People who never hear the gospel cannot be saved.
Evangelism & Missions / neutral
Lutheran (ELCA)
SEO-friendly denomination profile with history, tradition, key documents, writings, and sourced theological positions.
Open interactive denomination pageProtestantMainline
Mainline Lutheran, more progressive than Missouri Synod
- Founded
- 1988 (merger of LCA, ALC, and AELC)
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Membership
- 3.2 million members
- Key Documents
- Augsburg Confession, Book of Concord, ELCA Constitution
Theological Positions
Showing 1-10 of 192 matching positions
Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
Jesus / stronglyAgree
Jesus is the only way to salvation.
Jesus / agree
Jesus never sinned during His earthly life.
Jesus / stronglyAgree
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.
Jesus / stronglyAgree
Jesus was born of a virgin.
Jesus / agree
A person can lose their salvation.
Salvation / agree
A person must be born again to be saved.
Salvation / agree
Baptism is required for salvation.
Salvation / neutral
Baptism is required for salvation.
Salvation / neutral
Writings and Documents
Article IV: Justification
Classic Lutheran articulation that sinners are declared righteous by grace through faith alone apart from works—central to ELCA theology.
Source: Augsburg Confession, Article IV
View WritingAugsburg Confession
1530 Lutheran statement presented to Emperor Charles V, outlining evangelical doctrine and reform principles—foundational for all Lutheran bodies, including ELCA.
Source: Augsburg Confession, Preface
View WritingELCA Social Statement: Faith, Sexism, and Justice
2019 Churchwide Assembly statement analyzing sexism in light of Lutheran theology and calling congregations toward gender justice.
Source: ELCA Churchwide Assembly Minutes 2019
View WritingELCA Social Statements
A statement of the ELCA's social commitments, including statements on abortion, creation, eduction, sexuality, and more.
Source: ELCA Churchwide Assembly Minutes 2019
View Writing