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Denominations - Protestant

Short profiles of selected Christian denominations in the U.S.

Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

Lutheran, Evangelical

  • Date Founded:  1847

  • Membership/Number of Clergy/Number of churches:  2,383,084/9,196/6,158 as of 2016.  The second largest Lutheran denomination.

  • Headquarters:  1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO  63122

  • Schools & Seminaries:  Ten colleges in the Concordia University SystemConcordia Seminary and Concordia Theological Seminary.

  • Publications:   The Lutheran Witness

  • Website: https://www.lcms.org

  • Social Media:  Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and radio station KFUO streaming online at https://www.kfuoam.org/.

  • Core Beliefs: "Our congregations accept and preach the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone."  "Lutheran congregations are confessional. Our congregations believe the Lutheran Confessions are a correct interpretation and presentation of biblical doctrine."

Short History:  Saxon and other German immigrants in the Midwest founded the church in 1847 and was known as The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States until 1947. 

Local Churches:  The closest church to campus is Concordia Lutheran Church, 1127 E Broadway, Louisville, KY, 40204. 

Other Louisville area churches are:

Church Finder: https://locator.lcms.org/dashboard