I've attended church at both and have to say I do really like both of them. I'm still learning about both, but I would like to know differences in any beliefs between the two.
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Episcopal or Lutheran differences?
- Thread starter localfizz
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I've attended church at both and have to say I do really like both of them. I'm still learning about both, but I would like to know differences in any beliefs between the two.
Welcome to CF, local fizz.
I can't answer your question, but just bumping as we have had a few Lutheran friends on STR recently.
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It may be helpful for some Anglicans to chime in as there is an identical thread in the ELCA subforum of TCL.
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Adam Warlock
Well-Known Member
I've attended church at both and have to say I do really like both of them. I'm still learning about both, but I would like to know differences in any beliefs between the two.
Sorry; I must have missed this thread! I only have a couple friends in the ELCA, and I don't now how representative their experiences have been of the broader ELCA experience. I know a little bit, but I certainly welcome correction to any mistakes that I make!
The Episcopal Church and the ELCA are currently closer than they once were. One major difference between the two (historically) was in the role of bishops and apostolic succession, but recently they bridged that gap and brought AS to the ELCA. Both churches are in full communion now. In terms of theological emphasis, the ELCA traditionally would have emphasized concepts like Sola Scriptura and the priesthood of all believers, where Episcopalians/Anglicans would encourage study of Tradition and would maintain a specific priestly order. But even in areas like these, there is plenty of overlap. The Reformation and the solas are emphasized in varying degrees in TEC, and they're probably more front-and-center in official ELCA doctrine.
Both churches have similar official understandings of Baptism and of Communion, although there might be a broader range of understandings in TEC. Some in TEC might have 7 sacraments. And in the style of worship - the liturgy, the hymns, the special holy days - there is similarity, though each will have been shaped by the specifics of each church's history.
Ultimately, they are probably similar in 90%+ of their beliefs, as they confess the same creeds and emphasize the same elements of the Christian life. Where there is variation, it is generally in areas that were affected by historical developments (such as bishops, which ELCA has but historically didn't consider as "essential" as TEC did).
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Maid Marie
Zechariah 4:6
I also have heard that not all ELCA churches have communion each Sunday [or service].
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Adam Warlock
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Also, ELCA might not be as inclined to use the deuterocanonical books as Anglicans are.
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gurneyhalleck1
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gurneyhalleck1
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The ELCA and TEC have a LOT in common. Same thing with LCMS and ACNA...with the exception of women ministers. The LCMS Lutherans rightly reject women's call to ordained ministry. The ELCA affirms and lauds it. The ELCA is pro-gay like TEC, social justice thinking....
Thus my lack of first-hand familiarity
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Just an FYI, both the ELCA and LCMS use the Revised Common Lectionary as does TEC and others. Our Daily Office lectionary is likewise that of the RCL in the current Evangelical Lutheran Worship and in the previous Lutheran Book of Worship it was virtually identical with the BCP 1979. We encounter the other books of the LXX OT as much as the typical Anglican does except, perhaps, in private study where Anglo-Catholics may be more inclined to focus on them.
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Though not every congregation does, it is normative to do so much like in Anglicanism today (which also has congregations w/o weekly communion).
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