r/LCMS

I grew up in the LCMS and have gone to 4 different churches in the LCMS, which have all been very conservative churches. Women have always been able to vote on church matters in my lifetime. In college, I had a friend who was WELS growing up and he said women weren’t allowed to vote, which the rest of our (Lutheran) friend group laughed at because they all had gone to churches where women were allowed to vote. Until very recently I had no idea some lcms churches didn’t allow women’s suffrage. Recently as part a pastoral call process we had a huge list of candidates, some fresh from seminary but some older, and the vast majority of them were against women’s suffrage. And now I see that there are several things on the synod convention workbook that are speaking against women’s suffrage, in hopes to have a resolution to disallow women from voting? Where is this coming from? I’m very surprised that this is even coming up but idk why anything surprises me anymore.

My pastor just preached a Mother’s Day message in which he said the line from the apostles creed, “And he decended into Hell”; was not scruiptural.

He then proceeded to twist 1 Peter 3:19 and the surrounding verses. Ignoring the countless other verses that confirm this tradition.

I’m lost for disbelief here. I’ve often admired Rome but heavily disagreed with them in the past. But man…. I might reconsider that now.

I was doing some research on the top ten (plus a few) largest parishes in the Synod (as counted by membership and weekly attendance), it is fascinating to watch the recorded sermons on YouTube to note the various differences in settings and styles of service.

From traditional Mass to more evangelical appearances with some having women reading from the lectern or assisting in the administration of the Eucharist.

• Concordia Lutheran Church (San Antonio)
• Hosanna Lutheran Church (Mankato)
• Hales Corners Lutheran Church (Wisconsin)
• St. Lorenz Lutheran Church (Frankenmuth)
• St. John's Lutheran Church (Orange, CA)
• Immanuel Lutheran Church (Alexandria, VA)
• St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (Oviedo, FL)
• Faith Lutheran Church (Las Vegas)
• St. Peter's Lutheran Church (Columbus, IN)
• Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church (Black Hawk, SD)
• St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Fort Wayne, IN)
• Trinity Lutheran Church (Roselle, IL)
• Holy Cross Lutheran Church (Lake Mary, FL)
• Christ Greenfield Lutheran Church (Gilbert, AZ)

Is it just me, or do people make mountains out of molehills with theological/ecclesial issues within the LCMS?

Everywhere I go, whether online or in person, everyone has a different opinion of the LCMS. Some say that the LCMS is going the way of the ELCA and is “a hair’s breadth” away from ordaining women as Pastors. Then you have others who say the LCMS is becoming too conservative and that we need to ease up on certain doctrines.

Every time that a proposal people don’t like is made to be reviewed at a Convention, you have 15,000 people online saying the LCMS is apostatizing from the faith (before the Convention even had a chance to laugh at it and throw it in the garbage.)

My only question is if I’m the only one who thinks that the laity tends to make mountains out of molehills on certain issues.

Hello all,

I am a little lost at the moment…

I was raised and am still a practicing member of the LCMS faith. I married my husband over 14 years ago, and he completed confirmation classes to convert from Catholicism…
After having our youngest child my husband hit our oldest child (8 at the time) across the face and back hard enough that it left handprints while I was at work. I insisted that he take parenting classes, anger management, individual counseling and we take marriage counseling, which he did begrudgingly. He was arrested by the county and had a trial. He blocked me going back to school so I could support myself and our children fully alone in the event he was placed in federal prison stating that he thought I would leave. I bartered with the county to give him a deferred sentencing so he didn’t lose his job and retirement. (5 years without any further issues down to even a speeding ticket or he goes to federal prison without trial.) He still believes what he did was not wrong. I have been through so much grief, and change since then, (loss of a parent, and health concerns) and the relationship has not gotten any better and I do not feel supported in my marriage. He has told me it was my fault CPS got involved because I took our son to school knowing they would report it. I tried my best to give it time for us to work on strengthening our relationship, however he stands by what he has done fully like it is not a shameful act. I tried looking through scripture for any sort of answer on what Gods view might be on these circumstances, but have found nothing in favor or against leaving after child abuse. It has been three and a half years since these events took place, so it isn’t as though I haven’t given enough time or tried hard enough to repair…

I am too embarrassed to bring this to my pastor, as I do not think I want any further mediation since his views have not changed.

Please give me any insights on what my next steps should be.

I’m no theologian, far from it. For years I’ve heard these 3 branches of Lutheranism in the US thrown around. I never have understood the differences.

I know ELCA is the most Liberal. They allow women to be pastors and tend to be more liberal when it comes to cultural issues. That’s all I know.

I know LCMS. Is more Conservative and doesn’t allow women pastors. Communion where they have to get permission.

I know WELS is the most conservative not allowing women to do anything in the church.

The things I know are rather superficial. I’m curious about other differences.

This is not attending to be a bash session. More to get a better understanding.

Hey y’all, this may be a very silly question but I figured I’d ask because of my last experience in church on Sunday.

So I go to St. Paul in Austin TX, and we have communion every week, and during weekly divine services through the church year. This is what has become the norm in my life.

I traveled to west TX for work and found an albeit more contemporary, small LCMS church. I talked to the pastor who was a really awesome pastor and they usually only commune once a month or so.

I didn’t ask him why at the time but I am generally curious, is there reasoning for this extending beyond difficulty for smaller parishes?

Thank y’all in advance, Glory to God.

Hello, I am trying to find a confessional LCMS church in southern NJ. I can't seem to find any Lutheran churches that are not ELCA or have a female minister.

Thank you in advance

I would like to know what people think about intinction? I know this Lutheran church pretty solid teaching all the way around but during Covid they brought in the teaching of intinction. They have 1 cup you can drink from the other cup is for intinction. I don’t know what to think about it? Any thoughts would be helpful.

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Hi am a Baptist from non denominational that wanted to became Lutheran because I am tired aboutbut the concert worship, low view of the sacrament, shallow theology, emotionalism and dispensationalism in the evangelicals.The problem is there's no lutheran Church here in the province of Palawan in the Philippines.

I am raised baptist and spend most of my time in non denominational churches when I was in elementary and high school during those times I am paranoid about my salvation because I might left behind in the rapture and experience the 7 years tribulations from the Antichrist.

During those time I always hear about salvation by faith alone, but I don't know if am I really saved or if I had faith because Our pastor before keep saying we should look to our self, our heart or our fruit, so I am really confused where can I based my assurance of salvation, how can I know if I'm saved.

Every time that I sin, do embarrassing mistake or i mess up out of anger I turn into doubt and despair I keep wandering and question ing my seft am I saved because If I died right now Iand I will face God and I know he will jugde me based on what I've done I might send to hell and be tortured forever.

There is a time that my I lost my faith in Jesus because to people expectation if I am should be good and nice as they expect me to do so so felt resenment to God so I ran away from him. After my resentment to God I felt that this is right time to go back to my church to restore my faith in Jesus but when I tried I feel dry,dull and heavy. I really dissatisfied because our church theology are kinda sloppy.

When keep watching yt video discover redeem zoomed explaining theology, church history and different denomination video. I watch RZ video About understanding Lutheranism and any other video about Lutheranism from other lutheran youtuber that captured my attention that I finally find the answer to my question for long time of doubt and despair that instead of looking to myself l must to only to Christ look to the cross, look to the empty tomb and that I should put my faith and trust to the promise of Christ to the word and the Sacrament that should be my assurance of salvation.

Are there any pastor or laity here that I get some advice or am I be consider lutheran for believing on you're theology and confession

Thank you

Hey everybody, I am graduating high school this coming sunday and I am considering the holy ministry later in my life. I am wondering exactly what I need to do. Does Concordia offer online classes or anything? I have a girlfriend I intend on marrying in maybe a year or two and she does not want to come with me, and I refuse to go without her. I'm not really sure about ministry, but to be honest I don't know what else to do with my life, so why shouldn't I help the Lord?

Any advice/input is greatly appreciated, I don't know what I'm doing man.

As an honest LCMS member and hopping to be a future LCMS pastor I'm confused by closed communion. We base the practice off of 1 Corinthians 10-11 but this passage seems to communicate the opposite of what the LCMS teaches. The LCMS says that Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc.. Can rightly be considered Christians and yet we refuse them the sacrament based on their disbelief in the true presence.

The systematics of closed communion makes perfect sense to me but the hermeneutics of 1 Corinthians 10-11 does not.

Paul talks about how we (the church) who are one body partake of one bread (1 Cor 10:17). He then goes on to say that there are divisions in the church in order that those who are genuine can be seen, thus inferring the false Christians are also revealed (1 Cor 11:18-19). He uses that as a spring board to show that taking communion in an unworthy manner is to either: hog it all to yourself (1 Cor 11:21) thus not discerning the body rightly, or not examining yourself properly (1 Cor 11:28-29).

We seem to have to choose between two ways of thinking.

1. Say that those who do not believe Jesus when he says "this is my body" and "this is my blood" are committing heresy and are thus not a part of the church and cannot receive the bread because they are not a part of the body.

Or

2. Give them the sacrament and therefore recognize our unity as one body and thus one church as Paul commands.

It looks like choosing this middle ground actually makes the LCMS guilty of not discerning the body rightly rather than the other way around.

Can someone explain this to me?

Has anyone been to this event or something like it in another District?

I'm curious if other districts have such events like this or Adult Adventure Camp?

It would be great to fellowship with others in the Synod.

I have always appreciated Missouri for being confessionally strict to the point of upholding liturgical adiophora across the Synod, being serious about doctrine while protecting Christian freedom in practice. As I was raised in some of the highest church liturgy, within bounds, I certainly have great appreciation and much respect for fellow brothers who might choose a different, lower style.

What I have never understood though is schismatic micro-groups who break away from Missouri and lay claim to being "more strict confessionally" while jettisoning the idea of adiophora almost completely while treating their prescribed conditions as confessional and binding to the conscience in some cases. Would not ignoring Formula of Concord, Article X actually make one less strict?

On that note, does the Synod exercise authority over schismatics by condemning their actions?

So I come from a vaguely evangelical upbringing. In the past few months I have been convinced of Lutheranism. I am Lutheran now.

Unfortunately, I can't have a home church because the nearest church is very difficult to get to both financially and geographically. It does bother me that I can't be officially confirmed into the Lutheran church but it's not as big of a concern to me right now as baptism is.

I'm not baptized yet, this is the problem with "believer’s baptism". Since it's just a symbol and you need to decide on your own, you get situations like mine. Now that I am convinced of the power behind baptism I want to get baptized, but like I said there is no church near me.

In your opinion what should I do? I know that it's not the man that is the baptizer but Jesus, so if I get baptized in a baptist, reformed, or whatever church it doesn't become invalid just because they believe differently.

Is it better to delay it and wait until I can physically go to a Lutheran church in a few months? Or should I answer what The Holy Spirit has put in my heart, an urge to get baptized? Even if it's from a different tradition?

(Bonus question, can women baptize? I know that the LCMS and most conservative Lutheran bodies are against women's ordination, but does that have anything to do with baptism? Genuine question)

Does anyone have church resources on Genesis 6, The Sons of God, or the Nephilim? Particularly of the Sethite view.

Thank you!

What did the AALC do wrong? Are they teaching some kind of false doctrine?

To preface this: I am a newer LCMS attendee having attended for ~4.5 months now. I have not begun classes to fulfill membership yet. I have not always considered myself Christian. When I was little, I did, but certain family events led to me leaving my faith. I felt called home to the church and finally returned a few months ago.

I thoroughly enjoy the church and am working to educate myself on liturgy, tradition, history, catechisms, and re-reading the Bible.

I stumbled upon the YEC and it has been the only thing I have come across from the church that my husband and I can’t get behind. We both believe in theistic evolution/intelligent design.

We don’t plan on arguing or making big scenes about it, but we don’t believe in YEC. I’ve seen lots of mixed reviews from people in the community regarding reception of individuals who believe in theistic evolution.

I was wondering how much of a problem this will be, and if it will preclude us from becoming members of the church?

Thank you to everyone who answers!