Lutheran Church Missouri Synod vs. North American Lutheran Church

Attribute	Lutheran Church Missouri Synod	North American Lutheran Church
Founding Year	1847	2010
Membership	2 million	400,000
Headquarters	St. Louis, Missouri	Waverly, Iowa
Beliefs	Confessional Lutheran	Confessional Lutheran
Relationship with Other Churches	Part of the International Lutheran Council	Member of the Lutheran World Federation

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) is a conservative, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. It was founded in 1847 and is known for its adherence to traditional Lutheran teachings and practices. The LCMS is the second-largest Lutheran church body in the United States, with over 2 million members. The church is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and is led by a president who is elected every three years.

One of the key attributes of the LCMS is its commitment to the authority of the Bible as the inspired and inerrant word of God. The church believes in the doctrine of sola scriptura, which means that the Bible is the sole source of authority for Christian faith and practice. This commitment to biblical authority shapes the teaching and preaching in LCMS congregations, emphasizing the importance of scripture in all aspects of the Christian life.

Another important aspect of the LCMS is its emphasis on the sacraments, particularly Holy Communion and Baptism. The church practices closed communion, meaning that only baptized members of the LCMS or other Lutheran church bodies in fellowship with the LCMS are allowed to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. This emphasis on the sacraments as means of grace is a central part of the church's worship and theology.

The LCMS is also known for its conservative stance on social issues, including its opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion. The church teaches that marriage is a lifelong union between one man and one woman, and that life begins at conception. These positions are based on the church's interpretation of scripture and its commitment to upholding traditional Christian values in a changing culture.

In terms of governance, the LCMS is a hierarchical church body with a synodical structure. The church is divided into districts, each of which is overseen by a district president. The synodical president is elected by delegates from the districts at the church's triennial convention. This structure allows for a centralized authority while also providing some autonomy to individual congregations.

North American Lutheran Church

The North American Lutheran Church (NALC) is a more recent addition to the Lutheran landscape, having been formed in 2010. The NALC was created in response to what some members saw as a drift away from traditional Lutheran teachings and practices in the larger mainline Lutheran denominations. The NALC is a conservative, confessional Lutheran church body that seeks to uphold the authority of scripture and the Lutheran confessions.

Like the LCMS, the NALC places a strong emphasis on the authority of the Bible as the inspired and inerrant word of God. The church affirms the Lutheran confessions as faithful interpretations of scripture and as binding on the beliefs and practices of its members. This commitment to confessional Lutheran theology is a defining characteristic of the NALC.

In terms of sacramental practice, the NALC also holds to a high view of the sacraments, particularly Holy Communion and Baptism. The church practices open communion, meaning that all baptized Christians who believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist are welcome to receive the sacrament. This inclusive approach to communion reflects the NALC's commitment to unity among all believers in Christ.

On social issues, the NALC takes a conservative stance similar to that of the LCMS. The church affirms the traditional understanding of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and opposes abortion. These positions are grounded in the church's interpretation of scripture and its commitment to upholding biblical values in a secular society.

In terms of governance, the NALC is a more decentralized church body than the LCMS. The church is organized into regions, each of which is overseen by a regional dean. The NALC also has a bishop who provides leadership and oversight at the national level. This structure allows for a greater degree of autonomy for individual congregations while still maintaining a connection to the larger church body.

Comparison

• Both the LCMS and the NALC are conservative, confessional Lutheran church bodies that uphold the authority of scripture and the Lutheran confessions.
• Both churches place a strong emphasis on the sacraments, particularly Holy Communion and Baptism, as means of grace and central aspects of worship.
• Both the LCMS and the NALC take a conservative stance on social issues, including marriage and abortion, based on their interpretation of scripture and commitment to traditional Christian values.
• The LCMS has a more centralized governance structure with a synodical president and district presidents, while the NALC is more decentralized with regional deans and a national bishop.
• The NALC practices open communion, welcoming all baptized Christians who believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, while the LCMS practices closed communion, restricting the Lord's Supper to baptized members of the LCMS or other Lutheran church bodies in fellowship with the LCMS.