The Christian church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church through the ages due to the proliferation of false teachings and heresy, has found it necessary to restate the basic beliefs and doctrines of the Christian religion as found in the 66 books of the Old and New Testament. This process began with the 3 ecumenical creeds, and continued with the Book of Concord, 1580.
We have witnessed in America groups both large and small who call themselves Lutheran, yet their published and taught beliefs and actual practice say otherwise. We therefore must restate what true Christians believe, teach and confess as Lutherans as a testimony of our faithfulness.
Our desire is not to state anything new, but to reaffirm that which has been forgotten, neglected, or perhaps misunderstood about the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
We would therefore reject the use of tradition or reason over and above God’s Word.
We agree with those Lutheran confessors who signed the Book of Concord of 1580 (go to this link for all references to Book of Concord). We accept that confession not in so far as (quatenus) but because (quia) it correctly presents the doctrine and teaching of God’s living Word.
We affirm our agreement with The Brief Statement of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Our understanding of Worship can be summarized by Article VII Of the Church in the Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession Article XV Human Traditions 20-21, and the Formula of Concord Solid Declaration, Article X Church Usages, 9-10 (Book of Concord).
We affirm For the Sake of Christ’s Commission: The Report of the Church Growth Study Committee of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, 2001.
We affirm C.F.W. Walther’s Church and Ministry (German, 1851, English, 1987) as a correct and useful exposition of the Lutheran and biblical truth on this subject.
Whereas Popes and councils may err, we affirm the sole leader of our church to be Christ and His Living Word (John 1:1, 14). We have no head but Christ (Acts 5:29).