Denominations: They still matter Study guide


By Robert C. Blezard


wildly different ideas. It’s confusing. But in a world where Christians are going in a zillion different directions, a strong denomination—such as the ELCA—can keep its people clear on who they are, how they relate to other Christians and how they can witness the love of Jesus Christ to a needy world.


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Exercise 1: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The name of our denomination tells a lot about who we are as a people of God. What does it mean to be evan- gelical? How is that expressed in your congregation’s prayers, activi- ties and ministries? How is it lived out in you? Where does the name Lutheran come from? What does it mean in history? What does it mean today? What does it mean for your church? For you personally?


What does it mean to be a


church? Is a church just one congre- gation? What are other meanings of church?


The phrase “in America” implies that there are other “Evangelical Lutheran” churches in the world. What others are there? What is our relationship to them? What makes us distinct?


Exercise 2: Synod—going the same way Your congregation is part of a synod—one of the ELCA’s 65 subdi- visions, each headed by a bishop and all but one organized by geography. The word “synod” comes from the


here are so many Christian churches today, and new ones spring up all the time. Some have


Greek words syn, meaning together, and hodos, meaning a way, or a going. Given the root meaning for synod, why is the term appropriate for churches aligned by common his- tory, theology and outlook? What are the ways in which your congregation is going the same way as others in your synod?


Exercise 3: The Lutheran story The ELCA and its congregations proudly honor the name of Martin Luther, the courageous German monk and theologian who chal- lenged some of the Roman Catholic Church’s teachings and practices and touched off the Protestant Reforma- tion. Some 500 years since Luther’s time, Lutheran churches still draw insight and inspiration from his actions and teachings.


Do you know the story of Luther? How does it inform, inspire or direct your walk as a Christian? Why is it important for Lutherans to know the story? How does your congregation tell, celebrate and pass on the story? How could it do a better job?


Exercise 4: Lutheran theology Three of Luther’s revolutionary theological insights especially distin- guish Lutherans from other groups of Christians: • Justification by faith, which con- cerns how and why we are saved by God. • Law and gospel, which describes how Scripture works on us to bring us to salvation. • Theology of the cross, which out- lines how we know anything about God and how we draw conclusions about God and God’s will.


How much do you know about


each of them? Research and explore together over the next year. Discover as a study group how these remark- able insights give our church a clear voice in the Christian choir.


Exercise 5: Feed, clothe, welcome, visit


In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus made it clear that Christians are concerned with the world’s least fortunate. How well can a single congregation respond to Jesus’ call to feed the hun- gry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned and care for the sick? When many con- gregations work together, how much more can be accomplished? Research and discuss ways in which the ELCA accomplishes the mandate of Matthew 25 through its agencies and partnerships: Lutheran Social Services, ELCA World Hun- ger, Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Relief and others.


Exercise 6: ‘Make disciples of all nations’


In the Great Commandment (Mat- thew 28:19), Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations. How can a single congregation do this? Why is the ELCA, which draws on the strength of more than 10,000 congre- gations, better equipped to do so? Research and explore the ways in which ELCA Global Mission is accomplish- ing this in your congre- gation’s name, using resources from your congregation.


This study guide is offered as one example of the nearly 300 that are currently available on The Lutheran’s website. Download guides—free to print subscribers and supporting Web members—at www.thelutheran.org (click “study guides”).


Blezard is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Arendtsville, Pa. He has a master of divinity degree from Boston University and did subsequent study at the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.) and the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia.


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