Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Certainty in Uncertain Times

Finding the right church today can be confusing. Several Lutheran synods exist, and they differ greatly. Our congregation is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), established in 1853 as “The Norwegian Synod.” The synod was reorganized as the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in 1917. Today it is a typical American melting pot of every nationality and background. Our headquarters is located at Mankato, Minnesota, where our Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary are also located.

Our synod is characterized both by its warm evangelical spirit and by its uncompromising faithfulness to the historic Lutheran faith. Our synod has not joined with the Lutheran mergers of the past through which much or all of the heart of the faith has now been lost.

The ELS is comprised of over one hundred thirty congregations and is regularly opening new mission congregations. Our synod conducts foreign mission work in Peru, Chile, India, South Korea, the Czech Republic and Ukraine.

The ELS is in pulpit and altar fellowship with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

The pastors and people of the ELS, along with other confessional Lutherans, believe that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible written Word of God; that it is historically accurate and true in the same sense that Martin Luther and our other Lutheran forefathers believed it to be.

We find in the certainty of God’s Word a sure basis upon which to build our faith, our lives and our families. This certainty is rooted in the good news of a virgin-born Savior who lived and died to save us from the due penalty of our sins, a Savior who truly physically rose from the dead that we might believe and be saved.