Our Lutheran Identity
Our identity as Lutherans is rooted in the Bible and our history. Our member church contexts continue to shape our faith, theology and understanding of God’s mission.
To be Lutheran is to be
- Evangelical
- Sacramental
- Diaconal
- Confessional
- Ecumenical
While the central convictions of the Lutheran tradition are not uniquely ours, its distinctive patterns and emphases shape the way in which we respond to the challenges and questions we face today.
Evangelical | We proclaim the “good news” of Christ’s life, his death on the cross, and his resurrection. Together we witness that, despite our sins, we are accepted unconditionally: forgiven, saved and justified by God’s grace for Christ’s sake through faith alone.
Sacramental | We live our life together in the communion of the Church. We center our worship of the Triune God in the proclamation of the Word of God, both law and gospel, and in the sacraments.
Diaconal | We are freed by Christ in faith to love and serve our neighbor. Our service in the world and our care for creation are integral to our Lutheran identity.
Confessional | The LWF confesses the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the only source and norm of its doctrine, life and service, and sees in the Ecumenical Creeds and in the Lutheran Confessions a pure exposition of the Word of God.
Ecumenical | The LWF confesses the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church and is resolved to serve and actively promote Christian unity throughout the world and to further united witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We work for unity among Christians through theological education and exploration, dialogue and collaborative action, as our participation in the ecumenical movement.
