Imagine
Lutheran churches, one by one, recommitting themselves to the mission
and ministry of the Gospel, and working together to bring the Word of
Christ to a new generation.
Imagine
Lutheran churches, one by one, recommitting themselves to the mission
and ministry of the Gospel, and working together to bring the Word of
Christ to a new generation.
The Lutheran Churches of the Common Confession (LC3) is an association of congregations from across the country which is lifting up such a vision. By covenanting with each other around a shared statement of faith — The Common Confession — our congregations seek to bring clarity to the modern Lutheran message, build trust among fellow-workers in Gospel, and move forward together within the Church with a common goal and direction. Through cooperative projects, shared resources, and mutual support, we are committed to communicating an intentional Christian witness that is founded on confessional Lutheran theology and grounded in the authority of the Word of God.
It is not the intent of LC3 to form a new denomination or church structure, but to inspire a positive and active Lutheran witness within our present context. Like the mission societies of former generations, we have come together to help each other be faithful in our common calling to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, both at home and abroad.
Here are some opportunities for mission and ministry that the associated congregations might choose to do together:
Churches of the Common Confession could relate to one another not as competitors but as partners in preaching and teaching the Gospel of our Lord on the same terms, as expressed in the Common Confession. Based on the trust of this common faith perspective, such an association could serve to build two-way relationships between congregations of the same area who could benefit from the resources they have to share. This might include pastoral assistance, office help, mutual educational offerings and so on. All could learn from each other, serve concertedly, and follow the Lord Jesus together in the same direction.
Churches of the Common Confession could join together locally to support the mission of Christ through: sponsorship missionaries at home and abroad, the development of new mission starts, and making connections with existing mission organizations already doing the work of God across the globe. Ecumenically, confessional Lutherans have many friends and supporters in Canada, Europe, Asia, Indonesia, Africa and beyond that could be fostered through such an association.
Churches of the Common Confession could foster and support relationships with the many Lutheran agencies that serve in many specialized ministries. A number of organizations are already seeking closer ties to confessional churches as they work with: youth, seniors, the physically and mentally challenged, and engage in ministries of wellness and education throughout the world. Some build on cooperative ministries that exist between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and our brothers and sisters in and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. These not-for-profit Lutheran agencies, through their faithful outreach and fiduciary responsibility, have engaged in their mission and ministry in efficient and exciting ways, effectively carrying out work that no single congregation could do alone.
Churches of the Common Confession could provide a network of contacts in bringing together discerning congregations with biblical and confessional pastors. A list of pastors who subscribe to the Common Confession could be made available to churches in the Call Process, and congregations seeking qualified candidates could post their openings in a single place.
Churches of the Common Confession could join together in theological reflection and shared learning by sponsoring theological conferences and continuing education events that would be Word-based and relevant to the church of the 21st century and beyond. They could work together to support development of new resources, including: bible studies, website programs, DVDs, or the creation of an interactive sermon preparation site, to name a few examples.
Churches of the Common Confession could offer mutual support in the area of worship resources — in developing materials faithful to our tradition, as well as in providing advice for evaluating materials on the market. For example, association congregations might take a look at the new Lutheran Hymnal for Church and Home being developed by the WordAlone Network. Association congregations could also share recommendations and guidance on the appropriate use of materials available through the ELCA’s “Renewing Worship” initiatives.
In order to provide for the next generation of Lutheran pastors and teachers, the Churches of the Common Confession could begin working together to help support and finance the WordAlone Network’s creation of a Lutheran Theological House of Studies that would solidly ground students in the Lutheran confessional tradition. Preliminary planning is already underway toward making this goal a reality, incorporating multiple models — including theological education by extension, a valued and working model in use globally. This model is lightweight on bricks and mortar, but heavyweight theologically, dependent not on the “place” but the “professors.”
Churches of the Common Confession would be in a position to support and compliment the work of the coalition of reform: Lutheran CORE. This partner organization of LC3 is bringing together people from many existing reform movements on a national level, working for reform of the denominational structure and public witness. Congregations could help host help host planning meetings and educational events on parliamentary procedure. They could also help in the nomination candidates for synodical and churchwide offices, allowing local churches opportunity to participate more fully in the governance and direction of their denomination.