Differences between Synods?

[Spike511]

Hey Guys,

I have a question for you. Whats the differences between each of the synods? Like, I know they have different beliefs and all, but can anyone sort of give me a brief overview of each one?

Thanks!
--
Eric

 

[Studeclunker]

Well, this question can cause some really bloody fights as some of the percieved differences are... inflamitory. Though I'm not fire-proof, I'll give it a go. I'm quite sure that my friends here will correct me if my assessment is incorrect.

The Lutheran Church is a Confessional, Creedal, church. Our core beliefs can be said to be contained in the Book Of Concord. The three major Synodical Denominations can be described as follows:


ELCA is our most liberal branch. They are organized in an Episcopy. That is to say, they have a top-down authority in the leadership. Congregations are subject to the Bishop's authority. I left as things seemed to me to have deteriorated to an anything goes attitude in the leadership. Homosexuals in the ministry, women also, yet... there are still congregations that teach the truth and hold to the basic tennets of that which is the Lutheran core belief. These conservative congregations are, however, in the minority and silent.

LCMS is the next step, conservatively speaking. They follow the teachings of C.F.W. Walther, under Martin Luther, under the Bible itself. Holy Scriptures holding highest authority. They follow the traditional male leadership ideals. Women are allowed to hold office and vote in assemblies, however they are blocked from the pastorate. The Synod is comprised of many independent congregations incorporated (legally) into a Synodical Corporation. Kind of like a looser form of Ace Hardware or Seven-Eleven stores. The Synodical leadership has become enamoured with the church growth movement. The more liberal congregations have taken up some really incompatible worship practices with the excuse of, congregational polity and that the Book Of Concord not detailing precise Liturgical standards. The result has been to water down the message and confuse the public as to just what a Lutheran congregation practices and believes. Still, the Ablaze movement seems to be causing enough trouble that the Ablaze just might get stamped out yet. One can hope anyway.

WELS tightens things down even further. Men only in the leadership on all levels. Women aren't allowed to hold any leadership roles that might place them in authority over men at all. Women aren't allowed to vote in assemblies either. They follow strict Biblical intrepretation, with the assistance of the Book of Concord, and also ascribe to most of what C.F.W. Walther wrote. For all their faults, the WELS can not be accused of putting anything ahead of the Holy Scriptures. Being pretty new to them, I'm still feeling my way along.

I hope this helps. Perhaps our Brothers and sisters can tactfully correct me where I've erred in my assessments here. In fact, I'm sure one can count on it (LOL)!

 

[Tangible]

I'm having deja vu.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I wish we could sticky a locked thread that detailed the differences.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

The (LCMS) Synodical leadership has become enamoured with the church growth movement.

I have no idea what trigger words you are attempting to use there, but if you mean the leadership is passionate about The Great Commission, then I see that as a good thing.

The more liberal congregations have taken up some really incompatible worship practices

Incompatiable with WHAT? The Book of Concord? Luther's Deusche Mass? The 1917 LCMS hymnal? The worship styles used at Herman Otten's congregation? That of the Greek Orthodox Church?

The result has been to water down the message

What doctrine of the Book of Concord do you think the LCMS has "watered down?" How?

Just curious...



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[CaliforniaJosiah]

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MY suggestion would be to go to the OFFICIAL websites of the 3 denominations and look for how each of THEM answers this question. And post those. I could work on this, but likely not before Tuesday at the earliest.



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[QuiltAngel]

Those sites are:
Home - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod -

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) -

Some issues that divide us are women's ordination, role of homosexual pastors, view of communion, fellowship, church polity and property issues.

There are other Synods too, but this will get you started.

CJ, what he means about the church growth movement is not the Great Commission. It comes out of Fuller Theological Seminary and leaders are people like Donald McGavran, C. Peter Wagner and Kent Hunter. One of their points is that the church must adapt to the culture. Believe me when I say that the church growth movement is something to be wary of.

 

[DaRev]

The Synodical leadership has become enamoured with the church growth movement. The more liberal congregations have taken up some really incompatible worship practices with the excuse of, congregational polity and that the Book Of Concord not detailing precise Liturgical standards.

Where does the BoC detail "precise liturgical standards"?

CJ, what he means about the church growth movement is not the Great Commission. It comes out of Fuller Theological Seminary and leaders are people like Donald McGavran, C. Peter Wagner and Kent Hunter. One of their points is that the church must adapt to the culture. Believe me when I say that the church growth movement is something to be wary of.

I can assure you that this is not happening with the LCMS.

 

[QuiltAngel]

I can assure you that this is not happening with the LCMS.

I can assure you that it has. Kent Hunter was a rostered LCMS pastor, actively serving a parish when he got involved with this and was pushing it in LCMS congregations. He was my husband's field work Pastor. He is the reason that Dr. Marquardt wrote much of the stuff he did about church growth.

 

[BigNorsk]

Hey Guys,

I have a question for you. Whats the differences between each of the synods? Like, I know they have different beliefs and all, but can anyone sort of give me a brief overview of each one?

Thanks!
--
Eric

Lutheran Brethren and the Free Lutheran Association both come from a Norwegian pietist background.

Both are basically what you would say low church. No vestments, simple service sort of thing.

As far as Confessions go they both confess the Three Creeds, the Augsburg Confession and the Small Catechism.

No women pastors.

The difference between the two come down to the Lutheran Brethren having a person give a confession of faith and apply for voting membership. Interestingly the source of that was the Free Lutheran Church of Norway, the Lutheran Brethren for their first Constitution adopted the Constitution of the Free Lutheran Church of Norway, and as I understand it the Free Lutherans rejected that as unworkable.

We're pretty close though, our pastors move back and forth.

Lutheran Brethren use the term synod and Free Lutherans are so careful against having the synod over a congregation they don't even use the term synod, they are an association.

Marv