The Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) is a US-based Protestant Christian denomination based in Mankato, Minnesota. It describes itself as a conservative, Confessional Lutheran body. The ELS has 130 congregations and has missions in Peru, Chile, India, South Korea, Ukraine, Czech Republic, and Latvia.
The ELS is in fellowship with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and is a member of the international Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC).
Core beliefs
The Evangelical Lutheran Synod teaches that the Bible is the only authoritative and error-free source for doctrine. It subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions (the Book of Concord) not with a quatenus (in-so-far-as) but instead a quia (because) subscription; that is, it subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions because it is an accurate presentation of what scripture teaches. It teaches that Jesus is the center of scripture and the only way to eternal salvation, and that the Holy Spirit uses the gospel alone in Word and Sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) to bring people to faith in Jesus as savior and keep them in that faith, strengthening them in their daily life of sanctification.
Membership
In 2023, the ELS had an estimated number of 16,000 baptized members. The root purpose of the ACLC, then, is to maintain a pool of pastors from which member congregations can call. There are two member churches.
ELS presidents
- Bjug Harstad (1917–1922)
- George Gullixson (1922–1926)
- Christian Anderson (1926–1930)
- Helge M. Tjernagel (1930–1934)
- Norman A. Madson (1934–1935)
- Christian A. Moldstad (1935–1937)
- Henry Ingebritson (1937–1942)
- Norman A. Madson (1942–1946)
- Adolph M. Harstad (1946–1950)
- C. Monrad Gullerud (1950–1954)
- Milton H. Otto (1954–1957)
- Milton E. Tweit (1957–1962)
- Theodore Aaberg (1962–1964)
- Joseph Petersen (1964–1966)
- Juul B. Madson (1966–1970)
- George M. Orvick (1970–1976)
- Wilhelm Petersen (1976–1980)
- George M. Orvick (1980–2002)
- John A. Moldstad (2002–2021)
- Glenn Obenberger (2021–present)
Education ministries and missions
thumb|right|[[Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota]]
In 1927, the ELS formed Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. In 1946, it established its own seminary, also in Mankato, called Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. Throughout its history, ELS congregations have actively sponsored Christian elementary schools.
The synod carries on an active home mission program and now has 130 congregations in many states. It also has foreign missionaries in Peru and Chile in South America and in Ukraine, Latvia, and the Czech Republic (Czech Evangelical Lutheran Church) in Eastern Europe.
See also
- Evangelical Heritage Version