The Lutheran church in our country is divided into various groupings commonly known as church bodies. Some of these church bodies designate themselves synods, others designate themselves churches. Each church body is distinguished by its own beliefs and practices. Our church body is known as the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

In 1988 a new Lutheran church body was formed when three separate church groups, the ALC, the LCA and the AELC, merged into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Our congregation and synod did not join in this merger. We are not in fellowship with the ELCA because of what is being taught and preached in its midst. We do not doubt that there are many sincere Christians in the ELCA. This new church body, however, allows many things to be taught and preached which are clearly not in agreement with what God has stated in his holy Word.

In our preaching and teaching our main concern is that we speak in accordance with God's Word. When a church body does not hold to what God has said in his Word, it not only endangers the personal faith of its members, but it also evades the responsibility Christ has given to his Church to proclaim the truth to succeeding generations. It is because of this difference in teaching that we are separate from the ELCA.

The following chart presents a simple comparison between the teachings of our ELS (column A) and the beliefs and teachings promoted and allowed in the ELCA (column B). Please note that while not all ELCA pastors and lay members will hold to every viewpoint in column B, the church body officially teaches and/or tolerates all statements in that column. Members of the ELCA support these teachings whether they realize it or not.

ELS	ELCA
(1) Everything recorded in the Bible is to be accepted and taught as God's Word. Every Word is truth.	(1) The only teaching to be accepted without question is the Gospel.
(2) Holy Scripture contains no errors or real contradictions.	(2) Holy Scripture may have errors and many contradictions.
(3) Miracles recorded in the Bible as historical events actually happened.	(3) Some or all of the miracles recorded in the Bible may not really have happened.
(4) Jesus really said what the New Testament attributes to Him.	(4) Many statements credited to Jesus were added later by zealous Christian writers.
(5) God is the author of all Scripture. He breathed into certain writers the words He wanted them to write (II Timothy 3:16)	(5) Since Scripture was written by men, its teachings are sometimes wrong and contradict each other.
(6) Genesis 1-3 is a factual, historical account of the world's origin.	(6) Interpretation of Genesis 1-3 is acceptable as myth or fable.
(7) Adam and Eve were two real, historical people created by God.	(7) Adam and Eve probably were not real people but only symbols of male and female humanity.
(8) It is contrary to the Bible to hold that the world or man originated by chance according to the theory of evolution.	(8) The world developed by chance, as explained by evolution. Man may have evolved from lower beings.
(9) The virgin birth of Christ, as a biological miracle, is believed and taught, since it is stated plainly in Scripture.	(9) The idea of a virgin birth was added later by over-zealous writers. It is not an important teaching in the Bible.
(10) Christ rose physically from the dead. We also will rise, and the souls and bodies of Christians will be reunited in a glorified state.	(10) Jesus did not rise physically from the dead. Likewise, our resurrection might not be an actual, physical coming back to life.
(11) Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, and no one can be saved without faith in Him (John 14:6; Acts 4: 12).	(11) It is possible to get to heaven without believing in Christ.
(12) Jesus is true God. His deity is clearly taught in the Bible.	(12) Jesus was simply a great man who had God's blessings. His "deity" was developed later by his followers.
(13) Homosexuality is a sin which is condemned in Holy Scripture.	(13) Homosexuality today should be accepted as a valid lifestyle.