Lutheran Orthodox Church
Encyclopedia
The Lutheran Orthodox Church is a very small Lutheran Church in the United States. The church claims Apostolic Succession
for its clergy. It does not consider itself a Protestant denomination but an Evangelical Catholic denomination, saying that this was the perspective of Martin Luther
, the founder of Protestantism. The denomination views itself as a Lutheran-rite Catholic church. Women, however, are ordained as priests and may become bishops in the Lutheran Orthodox Church, unlike the practice of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
The Lutheran Orthodox Church sprang from a desire to have an evangelical catholic denomination. In 2004 Samuel Guido and Ray Copp of the Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church were offered the opportunity to be consecrated in Apostolic Succession by bishops with Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican lineages. The process began in January 2004 and culminated on July 11, 2004, when LEPC Bishops Samuel Guido and Raymond W. Copp, both from Pennsylvania
, as well as Bishop Tan Binh Phan Nguyen
, an Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church
bishop from Atlanta, Georgia
, were consecrated as bishops in Apostolic Succession in a ceremony held in New York City
. The main consecrator, Archbishop
Bertil Persson
, Primate
of the Order of Corporate Reunion
, Presiding Bishop of the Apostolic Episcopal Church, Missionary General of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
(ICAB) for Scandinavia, and Missionary General of The Philippine Independent Catholic Church for Scandinavia and all of Europe flew in from Sweden to conduct the ceremony. The co-consecrators were the Most Reverend Irl A. Gladfelter
, Metropolitan Archbishop of The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church
, the Most Reverend Peter Paul Brennan
of the Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of New York, Archbishop Francis C. Spataro of the Apostolic Episcopal Church, Bishop Paget E. J. Mack of the African Orthodox Church
, and Bishop Patrick E. Trujillo.
Apostolic Succession
Apostolic succession is a doctrine, held by some Christian denominations, which asserts that the chosen successors of the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day, have inherited the spiritual, ecclesiastical and sacramental authority, power, and responsibility that were...
for its clergy. It does not consider itself a Protestant denomination but an Evangelical Catholic denomination, saying that this was the perspective of Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, the founder of Protestantism. The denomination views itself as a Lutheran-rite Catholic church. Women, however, are ordained as priests and may become bishops in the Lutheran Orthodox Church, unlike the practice of the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.
The Lutheran Orthodox Church sprang from a desire to have an evangelical catholic denomination. In 2004 Samuel Guido and Ray Copp of the Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church were offered the opportunity to be consecrated in Apostolic Succession by bishops with Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican lineages. The process began in January 2004 and culminated on July 11, 2004, when LEPC Bishops Samuel Guido and Raymond W. Copp, both from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, as well as Bishop Tan Binh Phan Nguyen
Tan Binh Phan Nguyen
Tan Binh Phan Nguyen is a Dean of the Holy Synod of the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church . He also is the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of the Southeast; Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Our Lady of La Vang , and Archbishop Nguyen also is the ALCC's Metropolitan for Southeast Asia...
, an Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church
Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church
The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church , formerly the Evangelical Community Church-Lutheran , is a church in the Lutheran Evangelical Catholic tradition. The ALCC claims to be unique among Lutheran churches in that it is of both Lutheran and Anglo-Catholic heritage and has also been significantly...
bishop from Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, were consecrated as bishops in Apostolic Succession in a ceremony held in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The main consecrator, Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Bertil Persson
Bertil Persson
Nils Bertil Alexander Persson is a professor in religion and church arts and the Presiding Bishop of the Apostolic Episcopal Church...
, Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
of the Order of Corporate Reunion
Order of Corporate Reunion
The Order of Corporate Reunion is an ecumenical and interdenominational association of clergy and laity of Anglican origin, founded by Frederick George Lee, Thomas Mossman and Joseph Seccombe in London in 1874....
, Presiding Bishop of the Apostolic Episcopal Church, Missionary General of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church
The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church is an independent Catholic church established in 1945 by Brazilian bishop Dom Carlos Duarte Costa, a former Roman Catholic Bishop of Botucatu.The ICAB has 58 dioceses and claims five million members in 17 countries...
(ICAB) for Scandinavia, and Missionary General of The Philippine Independent Catholic Church for Scandinavia and all of Europe flew in from Sweden to conduct the ceremony. The co-consecrators were the Most Reverend Irl A. Gladfelter
Irl A. Gladfelter
Irl A. Gladfelter is the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church. As such he is the head of this Lutheran church which is also of Anglo-Catholic heritage....
, Metropolitan Archbishop of The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church
Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church
The Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church , formerly the Evangelical Community Church-Lutheran , is a church in the Lutheran Evangelical Catholic tradition. The ALCC claims to be unique among Lutheran churches in that it is of both Lutheran and Anglo-Catholic heritage and has also been significantly...
, the Most Reverend Peter Paul Brennan
Peter Paul Brennan
Peter Paul Brennan is the bishop of the Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of the Americas , a bishop of the African Orthodox Church, the Primate of the Order of Corporate Reunion, and the current President of Married Priests Now!...
of the Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of New York, Archbishop Francis C. Spataro of the Apostolic Episcopal Church, Bishop Paget E. J. Mack of the African Orthodox Church
African Orthodox Church
The African Orthodox Church is a primarily African-American denomination founded in the United States in 1921. It has approximately 15 parishes and 5,000 members, down significantly from the time of its greatest strength....
, and Bishop Patrick E. Trujillo.