What makes the LCMS and the WELS different? I have some idea of what all does, but I would like for a WELS or LCMS person to highlight ALL the distinctives. Thanks.
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LCMS and WELS
- Thread starter ABrauny
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joyfulthanks
The long day is over. Praise the Lord!
Welcome to TCL! 
I have no doubt someone will be along shortly who can help you with that better than I could.
I have no doubt someone will be along shortly who can help you with that better than I could.
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Thanks for the link, that clears up quite a bit for me. One more question I got a hold of a WELS publication that stated that they did not believe that prayer is one of the means of grace. Is this distinctive for the WELS only or for the LCMS as well? I am a reformed guy and believe that prayer is a means of grace.
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- Jan 18, 2012
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I offer the following from the LCMS perspective:
1) the understanding of fellowship
WELS places virtually all joint expressions of the Christian faith on the same level. LCMS distinguishes between pulpit and altar fellowship and other sorts of fellowship such as prayer fellowship.
2) the doctrine of the ministry
LCMS holds that the pastoral ministry is the one divinely inspired office in the church and the church has the freedom and authority to institute other offices as needed. WELS does not make this exclusive assertion for the pastoral ministry.
3) the role of women in the church
WELS does not afford women the priviledge of voting whereas LCMS does afford this liberty. Both synods oppose the ordination of women to the pastoral ministry.
From the WELS perspective:
Although disagreement about fellowship and the practice of fellowship in such groups as the Scouts and the military chaplaincy was the immediate cause of the break between WELS and the LCMS, other divisive issues that arose included the introduction of historical-critical methods of Scripture study into the LCMS seminary at St. Louis during the 1960s, differences concerning the doctrine of church and ministry, and disagreement about the role of women in governing bodies of the church.
WELS has also been disturbed by a seeming lack of corrective action against lax fellowship practices, such as open communion and ecumenical services, in some LCMS congregations.
I have participated in congregations of both synods. Another difference is the approach to Revelation. WELS tends to interpret more literally and historical-preterist (as was highlighted during the early candidacy of Michelle Bachmann) than LCMS, which tends to a more allegorical approach.
A minor difference is the preferred Bible translation. The LCMS prefers the ESV whereas WELS prefers NIV11. Also, LCMS endorses to some degree ESV, NASB, and NKJV. WELS endorses to some degree AAT, ESV, HCSB, NASB95, NIV11, and NKJV.
1) the understanding of fellowship
WELS places virtually all joint expressions of the Christian faith on the same level. LCMS distinguishes between pulpit and altar fellowship and other sorts of fellowship such as prayer fellowship.
2) the doctrine of the ministry
LCMS holds that the pastoral ministry is the one divinely inspired office in the church and the church has the freedom and authority to institute other offices as needed. WELS does not make this exclusive assertion for the pastoral ministry.
3) the role of women in the church
WELS does not afford women the priviledge of voting whereas LCMS does afford this liberty. Both synods oppose the ordination of women to the pastoral ministry.
From the WELS perspective:
Although disagreement about fellowship and the practice of fellowship in such groups as the Scouts and the military chaplaincy was the immediate cause of the break between WELS and the LCMS, other divisive issues that arose included the introduction of historical-critical methods of Scripture study into the LCMS seminary at St. Louis during the 1960s, differences concerning the doctrine of church and ministry, and disagreement about the role of women in governing bodies of the church.
WELS has also been disturbed by a seeming lack of corrective action against lax fellowship practices, such as open communion and ecumenical services, in some LCMS congregations.
I have participated in congregations of both synods. Another difference is the approach to Revelation. WELS tends to interpret more literally and historical-preterist (as was highlighted during the early candidacy of Michelle Bachmann) than LCMS, which tends to a more allegorical approach.
A minor difference is the preferred Bible translation. The LCMS prefers the ESV whereas WELS prefers NIV11. Also, LCMS endorses to some degree ESV, NASB, and NKJV. WELS endorses to some degree AAT, ESV, HCSB, NASB95, NIV11, and NKJV.
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It's not just WELS, the LCMS (and as far as I know all other Lutheran bodies) would agree. The Lutheran teaching is that there are two, and only two, means of grace. The Word and the sacraments. Lutherans believe that baptism and communion are the two sacraments. Although some would add confession to the list.
Of course, the definition of the word "grace" is different in different denominations so that may be part of the problem. I've never been reformed, but I converted from a Catholic/Orthodox background and had a bit of problem with understanding the Lutheran view of grace when I first started studying it.
For Lutherans the means of grace are the ways that God gives to mankind faith, forgives sins, gives salvation, creates spiritual growth, etc. Grace is a gift from God to us. Good works (including prayer) are the fruit of grace and not a means to it. We pray because God has first given us grace. We can ask God for grace in prayer, but we can not create it for ourselves by praying.
Hope this helps.
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- May 15, 2007
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WELS does not "prefer" NIV11.
Also, can you tell me where you found the italicized WELS perspective?
Also, can you tell me where you found the italicized WELS perspective?
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alexnbethmom
Lutheran Chick
PW, it's right there on wels.net - WELS and other Lutherans | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
rather easy to find....
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- May 15, 2007
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I'm on my phone so it's not as easy to find stuff. I thought he got it from a book.
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