WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR SYNOD?

Notes: (This chart is based on the article, “Evangelical Lutheranism and Lutheran Evangelicalism” by Rev. Dr. David Adams)

1. Within in each group there are smaller groups that disagree with each other on various issues.
2. Yet, it is true that these three groups are visible and exert great influence in all areas of the LCC and LCMS: In governing and leadership
on every level, in the seminaries, in writing books, teaching materials, hymns and liturgies, etc.
3. Many in the Synod do not know what they think and do not know what all the fuss is about. Many believe that we should not work out
our differences or cling to any one position, but should stop arguing and ignore the differences because that’s the only way to restore peace.
4. The three groups are not the same size. Confessional Lutherans make up the largest group but has the greatest number of smaller groups
within it; New-Evangelicals make up the second-largest, fastest-growing and most influential group; the Moderates make up the smallest
group and it is getting smaller. Usually Moderates will side with the New-Evangelicals against the Confessional Lutherans.

Traditional / Confessional New-Evangelical Moderate / Higher Critical

Doctrine Has a high view of all doctrines of the Has a high view of certain points of certain Emphasizes the "Gospel" or "love" to the
bible as confessed in the Formula of doctrines in order to emphasize what the near exclusion of other doctrines. •
Concord (Summary Formulation 1): The main Church and each individual Christian must Strongly emphasizes social welfare issues.
requirement for Christian unity is a do. • Holds to traditional positions on Some believe that the true calling of every
complete summary of doctrine drawn from most theological issues, but tend not to Christian is to devote themselves to social
the Word of God that is approved by emphasize doctrines or the Lutheran welfare issues. • Is open to (tolerant of) a
everyone. • Is intolerant of and speaks Confessions in congregations and variety of conflicting doctrines as long as
against false doctrine (anything contrary to “ministries.” • Believes the highest and there is “Gospel” or “love.”
Holy Scripture) as summarized in the most important emphasis is outreach. The
Formula of Concord (Antitheses 14; Tappert): “Great Commission” (defined in different
“In order to preserve the pure doctrine and ways) is above every other teaching in
to maintain a thorough, lasting, and congregations and in the lives of individual
God-pleasing concord within the church, it Christians. • Believes that it is impractical
is essential not only to present the true and and would turn people away from the
wholesome doctrine correctly, but also to Church if all doctrines of Christ were
accuse (condemn) the adversaries who preached and taught.
teach otherwise (1 Tim. 3:9; Titus 1:9; 2 Tim.
2:24; 3:16). ‘Faithful shepherds,’ as Luther
states, ‘must both pasture or feed the lambs
and guard against wolves so that they will
flee from strange voices and separate the
precious from the vile’ (John 10:12-16, 27; Jer.
15:19).”
 Traditional / Confessional New-Evangelical Moderate / Higher Critical
Holy Scripture Has a high view of Scripture and firmly Has a high view of Scripture and firmly Is often not clear on what it believes about
holds to the inerrancy and divine holds to the inerrancy and divine inspiration the Scriptures. Some reject the inerrancy
inspiration of the bible. • Views the Word of the bible. • Tends to de-emphasize the and verbal inspiration of the Scriptures,
of God as the source for a true Word of God as a means of grace and to some say they believe it but reject some
understanding of doctrine and life, and, think of it more as a guidebook on how to doctrines of the Scriptures, and most say
together with the Sacraments, as the only “do” “ministry” and as a rulebook for that God’s Word and will are in the bible
divinely given means of God’s grace to Christian living. but it’s up to each individual Christian to
man. decide what is true and what is false (also
what applies today and what does not
apply today).

Church and Ministry See Augsburg Confession articles IV, V, Takes a practical approach to issues of Is unconcerned with Church and Ministry
VII, VIII and XIV. Ministers are the Church and Ministry. The main issues. Social issues are the main focus,
rightly called shepherds who preach and “functions” of pastors are administration, and each Christian should decide for
teach the pure Gospel and administer the marketing, and encouragement. Pastors are themselves which other things are
Sacraments according to Christ’s to leaders and organizers of the true important to them.
institution and purpose (focus: the givers “ministers,” that is, the laymen, and the
of God’s gifts). “The Church is the laymen in turn are expected to go out and
congregation of saints, in which the Gospel “do” “ministry.” The “Great Commission”
is rightly taught and the Sacraments are (defined in several ways) is the main focus
rightly administered” (focus: the receivers and work of the Church. Congregations are
of God’s gifts). • Is concerned with also seen to be mostly independent of the
Church and Ministry issues and wants to District and Synod.
maintain the teaching and practice
confessed in the Book of Concord. • Is
troubled by the opposite extremes of: 1)
Romanism (undervaluing the roles of the
laity in their various vocations–e.g. the
pastor makes every decision in the church)
and of, 2) Protestantism (undervaluing the
role of the rightly called and ordained
Office of the Ministry–e.g. the Voters'
Assembly makes every decision in the
church, and lay workers are allowed to
conduct Word and Sacrament Ministry).

Charismatic Movement Rejects the Charismatic Movement as Is tolerant of the Charismatic Movement. Is tolerant of the Charismatic Movement.
(Pentecostal speaking in contrary to the Word of God.
"tongues" which they
interpret to be some other-
worldly language.)
 Traditional / Confessional New-Evangelical Moderate / Higher Critical
Women's Ordination Opposes women's ordination because the Few are openly in favour of it, but most are Open to considering, and often openly
Word of God teaches clearly and open to women performing some of the favours, women’s ordination. • Rejects the
absolutely that women may not be functions of the Office of the Ministry. claim that the bible teaches an order of
ordained into the Office of the Ministry or creation, and believes that either St. Paul
perform any of the functions of that was wrong in writing down restrictions or
divinely ordained Office. • Values the that those restrictions do not apply to us
service of women in congregations as today.
parochial and Sunday School teachers,
deaconesses, etc.

Church Fellowship Believes that Church Fellowship should be Usually emphasizes the unity of all Believes that church fellowship should be
based on doctrine. • The public and Christians who say they believe in Jesus. • based on “Gospel” or “love.”
clearly stated doctrinal positions of Rejects the teaching that agreement in
churches to which Christians belong doctrine as necessary for fellowship. •
should be the basis for public fellowship Often sees itself closer to Evangelical
among Christians (joint participation in Protestantism than to Confessional
worship services including the reception of Lutheranism.
Holy Communion). • Makes the
distinction between cooperation in
externals (e.g. helping the poor--permitted
by God) and in the internal things of
Christ's Church (preaching and teaching
the Word and administering and receiving
the Sacraments--not permitted by God), so
that in internal things, when there is no
complete agreement in doctrine, there is no
fellowship.

Closed Communion Practices Closed Communion and firmly Practices Open Communion, usually with Practices Open Communion, sometimes
believes that God requires people to some restrictions such as baptism and/or with no restrictions, sometimes only
believe and publically confess (in words faith in Jesus as personal Saviour and/or welcoming baptized Christians and
and actions) the same Faith in order to belief in the real presence of Christ in the sometimes suggesting that those who come
have fellowship at His altar. Sacrament. • Rejects unity in doctrine as a to the altar should be baptized and believe
requirement for communing at the same that Christ is truly present in the
altar. Sacrament.

Church Growth Rejects "Church Growth" teaching and Favours “Church Growth” teaching and Either tolerates or is in favour of “Church
methods. • Is not ever willing to methods. • Seeks to use any means available Growth” teaching and methods.
compromise doctrine or to allow business to break down barriers to salvation (because
and cultural values to influence the of a strong emphasis on outreach and an
understanding of the Word of God in the independent attitude). Traditional doctrine
areas of worship, missions and evangelism. and practice are seen to be barriers to faith
and salvation.
 Traditional / Confessional New-Evangelical Moderate / Higher Critical
Worship Holds to traditional worship (liturgy and Embraces “contemporary worship.” • De- Is open to many different forms of
hymns) with emphases on the Sacraments emphasizes traditional liturgies and worship.
and Law/Gospel preaching. • Is suspicious traditional hymns. • Does not emphasize
of liturgical innovations, especially of the teaching aspect of liturgy and hymns. •
worship that departs from the liturgical Encourages the use of pop-culture music
tradition of the Synod and that does not forms and non-specific words in songs. •
use the hymnal. • Emphasizes the teaching Changes worship to suit the perceived needs
aspect of liturgy and hymns. of congregational members and community.

SUMMARY Each of the three groups sees the other two as lacking something essential. Confessional Lutherans see the other two as rejecting or
compromising fundamental teachings of the Scriptures, and therefore, as being unfaithful to Christ. They see the other two as having
taken on and given in to popular American and Canadian culture, and allowing societal values and business methods to influence how
they view and interpret God’s Word. New-Evangelicals see the other two as lacking the proper passion for the lost, and as too tied
up in doctrine and social justice to embrace new methods to bring more people into the Church. Moderates see the other two as
fundamentalistic and overly simple-minded in the way they view and use the Scriptures. They see the other two as too narrow in their
understanding of doctrine, and lacking compassion for the suffering and oppressed of the world.

The present war is not a “battle for the bible” as it was in the 60s and 70s; the current conflict is between those who want to be and
remain Lutheran in the Reformation understanding of “Lutheran,” and those who want to be and believe like American Protestants,
and promote a form of American Evangelicalism while still calling themselves, “Lutheran” (“a faith that is simply a kind of general
American Evangelicalism with a slight Lutheran veneer,” or like “a Southern Baptist who just happens to use wine in the Lord’s Supper
and baptizes babies”).

Three Critical Differences: 1) Understanding the Word of God. Both Confessional Lutherans (CL) and New-Evangelicals (N-E) have
a high view of Scripture but each group uses Scripture differently. For CL the main function of the Word of God is as a means of grace.
For N-E and most Protestants the main function of the Word of God is as a means of changing and affecting the believer’s life. For
them reading the bible makes them feel good about themselves and about their relationship to God. So the Word is personal to them
and a matter of personal experience. Therefore, doctrine and catechesis are not important to them, neither is the truth of the Scriptures
as it applies to all people. 2) Worship. Regarding worship, the main difference between CL and N–E is the definition of what worship
is. For CL worship is first God serving His people by delivering to them forgiveness, life and salvation through the means of grace: the
Word and Sacraments, and second, His children responding to their heavenly Father with prayer, praise and thanksgiving. For N–E
worship is first outreach to draw the community to Christ, and second, a means to make each member of the congregation and visitors
feel uplifted and good about their Christian life. 3) The Nature of the Christian Life. For the CL every good thing of Faith and Life
is a loving gift of God. N–E see the Christian Life as something that the individual Christian does for God (a life driven by purpose).
This contrasts CL understanding that good works are God’s work in the Christian (a life lived at rest in the grace of God).

The New-Evangelical faith is influenced by the American Evangelical Movement (their books, TV shows and radio stations are
everywhere) to the point that Lutherans are being told what to do to be Christian, and they are obeying.