What is the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS)?

Answer  
  

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a [Lutheran denomination](Lutherans.html) located predominantly in the USA. It is the second\-largest Lutheran denomination in the USA behind the [Evangelical Lutheran Church in America](Evangelical-Lutheran-Church-America.html) (ELCA). It was formed in 1847 as the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. After numerous mergers and separations from other Lutheran synods and congregations, the denomination took on its current name, “Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod,” in 1947\. The official website of the LCMS is [LCMS.org](https://www.lcms.org/).  
  

Theologically, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is solidly conservative and evangelical. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod holds to the inerrancy and authority of Scripture, justification by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, the Trinity, and the deity of Christ. It holds to the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, and the Augsburg Confession. More information on the beliefs of the LCMS can be found here: <https://www.lcms.org/doctrine/doctrinalposition>. A list of the Lutheran Confessions the LCMS holds to can be found here: <https://www.lcms.org/lutheranconfessions>.  
  

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod has been stalwart in its rejection of theological and social liberalism throughout its history. It continues to be strongly pro\-life and pro\-traditional marriage, while strongly rejecting the ordination of women and homosexuals. For its embrace of orthodox theology and its ardent denunciation of liberalism, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is to be commended.  
  

There are several doctrinal positions, however, to which the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod holds that we believe should be rejected: [infant baptism](infant-baptism.html), baptism and communion as sacramental “[means of grace](means-of-grace.html),” the [real presence](real-presence.html) of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, and [amillennialism](amillennialism.html). While these differences in belief are significant, they do not prevent us from considering members of Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod churches to be our brothers and sisters in Christ.  
  

