North American Lutheran Church
Encyclopedia
The North American Lutheran Church is a church body which claims to embody the theological center of Lutheranism in North America
. It is committed to the authority of the Bible
as the inspired Word of God
and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life. In keeping with the Lutheran Confessions, the NALC believes all doctrines should and must be judged by the teaching of Scripture. The NALC is committed to shaping its life around four attributes: Christ-Centered, Mission-Driven, Traditionally-Grounded, and Congregationally-Focused. It was established on August 27, 2010, at the annual Convocation of Lutheran CORE
in Grove City, Ohio
.
(Coalition for Renewal), a confessional Lutheran body which crosses denominational lines. This action came in response to the dissatisfaction of theological conservatives within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
(ELCIC), which were perceived as moving away from the authority of the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions. A major issue of concern for these groups was a 2009 decision by the ELCA which changed its teaching and policy on sexual ethics, allowing pastors to be in committed same-sex relationships. Following Lutheran CORE's national convocation in September 2009, which resolved to pursue the "reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism", the organization's leaders released a plan for organizing the North American Lutheran Church on February 18, 2010. It was felt that a new church body was needed for those Lutheran congregations who declined to join already existing groups, such as the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ
.
The new church was constituted in Grove City, Ohio
, at the Lutheran CORE national convocation of August 26-27, 2010. A constitution was adopted and provisional leaders were elected, including the Reverend Paull Spring of State College, Pennsylvania
, a retired ELCA bishop
, to serve as bishop of the NALC for its first year. The congregations that joined the NALC elected their own leaders at the church body's first annual meeting August 11-12, 2011, in Hilliard, Ohio
. The Reverend John Bradosky of Centerville, Ohio
, NALC General Secretary, was elected as bishop of the NALC at that meeting.
and holds that the Christian Scriptures
are the highest standard by which doctrine and practice are to be judged. It accepts the ecumenical creeds
and the Lutheran Confessions as "true witnesses to the Word of God". It ordains both men and women clergy
.
The bishop is an ordained minister elected by the convocation. The bishop serves as "pastor for the pastors and congregations of the NALC" and as the church's chief executive officer. Together with the executive council, the bishop authorizes all ordinations and normally conducts the rite of ordination. The bishop serves for a four year term and is eligible to serve for a maximum of three consecutive terms. The general secretary is appointed by the bishop and confirmed by the executive council. This officer manages the day-to-day administrative functions of the NALC. The executive council consists of the bishop, four clergy and four lay members. Its duties include implementing the work and policies of the NALC in between sessions of convocation, and its actions are subject to review by the convocation. Regional deans, who may also serve as pastors of local congregations, work with the bishop to provide oversight and pastoral care to pastors and congregations in their area.
A seven member Court of Adjudication, elected by the annual convocation, has jurisdiction to decide appeals of church disciplinary actions and has authority to interpret church governing documents. The convocation can overturn the court's interpretation of a governing document by amending the document in question.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is committed to the authority of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
as the inspired Word of God
Word of God
Word of God or God's Word may refer to:*Divine revelation**certain Religious texts**Prophecy**Biblical literalism*Logos as "divine word"** in biblical creation, see Genesis creation narrative**in trinitarianism, see Jesus Christ the Logos...
and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life. In keeping with the Lutheran Confessions, the NALC believes all doctrines should and must be judged by the teaching of Scripture. The NALC is committed to shaping its life around four attributes: Christ-Centered, Mission-Driven, Traditionally-Grounded, and Congregationally-Focused. It was established on August 27, 2010, at the annual Convocation of Lutheran CORE
Lutheran CORE
Lutheran CORE, or Coalition for Renewal, is a community of confessing Lutherans spanning Lutheran church bodies. Lutheran CORE describes itself as:...
in Grove City, Ohio
Grove City, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,075 people, 10,265 households, and 7,544 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,941.2 people per square mile . There were 10,712 housing units at an average density of 768.0 per square mile...
.
History
The North American Lutheran Church was officially formed in August 2010 as the culmination of a process begun by Lutheran CORELutheran CORE
Lutheran CORE, or Coalition for Renewal, is a community of confessing Lutherans spanning Lutheran church bodies. Lutheran CORE describes itself as:...
(Coalition for Renewal), a confessional Lutheran body which crosses denominational lines. This action came in response to the dissatisfaction of theological conservatives within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
(ELCA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada's largest Lutheran denomination, with 152,788 baptized members in 624 congregations, with the second largest, the Lutheran Church–Canada, having 72,116 baptized members...
(ELCIC), which were perceived as moving away from the authority of the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions. A major issue of concern for these groups was a 2009 decision by the ELCA which changed its teaching and policy on sexual ethics, allowing pastors to be in committed same-sex relationships. Following Lutheran CORE's national convocation in September 2009, which resolved to pursue the "reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism", the organization's leaders released a plan for organizing the North American Lutheran Church on February 18, 2010. It was felt that a new church body was needed for those Lutheran congregations who declined to join already existing groups, such as the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ is an association of Lutheran congregations in the United States. It began in 2000 in response to the liberalization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America . LCMC is characterized by the traditional stances it takes on Lutheran polity, biblical...
.
The new church was constituted in Grove City, Ohio
Grove City, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,075 people, 10,265 households, and 7,544 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,941.2 people per square mile . There were 10,712 housing units at an average density of 768.0 per square mile...
, at the Lutheran CORE national convocation of August 26-27, 2010. A constitution was adopted and provisional leaders were elected, including the Reverend Paull Spring of State College, Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
, a retired ELCA bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, to serve as bishop of the NALC for its first year. The congregations that joined the NALC elected their own leaders at the church body's first annual meeting August 11-12, 2011, in Hilliard, Ohio
Hilliard, Ohio
Hilliard is a city in Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The population was 28,435 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hilliard is located at . It is bordered on the east by Upper Arlington, on the north by Dublin, on the south by Galloway and Columbus, and to the west lies open farmland...
. The Reverend John Bradosky of Centerville, Ohio
Centerville, Ohio
Centerville, Ohio is a city in Montgomery and Greene Counties in the U.S. state of Ohio.Centerville, Ohio may also refer to:*Centerville, Gallia County, Ohio*Centerville, Clinton County, Ohio or Lees Creek...
, NALC General Secretary, was elected as bishop of the NALC at that meeting.
Beliefs
The North American Lutheran Church understands itself to be part of the one holy, catholic, and apostolic churchFour Marks of the Church
The Four Marks of the Church is a term describing four specific adjectives—one, holy, catholic and apostolic—indicating four major distinctive marks or distinguishing characteristics of the Christian Church...
and holds that the Christian Scriptures
Christian biblical canons
A Christian biblical canon is the set of books that a Christian denomination regards as divinely inspired and thus constituting the Christian Bible...
are the highest standard by which doctrine and practice are to be judged. It accepts the ecumenical creeds
Ecumenical creeds
Ecumenical creeds is an umbrella term used in the western church to refer to the Nicene Creed, the Apostles' Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. The ecumenical creeds are also known as the universal creeds. These creeds are accepted by almost all mainstream Christian denominations in the western...
and the Lutheran Confessions as "true witnesses to the Word of God". It ordains both men and women clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
.
Governance
The membership of the North American Lutheran Church is composed of congregations and ordained ministers who have subscribed to the church's constitution. Provided that member congregations' beliefs and practices are compatible with the NALC, congregations can simultaneously affiliate with other Lutheran church bodies. Ministers and elected lay delegates represent their congregations in the annual convocation. This body elects the bishop, executive council, and other leadership positions. It also approves budgetary items and teaching statements. Certain actions of the convocation, such as constitutional amendments and teaching statements, must first be ratified by a majority or two-thirds majority of NALC congregations before they take effect.The bishop is an ordained minister elected by the convocation. The bishop serves as "pastor for the pastors and congregations of the NALC" and as the church's chief executive officer. Together with the executive council, the bishop authorizes all ordinations and normally conducts the rite of ordination. The bishop serves for a four year term and is eligible to serve for a maximum of three consecutive terms. The general secretary is appointed by the bishop and confirmed by the executive council. This officer manages the day-to-day administrative functions of the NALC. The executive council consists of the bishop, four clergy and four lay members. Its duties include implementing the work and policies of the NALC in between sessions of convocation, and its actions are subject to review by the convocation. Regional deans, who may also serve as pastors of local congregations, work with the bishop to provide oversight and pastoral care to pastors and congregations in their area.
A seven member Court of Adjudication, elected by the annual convocation, has jurisdiction to decide appeals of church disciplinary actions and has authority to interpret church governing documents. The convocation can overturn the court's interpretation of a governing document by amending the document in question.