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Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
is a member of a broader fellowship of congregations called the
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
What Does This Mean?
Synod is a word derived from two greek words: σύν (syn, Strong's 4862), meaning "with" or "together," and ‛οδός (hodos, Strong's 3598), meaning "way" or "route." When we put them together to form the special word Synod, the meaning is "to walk together" or "to go the same way."
But what does it mean for Christians to "walk together" as a Church Body? Is it merely a psychological or social "togetherness?" No, in fact, such benefits are only byproducts of truly "walking together" -- and the Bible, in the book of Amos, illuminates this fact by asking the rhetorical question: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). Agreement, therefore, is the essence of "walking together" as it defines the term Synod.
Fellowship is another special term, which, when qualified as Church Fellowship, refers to all activities in which Christians join together as members of congregations. The greek word κοινωνία (koinōnia, Strong's 2842), which is translated in the Bible as fellowship (I Co. 1:9) or communion (1 Co. 10:16), is of military derivation and carries with it not only the strong idea of partnership, but also of comradery -- that special unity that soldiers with a common mission share.
We see this special unity in the Bible references just cited, above. For example, in 1 Co. 1:9, the Bible uses the term fellowship, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord," and then continues in the immediately following verse to define what this fellowship means for Christians who join together in the name of Christ: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (verse 10). Thus, full agreement, or unity, is what the Bible expects of Christians who "walk together." This command is seen in many other places throughout Scripture, as well -- not only in Ro. 16:17, where Christians are admonished to watch out for and separate from false teachers, and in Ga. 1:8-9, where false teachers are defined as anyone who brings any message contrary to the teaching of Scripture, but, notably, it is strongly emphasized in sections of Scripture describing how Christian congregations are expected to conduct themselves as they "contend for the Gospel."
One such example comes to us in the well-known section of Philippians 1:27-2:11. Admonishing the local congregation to conduct itself in a manner which properly represents the Gospel, "to stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel" (1:27), St. Paul begins this section by qualifying the mission of the congregation, not only to strive together or contend for the Gospel, but to do so in unity of spirit and of mind. In display of the fact that this requirement of manifest and complete agreement, or unity, is no mere sidebar, Paul continues this important section with unity as the central theme (2:1-2), alongside other-centered personal humility (2:3-4) which Christ modeled for us in His life and work (2:5-8). Finally, Paul concludes this section with the basis for his admonitions (2:9-11): it is the entire work of Christ on earth, and His office of Saviour of the world, that animates the life and work of Christians and is the cause of their joint effort, or fellowship. According to St. Paul, unity, or singleness of mind, is a fundamental characteristic of this fellowship as it sets out to accomplish the work God has set before it; and Christ-like humility is the means by which this fellowship persists and bears fruit as it contends for the Gospel.
Therefore, when we say that our congregation is a member of a broader "fellowship" of congregations called a "Synod," we are emphasizing the clear command of Scripture which requires agreement in all matters of Scripture teaching among Christians who "walk together." Thus, as a matter of Christian conscience, members of our congregation stand in full agreement regarding all matters of Scripture teaching and practice, as do all members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Further, the members of all church bodies across the world with whom we enjoy Church Fellowship (over twenty of them, in all), are bound together by the Word of God and under it stand united, in full agreement regarding all matters in which it teaches. This is a true visible expression of Christian unity!
Church Fellowship: Working Together for the Truth
by John F. Brug -- Professor, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
Is the Bible's teaching of Church Fellowship new to you? Even though it is clearly taught in Scripture and has been practiced since the time of the Early Church, most Christians today have never heard of it. This is particularly so for those under the influence of modern Evangelicalism or mainline Liberalism, both of which are common contemporary strains of Christianity -- the ecumenical platforms of these groups tend to contradict the Bible's teaching regarding Church Fellowship and require that it receives little, if any, attention. If you want to learn more about this important Bible teaching, including a fairly detailed yet accessible development of this doctrine from Scripture, then click here and order Professor Brug's book on the subject!
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WELS Links
The following links have been assembled here to give our visitors the opportunity to more deeply explore how the congregations of our Synod " walk together"-- in our teachings and ministries. |
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
Formed in 1850, by German immigrants, the WELS has grown from a handful of congregations in Wisconsin to well over 1,000, with congregations in every state of the U.S. and in most provinces of Canada, to a size of approximately 400,000 baptized souls. As a Synod, we support two preparatory schools (Luther Preparatory School and Michigan Lutheran Seminary), one college (Martin Luther College), and one seminary (Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary) solely for the preparation of our called workers; and our congregations support 25 Area Lutheran High Schools (ALHS), 350 Lutheran Elementary Schools (LES), and 386 early childhood programs, representing the fourth-largest private school system in the U.S., and one of the most well-respected. We currently support about 80 home mission congregations and almost 90 world missionaries, and support flourishing Hmong, Hispanic, and Native American outreach ministries, as well. Other para-church organizations associated with WELS include Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Services, the Lutheran Home Association, Christian Life Resources, and Wisconsin Lutheran College. Click here to learn more about our growing church body!
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Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS)
The seminary of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, located in Milwaukee, WI. Click here to visit and explore the home of the "Wauwatosa Theology" -- the method of theology that insists on answering all questions of theology from the Scriptures. This institution trains Lutheran men to be among world's most well prepared and Biblically sound pastors and theologians.
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Martin Luther College (MLC)
The ministerial college of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, training synod teachers in education, and future seminarians in theology. Click here to visit and explore our ministerial college in New Ulm, MN.
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Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC)
A four year liberal arts college affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, located in Milwaukee, WI. Open to students of any denomination seeking a superior education.
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Bethany Lutheran College (BLC)
A well-respected, four-year liberal arts college in Mankato, MN, that is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) -- a sister synod in fellowship with the WELS.
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Luther Preparatory School (LPS)
One of two high schools in the WELS preparatory school system, located in Watertown, WI, preparing young men and women for a lifetime of ministry as teachers and pastors.
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Michigan Lutheran Seminary (MLS)
The second of two high schools in the WELS preparatory school system, located in Saginaw, MI, preparing young men and women for a lifetime of ministry as teachers and pastors.
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Organizations of the WELS
Click here to explore the various ministries supported by our Synod, including Schools, Services, Church and Mission related ministries, and other Organizations.
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Christian Life Resources
When the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion nationally on January 22, 1973, members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Libertyville, Illinois, saw the need to do something. Working with their pastor and with members from area Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) congregations, they opened the first WELS Lutherans for Life pregnancy counseling center. As time passed, more and more independent centers sprouted up around the country until 1983, when they united to form a single national organization. In 1999, the name was changed to Christian Life Resources (CLR). The mission of CLR is to use life and family issues as bridges to convey the love of God and to share the message of salvation through Christ. This organization educates people on what God's Word has to say about the value and sanctity of human life. The intent is to mobilize Christians to make God-pleasing decisions about life and family issues. CLR focuses attention on many issues such as: abortion, infertility, birth control, post-abortion syndrome, infanticide, medical directive statements, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. More information can be found in CLR's topical library. You may also access CLR's Position Statement on Abortion (a position our congregation and WELS shares) by clicking here.
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Wisconsin Lutheran Child & Family Services
WLCFS was founded in 1965 to reflect the healing and helping ministry of Jesus Christ. Applying this ministry to the people of a sinful and troubled world, this charitable agency today serves thousands of God's people in their special needs. Through a staff of trained professionals, WLCFS offers spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical support through Christian Counseling and other services to those who look to this organization for help.
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The Lutheran Home Association
With a history going back to 1898, the Lutheran Home Association's ministry today offers a wide variety of health care, housing and service options to meet people's individual needs, from retirement living to child care services. Right here in River Falls, WI, for example, The Lutheran Home (nursing home facility) and WeLLHaven (senior apartments) are examples of local ministry conducted by the Lutheran Home Association. Facilities and programs of the Lutheran Home Association, while greatly differing, all share this universal commitment to Christian care: our team members and volunteers are dedicated to providing for the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs of the people entrusted to our care. Click here for more information about the services and facility locations of the Lutheran Home Association.
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Fellowship Worldwide
The following links are a sampling of the various Lutheran church bodies throughout the world with whom we " walk together," united in full agreement regarding all that the Bible teaches. There are over twenty such church bodies throughout the world that share this blessing with us through membership in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC). |
Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS)
Formed in 1853, as the Norwegian Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod is the continuation of this respected church body under a new name. This church body has always been a conservative Confessional Lutheran body of believers, a good example and cherished partner under God's Word. We have enjoyed doctrinal fellowship with the ELS since 1869, and, God willing, will continue to do so indefinitely.
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Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (BLTS)
The seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, located in Mankato, MN.
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Thoughts of Faith
Thoughts of Faith is a Confessional Lutheran mission society affiliated with the ELS that is dedicated to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ in the former Communist countries of eastern Europe. The task of Thoughts of Faith is to proclaim the message of God's salvation in Christ to people who suffered from half a century or more of dreadful religious persecution, and who for so long were seldom if ever able to hear this message of divine forgiveness and hope.
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Evangelisch Lutherische FreiKirche (ELFK) von Deutschland
The Evangelisch Lutherische FreiKirche (Evangelical Lutheran Free Church) is our sister synod in Germany. Click here for more information.
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Lutherska BekännelseKyrkan (LBK)
The Lutherska BekännelseKyrkan (Lutheran Confessional Church) is our sister synod in Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden). Click here for more information.
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Suomen Luterilainen Tunnustuskirkko (SLT)
The Suomen Luterilainen TunnustusKirkko (Lutheran Confessional Church of Finland) is our sister synod in Finland. Click here for more information.
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Українська Лютеранська Церква (ULC)
The Українська Лютеранська Церква (Ukranian Lutheran Church) is our sister synod in Ukraine. Click here for more information.
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Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC)
In the context of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, the WELS enjoys full agreement in all matters of doctrine and practice with over 20 church bodies worldwide -- a true visible expression of Christian unity! |
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