What is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)?

Answer  
  

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a [Lutheran denomination](Lutherans.html) in the USA. It is the largest Lutheran denomination in the USA and is considered one of the “[mainline denominations](mainline-denominations.html).” It was formed in 1988 by a merger of the American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Lutheran Church in America. The official website of the ELCA is [ELCA.org](https://www.elca.org/).  
  

Theologically, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is solidly liberal. It claims to hold to the authority of Scripture, but it rejects inerrancy. It claims to hold to the Trinity and the deity of Christ, but its teaching on justification is nebulous at best. It claims to hold to the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, and the Augsburg Confessions, but it denies much of what is found in these creeds by its statements and actions. More information on the beliefs of the ELCA can be found here: <https://www.elca.org/Faith>.  
  

Socially, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is also decisively liberal. It is weak, at best, in its pro\-life view on abortion. It accepts and performs gay marriages. It embraces the ordination of women and homosexuals. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America takes a liberal/progressive viewpoint on virtually every theological, social, and political issue.
In addition, among the doctrinal positions it does hold, there are several we believe should be rejected: [the baptism of infants](infant-baptism.html), [sacramental means of grace](means-of-grace.html), the [real presence](real-presence.html) of Christ in the communion, and [amillennialism](amillennialism.html). As a result of the above concerns, we definitely cannot endorse churches in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  
  

