New Lutheran denomination
being birthed in Ohio
The Layman, August 26, 2010
Lutherans across the United States have gathered in Ohio this week to form a new conservative Lutheran denomination.
Sponsored by Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Renewal), the 2010 Convocation will consider proposals for creating the North American Lutheran Church (NALC).
The convocation is being streamed live on the Web at http://gccn.org/. Those wishing to watch should click “media,” and then “Live Streaming.” The streaming will be from 1:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Aug. 26; and 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Aug. 27.
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A “draft provisional constitution” and a 2011 budget will be debated and voted on during the meeting. Delegates will also vote on a slate of nominees for leadership positions in NALC.
“Article 2” of the proposed constitution states the new denomination’s Confession of Faith, which in part reads: “The North American Lutheran Church confesses:”
- “The Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- “Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.
- “The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith and life, ‘according to which all doctrines should and must be judged.’ (Formula of Concord, Epitome, Part I)”
A theological conference was held earlier in the week with presentations on “Lutheranism at the Crossroads: Theological imperatives for the future;” “The authority and interpretation of the Bible in the Church;” “Speaking to, of, and for the Triune God;” “What does all this mean for our future?” among other topics.
Lutheran CORE consists of conservative churches from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American (ECLA) who are considering leaving or have left the denomination after it voted to allow those in same-sex relationships to be pastors and leaders in the denomination.
According to the Web site, CORE’s intention is “is to be a voice for the Word of God within our church. We are neither of the left nor of the right. We are for the center, where Christ is Lord, and where His Word redeems us and calls us to newness of life.”