Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Overview

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States, organized in 1847 by German immigrants under C.F.W. Walther who refused the doctrinal latitude of the Prussian Union. The LCMS subscribes unconditionally to the Book of Concord — including the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, and Luther's Catechisms — and ordains only men. It holds the Real Presence in the Lord's Supper, a close-communion discipline, and infant baptism. AskCredo places the LCMS in the A-tier as a confessionally Lutheran body, broadly orthodox and in firm agreement with Reformed confessions on Scripture, Christology, and justification, though distinct on sacramental theology.

Confession / Standard

Book of Concord (Augsburg Confession, Luther's Catechisms, Formula of Concord)

Governance

congregational with synodical oversight

Soteriology

lutheran

Key Beliefs

• Sola Scriptura
• Sola Fide
• Real presence in the Supper
• Infant baptism as means of grace
• Law/Gospel distinction

Distinctives

• Consubstantiation differs from Reformed views
• Monergistic soteriology but sacramental framework differs

Background

North America · Founded 1847

Official Website

https://lcms.org