WELS and LCMS merger?

[LutheranGuy]

Do you guys think it possible?

(by the way, I'm new to Theologia Crucis, and to Lutheranism).

 

[ByzantineDixie]

First of all Welcome to TCCL!

How did you come to be Lutheran? Are you LCMS or WELS or other?

Regarding your original question...I don't know...I guess anything is possible. I don't have a lot of sympathy for synodical divisions in Lutheranism. Not that I think that everyone should just agree to disagree to be one...I don't think that at all. I think the Church has given us what we are to have...but in the process of aligning and dividing the various synods have rationalized what is acceptable and what is not based on more novel interpretations of not only the Scriptures but also the Confessions.

The confessional Lutheran church has become splintered to such an extent it has become acceptable to just create another synod when there is disagreement. And everyone uses a Scripture verse to support their position. So who's right? Everyone can't be right. This should be a clue.

 

[LutheranGuy]

Well I'm not officially Lutheran yet but I have started to attend a Lutheran church. It's an LCMS church.

 

[ByzantineDixie]

Well I'm not officially Lutheran yet but I have started to attend a Lutheran church. It's an LCMS church.

So...what brought you to attend a LCMS church?

 

[marianservant]

So...what brought you to attend a LCMS church?

He's just too scared to make the jump to home sweet ROME. LOL JK (I know Lutheran Guy outside of CF)

Pax Christi

 

[ChiRho]

He's just too scared to make the jump to home sweet ROME. LOL JK (I know Lutheran Guy outside of CF)

Pax Christi

I would be petrified of that leap!

Article IV!

 

[ILoveYeshua]

will an lcms lutheran be surprised if he saw a wels or elca lutheran in paradise????

 

[gtmyers]

will an lcms lutheran be surprised if he saw a wels or elca lutheran in paradise????

I know this is an old post but I must respond with a resounding no. I'll even say there will be these Lutherans in Paradise but also there will be any believer that has his trust in the shed blood of Christ. Its what Christ did for us on the cross so I am afraid there will be those that trust in the blood of Christ for their salvation who call themselves......get this....baptists, methodists, catholics, presbyterian, orthodox, and anyone who trusts in Christ for their salvation. Sometimes we as Lutherans put alot of emphasis on the vehicle, ie baptism, to the extent that we forget that Luther said " its by grace through faith alone". So no matter what title you are it really all boils down to are you trusting in yourself through works and etc. or are you trusting in what Christ has already down for us?

Just my two cents worth.

 

[DaRev]

I know this is an old post but I must respond with a resounding no. I'll even say there will be these Lutherans in Paradise but also there will be any believer that has his trust in the shed blood of Christ. Its what Christ did for us on the cross so I am afraid there will be those that trust in the blood of Christ for their salvation who call themselves......get this....baptists, methodists, catholics, presbyterian, orthodox, and anyone who trusts in Christ for their salvation. Sometimes we as Lutherans put alot of emphasis on the vehicle, ie baptism, to the extent that we forget that Luther said " its by grace through faith alone". So no matter what title you are it really all boils down to are you trusting in yourself through works and etc. or are you trusting in what Christ has already down for us?

Just my two cents worth.

There are a lot of 'Lutherans' in those other churches.

 

[twin.spin]

My father was at the meetings when LCMS and WELS separated. The issues that separated the two began in the early 1900's and became quit apparent in the 40's culminating with the split in 1961 are still at issue.

The three main issues are:
1. Church fellowship
2. The role of women in the church
3. Doctrine of the ministry

There is no indication that LCMS has any intent to change from their current positions. Could they...yes, but probably not.

 

[DaRev]

My father was at the meetings when LCMS and WELS separated. The issues that separated the two began in the early 1900's and became quit apparent in the 40's culminating with the split in 1961 are still at issue.

The three main issues are:
1. Church fellowship
2. The role of women in the church
3. Doctrine of the ministry

There is no indication that LCMS has any intent to change from their current positions. Could they...yes, but probably not.

Other than women's suffrage, which occurred in 1969, eight years after the fellowship break, the LCMS official doctrines regarding fellowship and church and ministry have remained unchanged. It's an interesting history as to which of the two bodies actually moved out of fellowship with the other.

 

[Aibrean]

Not everyone who attends LCMS, WELS, ELCA or any other synod has to believe every bit of their decisions.

 

[twin.spin]

Not everyone who attends LCMS, WELS, ELCA or any other synod has to believe every bit of their decisions.

That maybe true if we're not talking doctrine.

 

[twin.spin]

Other than women's suffrage, which occurred in 1969, eight years after the fellowship break, the LCMS official doctrines regarding fellowship and church and ministry have remained unchanged. It's an interesting history as to which of the two bodies actually moved out of fellowship with the other.

There is no question who left who...WELS offically broke with LCMS (at a great considerable cost not to mention).

Where you get your information, I do not know. But like I said, having my father (both parents LCMS) at the meetings in 1961 and a brother-in-law who has been a WELS pastor since 1966 and in-laws who's church left LCMS for WELS in 1961....I can say that LCMS has changed over the course of 100 years based on 1st person accounts.

There are two sides of LCMS...liberal and conservative. Once upon a time, there wasn't a liberal side. In fact, historically, it was the LCMS that brought WELS to the doctrinal view it [WELS] now holds.

It's not uncommon in one of my friend's church to have visiting LCMS come to his WELS church over the local LCMS upon the LCMS pastor's recommendation due to this difference.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

There is no question who left who...WELS offically broke with LCMS (at a great considerable cost not to mention).

Where you get your information, I do not know. But like I said, having my father (both parents LCMS) at the meetings in 1961 and a brother-in-law who has been a WELS pastor since 1966 and in-laws who's church left LCMS for WELS in 1961....I can say that LCMS has changed over the course of 100 years based on 1st person accounts.

There are two sides of LCMS...liberal and conservative. Once upon a time, there wasn't a liberal side. In fact, historically, it was the LCMS that brought WELS to the doctrinal view it [WELS] now holds.

It's not uncommon in one of my friend's church to have visiting LCMS come to his WELS church over the local LCMS upon the LCMS pastor's recommendation due to this difference.

this has always been my understanding as well. I didn't grow up in the ministry, but I married into a family of ministers and have always had pastors as friends throughout my lifetime. My grandparents were present for the meetings.