www.lcms.org
www.kfuo.org

Basic History
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, along with other Lutheran churches, traces its roots to the Reformation that took place in Europe in the 16th century led by Dr. Martin Luther, a German monk. By the late 1500s, the Reformation had spread throughout Europe. Lutheran beliefs became widespread. Today there are nearly 80-million Lutherans spread across all five continents.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod sprang from German immigrant roots in the St. Louis, and southeastern Missouri area, Ft. Wayne, IN and Chicago, IL and has a continuous history since it was established in 1847 in Chicago. In 1948, The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States changed its name to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

A controversy in the 1970s about the truthfulness and authority of Holy Scripture resulted in the departure of some 100,000 people, who formed a church body that was one of three bodies that merged to form the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Basic Beliefs
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod subscribes to the Apostles', Athanasian and Nicene Creeds, affirms the doctrine of justification by faith alone as fundamental, upholds authority of Scripture, believes that God works in Holy Baptism and in the Lord's Supper to bestow the forgiveness of sins, and believes in the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper. "Close communion" is practiced, pastors and congregations, "except in situations of emergency and in special cases of pastoral care, commune individuals of only those synods which are now in fellowship with us." Synod is a word meaning "walking together" under Scripture and the historic Lutheran Confessions without reservation, and defines both the unity of belief and the governance principle, where congregations give offices and rights to their called leaders in the flock as well as in regional and national structures.

Members carry a distinct responsibility for congregational leadership. Power is vested in voters' assemblies, generally comprised of adults of voting age. Synod decision-making abilities are given to delegates at triennial national and district conventions.

Christian education is highly emphasized. The USA congregations operate the largest elementary and secondary school systems of any Protestant group in the country.

The Synod is known for its mass media outreach through radio (The Lutheran Hour and the daily minute-long By The Way) and television (This Is The Life dramas, On Main Street talk shows and holiday animated and live-action specials such as Red Boots and Just In Time For Christmas). The Synod has more than 7000 volunteers in over a hundred locations who produce products in Braille for the blind and visually impaired and the Synod operates the majority of Protestant congregations for the deaf. It is at work in over 40 nations through mission work outreach and through partner churches that were begun in the past 100-plus years by Synod missionaries.

Women's involvement in the Synod is high and include thousands of commissioned ministers (i.e., teachers, deaconesses, etc.). Only males occupy ordained clergy positions.

Leadership
President - Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick
1st Vice President - Rev. Daniel Preus
Secretary - Rev. Dr. Raymond L. Hartwig
Treasurer - Thomas Kuchta
Communications Executive Director - Rev. J. Tom Lapacka
Public Affairs Director - David Strand
News Director - Rev. David Mahsman

Basic Facts
As of 2000, there are 6,150 churches, 2,553,971 congregation members, 8,838 clergy members and over 8,900 teachers. It is the second-largest Lutheran denomination in North America.

Location
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
Phone 1-888-THE-LCMS (1-888-843-5267)
FAX 1-888-LCMSFAX (1-888-526-7329)