History of Lutheran church

	Revision 11 . . December 13, 2001 6:46 am by (logged).109.250.xxx [ELCA is not a synod -- it is composed of 65 synods; replaced "synod" with "denomination"]
	Revision 10 . . (edit) December 13, 2001 6:20 am by (logged).138.172.xxx
	Revision 9 . . (edit) December 13, 2001 6:19 am by (logged).138.172.xxx
	Revision 8 . . (edit) September 7, 2001 9:15 pm by (logged).37.81.xxx [Finland, Finland, Finland, is the place where i want to be ...]

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In the U.S., congregations are grouped in supra-church organizations called synods, which cooperate to provide seminaries, pastoral care, and Sunday-school and liturgical materials. Churches select which synods they will join, and pay money to support them and get services. Synods often cooperate to "plant" (start new) churches.

In the U.S., congregations are grouped into over 20 different denominations. The three largest Lutheran bodies in the United States are, in order of size, the [Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]? (ELCA), the more conservative [Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod]? (LCMS), and the even more conservative [Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod]? (WELS). These denominations provide seminaries, pastoral care, and Sunday-school and liturgical materials. Local congregations pay money to support them and get services. Denominations help start new churches belong to them.

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Notable U.S. synods include the Missouri Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and the Wisconsin Synod.

ELCA is divided into 64 geographical and 1 non-geographical synods. LCMS and WELS each constitute a single synod for the entire denomination.

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U.S. synods differ on doctrine and practice. Doctrinally the synods differ primarily based on their acceptance of the theory of "higher criticism." The Missouri and Wisconsin synods mistrust this set of critical literature, which explcitly denies the miraculous provenance of many events described in the Bible. In contrast, many members of the ELCA believe that higher criticism represents the best efforts of modern scholarship. The most divisive issue of practice is the ordination of women, which has caused individuals and whole parishes to move from one to another synod affiliation. Another dividing point is whether atheists may be permitted to teach in seminaries and perform pastoral care.

U.S. denominations differ on doctrine and practice. Doctrinally the denominations differ primarily based on their acceptance of the theory of "higher criticism." LCMS and WELS mistrust this set of critical literature, which explcitly denies the miraculous provenance of many events described in the Bible. In contrast, many members of the ELCA believe that higher criticism represents the best efforts of modern scholarship. The most divisive issue of practice is the ordination of women, which has caused individuals and whole parishes to move from one to another synod affiliation. Another dividing point is whether atheists may be permitted to teach in seminaries and perform pastoral care.