li> </ol></div></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=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=41" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="History_2">History</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=42" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Baepler, Walter A. <i>A Century of Grace: A History of the Missouri Synod, 1847–1947.</i> St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1947.</li> <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>Cimino, Richard. <i>Lutherans Today: American Lutheran Identity in the Twenty-First Century.</i> Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2003. <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/0-8028-1365-8" title="Special:BookSources/0-8028-1365-8">0-8028-1365-8</a></li> <li>Dau, W. H. T., ed. <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=fIgSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR1">Ebenezer: Reviews of the Work of the Missouri Synod during Three Quarters of a Century</a></i>. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1922.</li> <li>Forster, Walter O. <i>Zion on the Mississippi: The Settlement of the Saxon Lutherans in Missouri 1839–1841.</i> St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953.</li> <li>Galchutt, Kathryn M. <i>The Career of Andrew Schulze, 1924–1968: Lutherans and Race in the Civil Rights Era</i>. Macon: Mercer University Press, 2005.</li> <li>Graebner, August Lawrence. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_MooAAAAAMAAJ/page/n3"><i>Half a Century of Sound Lutheranism in America: A Brief Sketch of the History of the Missouri Synod</i></a> St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1893.</li> <li>Granquist, Mark. <i>Lutherans In America: A new History</i>. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2015. <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/978-1-4514-7228-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4514-7228-8">978-1-4514-7228-8</a></li> <li>Gronberg, Erik K.J. "Adaptive Leadership in Crisis: John Tietjen, Concordia Seminary, and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Crisis of 1969-1975" (Dallas Baptist University, 2017) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ntnl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Final-Dissertation-Copy-040317-To-Printers.pdf">online</a>.</li> <li>Meyer, Carl S. <i>Moving Frontiers: Readings in the History of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.</i> St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1964. LOC 63-21161</li> <li>Nelson, E. Clifford <i>et al.</i> <i>The Lutherans in North America.</i> Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1975. <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/0-8006-0409-1" title="Special:BookSources/0-8006-0409-1">0-8006-0409-1</a></li> <li>Polack, W. G. <i>The Building of a Great Church: A Brief History of the Lutheran Church in America</i>. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941.</li> <li>Rudnick, Milton L. <i>Fundamentalism and the Missouri Synod: A historical study of their interaction and mutual influence.</i> St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1966. LOC 66-28229</li> <li>Schieferdecker, G.A. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.archivaria.com/Altenburg/Index.html">History of the First German Lutheran Settlement in Altenburg, Perry County, Missouri with Special Emphasis on its Ecclesiastic Movements</a>. Clayton, Iowa: Wartburg Seminary, 1865.</li> <li>Schiffman, Harold. "Language loyalty in the German-American Church: the Case of an Over-confident Minority" (1987) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/540/handouts/gachurch/">online</a></li> <li>Schmidtz, F. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.archivaria.com/Stephanists/index.html">The Destinies and Adventures of the Stephanists who emigrated from Saxony to America</a> Dresden: C. Heinrich, 1839.</li> <li>Settje, David E. <i>Lutherans and the Longest War: Adrift on a Sea of Doubt about the Cold and Vietnam Wars, 1964–1975</i>. Lanham, Lexington Books, 2007.</li> <li>Suelflow, August R. <i>Heritage in Motion: Readings in the History of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod 1962–1995.</i> St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1998. <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/0-570-04266-6" title="Special:BookSources/0-570-04266-6">0-570-04266-6</a></li> <li>Todd, Mary. <i>Authority Vested: A Story of Identity and Change in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.</i> Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2000. <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/0-8028-4457-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-8028-4457-X">0-8028-4457-X</a></li> <li>Walz, Jeff, and Steve Montreal. "The Political Attitudes and Activities of Missouri Synod Lutheran (LCMS) Clergy in 2001 and 2009: A Research Note." <i>Review of religious research</i> 58 (2016): 149–163.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Seminex">Seminex</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=43" title="Edit section: Seminex"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Adams, James E. <i>Preus of Missouri and the Great Lutheran Civil War.</i> New York: Harper and Row, 1977.</li> <li>Board of Control, Concordia Seminary. <i>Exodus From Concordia: A Report on the 1974 Walkout.</i> St. Louis: Concordia Seminary, 1977.</li> <li>Burkee, James C. <i>Power, Politics, and the Missouri Synod: A Conflict That Changed American Christianity</i> (2011) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0800697928/">excerpt and text search</a></li> <li>Danker, Frederick W. <i>No Room in the Brotherhood: The Preus-Otten Purge of Missouri.</i> St. Louis: Clayton Publishing House, 1977. <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/0-915644-10-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-915644-10-X">0-915644-10-X</a></li> <li>Marquart, Kurt E. <i>Anatomy of an Explosion: Missouri in Lutheran Perspective.</i> Fort Wayne, IN: Concordia Theological Seminary Press, 1977.</li> <li>Tietjen, John. <i>Memoirs in Exile: Confessional Hope and Institutional Conflict.</i> Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press, 1990.</li> <li>Zimmerman, Paul. <i>A Seminary in Crisis.</i> St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Missions">Missions</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=44" title="Edit section: Missions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Gieseler, Carl A. <i>The Wide-Open Island City: Home Mission Work in a Big City.</i> St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1927.</li> <li>Kretzmann, Paul E. <i>Glimpses of the Lives of Great Missionary Women.</i> Men and Missions IX. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1930.</li> <li>Krueger, Ottomar. <i>"Unto the Uttermost Part of the Earth": The Life of Pastor <a href="/wiki/Louis_Harms" title="Louis Harms">Louis Harms</a>.</i> Men and Missions VIII. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1930.</li> <li><i>Our China Mission.</i> Men and Missions IV. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1926.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Doctrine">Doctrine</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=45" title="Edit section: Doctrine"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Koehler, Edward W. A. <i>A Summary of Christian Doctrine: A Popular Presentation of the Teachings of the Bible</i>, 2nd rev. ed. Edited by Alfred W. Koehler. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1952.</li> <li>Mueller, John Theodore. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/Mueller"><i>Christian Dogmatics</i></a>. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934. <i>(A summary of Pieper's </i>Dogmatics<i>.)</i></li> <li>Pieper, Francis. <i>Christian Dogmatics</i>. 4 vols. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1950–1957.</li> <li>Walther, C. F. W. <i>Law & Gospel: How to Read and Apply the Bible</i>. Translated by Christian C. Tiews. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2010.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Primary_sources">Primary sources</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=46" title="Edit section: Primary sources"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=vRoLU-SVbRIC">Synodal-Handbuch der deutschen ev.-luth. Synode von Missouri, Ohio u. a. St.</a>. St. Louis: Lutherischer Concordia-Verlag, 1879.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=8mB6YW5QjGEC">Synodal-Handbuch der deutschen ev.-luth. Synode von Missouri, Ohio u. a. St.</a>. St. Louis: Luth. Concordia-Verlag, 1888.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_DQk3AAAAMAAJ">Kirchen-gesangbuch für Evang-lutherische Gemeinden ungeänderter augsburgischer Confession</a>. St. Louis: Verlag der ev.-luth. Synode von Missouri, Ohio u.a. Staaten, 1868.</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090225041133/http://www.ctsfw.edu/bsmith-cts/etext/lcms/Synod/resolutions.pdf">The Doctrinal Resolutions of the National Conventions of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod 1847–2004</a></li> <li>Strommen, Merton P., Milo L. Brekke, Ralph C. Underwager, and Arthur L. Johnson. <i>A Study of Generations: Report of a Two-Year Study of 5,000 Lutherans Between the Ages of 15–65: Their Beliefs, Values, Attitudes, Behavior.</i> Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1972. <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/0-8066-1207-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-8066-1207-X">0-8066-1207-X</a></li> <li>Vehse, Carl Eduard. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/MN5038ucmf_4">Die Stephan'sche Auswanderung nach Amerika</a>. Dresden: Verlagsexpedition des Dresdner Wochenblattes, 1840.</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=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=47" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><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="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="30" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod">Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod</a></span>.</div></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Official_LCMS_websites">Official LCMS websites</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=48" title="Edit section: Official LCMS websites"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><span class="official-website"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lcms.org">Official website</a></span></span></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lhfmissions.org/">Lutheran Heritage Foundation</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lutheransforlife.org/">Lutherans For Life</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Additional_resource_websites">Additional resource websites</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Missouri_Synod&action=edit&section=49" title="Edit section: Additional resource websites"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ProjectWittenberg.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-msynod.html">Documents of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.lutheran-resources.org/">Lutheran Resources for Christian Faith in the World</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160322032013/http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo_ProcServ/dbpage%3Dpage%26mode%3Ddisplay%26gid%3D20052995655655607101111555%26pg%3D20053305545566663601111555">Early History of the LCMS, by George F. 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mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#00adee; color:#000000;;background:#00adee;color:#000000;"><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:International_Lutheran_Council_Churches" title="Template:International Lutheran Council Churches"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:#000000">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:International_Lutheran_Council_Churches" title="Template talk:International Lutheran Council Churches"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:#000000">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:International_Lutheran_Council_Churches" title="Special:EditPage/Template:International Lutheran Council Churches"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:#000000">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Churches_in_the_International_Lutheran_Council" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Churches in the <a href="/wiki/International_Lutheran_Council" title="International Lutheran Council"><span style="color:#000000;">International Lutheran Council</span></a></div></th></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:#00adee; color:#000000;;background:#d6df4f;color:#000000;"><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><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Benin</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_Africa_%E2%80%93_Benin_Synod&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church in Africa – Benin Synod (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church in Africa – Benin Synod</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Burkina Faso</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_Burkina_Faso&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Burkina Faso (page does not exist)">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Burkina Faso</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-odd" 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%">Kenya</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_Kenya" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya">Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya</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=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Liberia&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia (page does not exist)">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Madagascar</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/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%">Nigeria</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=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%">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="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Mission_in_Africa_%E2%80%93_Synod_of_Thousand_Hills&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Mission in Africa – Synod of Thousand Hills (page does not exist)">Lutheran Mission in Africa – Synod of Thousand Hills</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-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Free_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod_in_South_Africa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (page does not exist)">Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_in_Southern_Africa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church in Southern Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=St._Peter_Confessional_Lutheran_Synod_of_South_Africa&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Synod of South Africa (page does not exist)">St. Peter Confessional Lutheran Synod of South Africa</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">South Sudan</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=South_Sudan_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="South Sudan Evangelical Lutheran Church (page does not exist)">South Sudan Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Togo</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_of_Togo&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church of Togo (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church of Togo</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Uganda</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=Lutheran_Church_of_Uganda&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church of Uganda (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church of Uganda</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 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:#00adee; color:#000000;;background:#d6df4f;color:#000000;"><div id="Asia_and_Oceania" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Asia and Oceania</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%">China - Hong Kong</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-Hong_Kong_Synod" title="Lutheran Church-Hong Kong Synod">Lutheran Church-Hong Kong Synod</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">China - Taiwan</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=China_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="China Evangelical Lutheran Church (page does not exist)">China Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li> <li><a href="/w/index.php?title=The_Lutheran_Church_of_the_Republic_of_China&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="The Lutheran Church of the Republic of China (page does not exist)">The Lutheran Church of the Republic of China</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-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/India_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="India Evangelical Lutheran Church">India Evangelical Lutheran Church</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-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Indonesian_Lutheran_Christian_Church&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Indonesian Lutheran Christian Church (page does not exist)">Indonesian Lutheran Christian Church</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-even" 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></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-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Myanmar_Lutheran_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Myanmar Lutheran Church">Myanmar 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><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Papua New Guinea</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/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-even" 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%">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/Ceylon_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church">Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church</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 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:#00adee; color:#000000;;background:#d6df4f;color:#000000;"><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%">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/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Synod_of_France_and_Belgium" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church – Synod of France and Belgium">Evangelical Lutheran Church – Synod of France and Belgium</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="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Free_Church_in_Denmark&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark (page does not exist)">Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark</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-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Mission_Diocese_of_Finland" title="Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland">Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese 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-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Synod_of_France_and_Belgium" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church – Synod of France and Belgium">Evangelical Lutheran Church – Synod of France and Belgium</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-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Independent_Evangelical-Lutheran_Church" title="Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church">Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church</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-even" 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%">Norway</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_Norway" title="Lutheran Church in Norway">Lutheran Church in Norway</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Diocese_of_Norway" title="Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Norway">Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Norway</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Portugal</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/Portuguese_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church">Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church</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_of_Ingria" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Siberian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church">Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Spain</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/Spanish_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church" title="Spanish Evangelical Lutheran Church">Spanish Evangelical Lutheran Church</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/Missionsprovinsen" title="Missionsprovinsen">Mission Province</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/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_England" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of England">Evangelical Lutheran Church of England</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 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:#00adee; color:#000000;;background:#d6df4f;color:#000000;"><div id="Latin_America" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Latin 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_Lutheran_Church_of_Argentina" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina</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="/w/index.php?title=Christian_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Bolivia&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia (page does not exist)">Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church of 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_Lutheran_Church_of_Brazil" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil">Evangelical Lutheran Church of 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="/w/index.php?title=Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_the_Republic_of_Chile&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Republic of Chile (page does not exist)">Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Republic of Chile</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=Lutheran_Church_of_Guatemala&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church of Guatemala (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church of Guatemala</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-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_Synod_of_Mexico" class="mw-redirect" title="Lutheran Synod of Mexico">Lutheran Synod of Mexico</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-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_Synod_of_Nicaragua&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church Synod of Nicaragua</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_%E2%80%93_Peru" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church – Peru">Evangelical Lutheran Church – Peru</a><sup>*</sup></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Uruguay</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_of_Uruguay&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church of Uruguay (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church of Uruguay</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="/w/index.php?title=Lutheran_Church_of_Venezuela&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Lutheran Church of Venezuela (page does not exist)">Lutheran Church of Venezuela</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 hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible uncollapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#00adee; color:#000000;;background:#d6df4f;color:#000000;"><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/Lutheran_Church_%E2%80%93_Canada" title="Lutheran Church – Canada">Lutheran Church – Canada</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Haiti</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_Haiti&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (page does not exist)">Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti</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-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/American_Association_of_Lutheran_Churches" title="American Association of Lutheran Churches">American Association of Lutheran Churches</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod</a></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></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow hlist" colspan="2" style="background:#00adee; color:#000000;;padding:5px 0 5px 0;"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Confessional_Evangelical_Lutheran_Conference" title="Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference"><span style="color:#000000;">Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference</span></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Global_Confessional_and_Missional_Lutheran_Forum" title="Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum"><span style="color:#000000;">Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum</span></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/International_Lutheran_Council" title="International Lutheran Council"><span style="color:#000000;">International Lutheran Council</span></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lutheran_World_Federation" title="Lutheran World Federation"><span style="color:#000000;">The Lutheran World Federation</span></a></li></ul> </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="Evangelicalism_in_the_United_States" 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:Evangelicalism_in_the_United_States" title="Template:Evangelicalism in the United States"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Evangelicalism_in_the_United_States" title="Template talk:Evangelicalism in the United States"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Evangelicalism_in_the_United_States" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Evangelicalism in the United States"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Evangelicalism_in_the_United_States" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Evangelicalism_in_the_United_States" title="Evangelicalism in the United States">Evangelicalism in the United States</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Churches</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group 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="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Baptists" title="Baptists">Baptist family</a></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/Southern_Baptist_Convention" title="Southern Baptist Convention">Southern Baptist Convention</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Independent_Baptist" title="Independent Baptist">Independent Baptist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Missionary_Baptists" title="Missionary Baptists">Missionary Baptists</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venture_Church_Network" title="Venture Church Network">Conservative Baptist Association of America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Free_Will_Baptist" title="Free Will Baptist">Free Will Baptist</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/General_Association_of_Regular_Baptist_Churches" title="General Association of Regular Baptist Churches">General Association of Regular Baptist Churches</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Lutheranism" title="Lutheranism">Lutheran family</a></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">Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wisconsin_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod" title="Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod">Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Presbyterianism" title="Presbyterianism">Presbyterian family</a></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/Presbyterian_Church_in_America" title="Presbyterian Church in America">Presbyterian Church in America</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Pentecostalism" title="Pentecostalism">Pentecostal family</a></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/Assemblies_of_God_USA" title="Assemblies of God USA">Assemblies of God USA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_God_(Cleveland,_Tennessee)" title="Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)">Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foursquare_Church" title="Foursquare Church">Foursquare Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pentecostal_Church_of_God" title="Pentecostal Church of God">Pentecostal Church of God</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pentecostal_Holiness_Church" class="mw-redirect" title="Pentecostal Holiness Church">Pentecostal Holiness Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Apostolic_Pentecostal" class="mw-redirect" title="Apostolic Pentecostal">Apostolic Pentecostal</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Restorationism" title="Restorationism">Restorationist family</a></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/Churches_of_Christ" title="Churches of Christ">Churches of Christ</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_churches_and_churches_of_Christ" title="Christian churches and churches of Christ">Christian churches and churches of Christ</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Congregationalism" title="Congregationalism">Congregationalist family</a></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/Conservative_Congregational_Christian_Conference" title="Conservative Congregational Christian Conference">Conservative Congregational Christian Conference</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Holiness_movement" title="Holiness movement">Holiness family</a></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_Nazarene" title="Church of the Nazarene">Church of the Nazarene</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wesleyan_Church" title="Wesleyan Church">Wesleyan Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Free_Methodist_Church" title="Free Methodist Church">Free Methodist Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church_of_God_(Anderson,_Indiana)" title="Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)">Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Higher_Life_movement" title="Higher Life movement">Keswickian family</a></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_and_Missionary_Alliance" class="mw-redirect" title="Christian and Missionary Alliance">Christian and Missionary Alliance</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Calvinism" class="mw-redirect" title="Calvinism">Reformed family</a></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_Reformed_Church_in_North_America" title="Christian Reformed Church in North America">Christian Reformed Church in North America</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Adventism" title="Adventism">Adventist family</a></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/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church" title="Seventh-day Adventist Church">Seventh-day Adventist Church</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Nondenominational_Christianity" class="mw-redirect" title="Nondenominational Christianity">Nondenominational family</a></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/Association_of_Vineyard_Churches" title="Association of Vineyard Churches">Association of Vineyard Churches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Calvary_Chapel_Association" title="Calvary Chapel Association">Calvary Chapel Association</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-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Azusa_Street_Revival" title="Azusa Street Revival">Azusa Street Revival</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Black_church" title="Black church">Black church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Statement_on_Biblical_Inerrancy" title="Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy">Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fundamentalist%E2%80%93modernist_controversy" title="Fundamentalist–modernist controversy">Fundamentalist–modernist controversy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Great_Awakening" title="Great Awakening">Great Awakening</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/First_Great_Awakening" title="First Great Awakening">First Great Awakening</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Second_Great_Awakening" title="Second Great Awakening">Second Great Awakening</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cane_Ridge_Revival" title="Cane Ridge Revival">Cane Ridge Revival</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Third_Great_Awakening" title="Third Great Awakening">Third Great Awakening</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fourth_Great_Awakening" title="Fourth Great Awakening">Fourth Great Awakening</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Healing_revival" title="Healing revival">Healing revival</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Crusade_(1949)" title="Los Angeles Crusade (1949)">Los Angeles Crusade (1949)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Revival_of_1800" title="Revival of 1800">Revival of 1800</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Thought</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Baptism_by_fire" title="Baptism by fire">Baptism by fire</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Baptism_with_the_Holy_Spirit" title="Baptism with the Holy Spirit">Baptism with the Holy Spirit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Believers%27_Church" title="Believers' Church">Believers' Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Biblical_literalism" title="Biblical literalism">Biblical literalism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Biblical_inerrancy" title="Biblical inerrancy">Biblical inerrancy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Biblical_patriarchy" title="Biblical patriarchy">Biblical patriarchy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Biblical_womanhood" title="Biblical womanhood">Biblical womanhood</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Born_again" title="Born again">Born again</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christianity_and_abortion" title="Christianity and abortion">Christianity and abortion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_Zionism" title="Christian Zionism">Christian Zionism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Decision_theology" title="Decision theology">Decision theology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_theology" title="Evangelical theology">Evangelical theology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Full_Gospel" title="Full Gospel">Full Gospel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kingdom_theology" title="Kingdom theology">Kingdom theology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quiverfull" title="Quiverfull">Quiverfull</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Second_work_of_grace" title="Second work of grace">Second work of grace</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Practices</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Altar_call" title="Altar call">Altar call</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Contemporary_worship" title="Contemporary worship">Contemporary worship</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Contemporary_worship_music" title="Contemporary worship music">Contemporary worship music</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mourner%27s_bench" title="Mourner's bench">Mourner's bench</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Prayer_warrior" title="Prayer warrior">Prayer warrior</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Revival_meeting" title="Revival meeting">Revival meeting</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Camp_meeting" title="Camp meeting">Camp meeting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tent_revival" title="Tent revival">Tent revival</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sinner%27s_prayer" title="Sinner's prayer">Sinner's prayer</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Forms</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bible_church" title="Bible church">Bible church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Megachurch" title="Megachurch">Megachurch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Televangelism" title="Televangelism">Televangelism</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Movements</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Apostolic-Prophetic_Movement" title="Apostolic-Prophetic Movement">Apostolic-Prophetic Movement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bapticostal_movement" title="Bapticostal movement">Bapticostal movement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Christian_fundamentalism" title="Christian fundamentalism">Christian fundamentalism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_left" title="Evangelical left">Evangelical left</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Exvangelical" title="Exvangelical">Exvangelical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jesus_movement" title="Jesus movement">Jesus movement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Post-evangelicalism" title="Post-evangelicalism">Post-evangelicalism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Apostolic_Reformation" title="New Apostolic Reformation">New Apostolic Reformation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Neo-charismatic_movement" title="Neo-charismatic movement">Neo-charismatic movement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Red-Letter_Christians" title="Red-Letter Christians">Red-Letter Christians</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Seven_Mountain_Mandate" title="Seven Mountain Mandate">Seven Mountain Mandate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transformational_Christianity" title="Transformational Christianity">Transformational Christianity</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Institutions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Christianity_Today" title="Christianity Today">Christianity Today International</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Council_on_Biblical_Manhood_and_Womanhood" title="Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood">Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_Climate_Initiative" title="Evangelical Climate Initiative">Evangelical Climate Initiative</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evangelical_and_Ecumenical_Women%27s_Caucus" title="Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus">Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fuller_Theological_Seminary" title="Fuller Theological Seminary">Fuller Theological Seminary</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moody_Bible_Institute" title="Moody Bible Institute">Moody Bible Institute</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Association_of_Evangelicals" title="National Association of Evangelicals">National Association of Evangelicals</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Religious_Broadcasters" title="National Religious Broadcasters">National Religious Broadcasters</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Promise_Keepers" title="Promise Keepers">Promise Keepers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/World_Vision_United_States" title="World Vision United States">World Vision United States</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Youth_for_Christ" title="Youth for Christ">Youth for Christ</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Major figures</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aimee_Semple_McPherson" title="Aimee Semple McPherson">Aimee Semple McPherson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Billy_Graham" title="Billy Graham">Billy Graham</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Billy_Sunday" title="Billy Sunday">Billy Sunday</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/C._I._Scofield" title="C. I. Scofield">C. I. Scofield</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charles_Grandison_Finney" title="Charles Grandison Finney">Charles Grandison Finney</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dwight_L._Moody" title="Dwight L. Moody">Dwight L. 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