AboutBrad Varvil Expertise I am happy to field questions regarding Lutheran theology and practice, and it's context
within the western catholic tradition. General questions on the Christian faith are also
welcome.
Experience I have served in lay ministry for over ten years, and am currently a pastor in a small, confessional Lutheran communion in the Evangelical Catholic tradition. I have worked with several Lutheran and non-Lutheran communions over the years, and have a particular fondness for catholic ecumenism.
Education/Credentials I have a BA in Religion and Philosophy from a small midwestern Lutheran college, and am completing an M.Div. at a small, independent, Lutheran seminary in the Pacific Northwest.
Question I was raised Catholic and never thought I'd change faiths because of my family. More and more however, I find myself not agreeing with some of the Catholic ideas. As a result, I have decided to find which faith is closest to my beliefs. I have done some reading on the many different branches of Protestant Faith Families but I am still confused between the difference between a Lutheran and an Evangelical Lutheran. Could you please help explain this to me?
Answer Dear Amelia,
Grace and peace to you! When attempting to understand the different branches of the Reformation, it becomes important examine each tradition's confessional documents. For example, the most succinct statement on current Roman Catholic dogma is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. For Lutherans, that standard would be the 1580 Book of Concord.
The Book of Concord is the confessional basis for Lutheran doctrine. Fundamental in that collection of writings, are the three great western creeds (Apostle's, Nicene, and Athanasian) the Augsburg Confession, the Apology or Defense of the Augsburg Confession, and the two Catechisms written by Martin Luther (the Small and the Large, respectively.) For most new members in Lutheran communions, we introduce them to our tradition through the Small Catechism (only 10 or 15 pages long, depending on the printing.)
As for all the different Lutheran groups out there, many of them are simply different because of the geography and cultures from whence they came (Norway, Sweden, Germany, etc.) However, there are difference in modern Lutheran churches regarding how firmly they hold the Scriptures and the Confessions in the Book of Concord... and that sort of breaks out as follows:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): largest American Lutheran church body, and generally liberal in their approach to Scripture and the Confessions.
Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod (LCMS): second largest American Lutheran group, and generally conservative regarding Scripture and the Confessions.
There are lots of others after that. Some are high-church Lutherans that look more like Roman liturgical practice (Lutheran Orthodox Church, for example) and others are low-church that look more congregational in their expressions (like the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, or AFLC.) There are Lutherans that are more ecumenical, and others that are more sectarian... but these are mostly just small splinter groups in the general tapestry of American Lutheran Christianity.
Anyway, I hope that helps. A Lutheran is largely measured by how close they hold to historic Lutheran confessions-- which should all be Evangelical and catholic due to their high regard for the Gospel (which is what the word evangelical means.) Of course, Lutherans have not been monolithic in how they approach that goal. My best recommendation would be to visit a few Lutheran congregations in your area, and chat a bit with their pastors. If you would like a deeper analysis, or more particular information on different Lutheran communions, please feel free to contact me privately.
May God keep and preserve you in your search.
Rev. Brad
