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The American Association of Lutheran Churches was formed in 1987 by American Lutheran Churches that chose not to merge with the Lutheran Church in America and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches.

The denomination began with about a dozen congregations which objected to theological liberalism, and wanted to uphold the doctrine of the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible, and felt that this would be threatened by the merger. The AALC is a confessional Lutheran body whose leaders hold to the authority of Scripture, and to the teaching of the Lutheran confessions by retaining the Confession of Faith of the former American Lutheran Church. They hold to the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessions found in The Book of Concord.

The Bible is inspired by God, who is the true author of every word, and without contradiction.

God is the creator of the universe. Triune, God is manifested in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the eternal Word of God, the divine Savior, and the Redeemer of mankind. In the incarnation, Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man. He died on the cross to pay the price for human sin, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He was exalted. The Holy Spirit equips believers to grow in their faith, inspires love between them, produces holiness, produces fruit in them, and grants spiritual gifts for the purpose of ministry.

Adam and Eve were created in a state of righteousness and innocence. After the fall, human beings are born into the world with a sin nature.

The law is used by God to make people aware of their sin, while the gospel teaches that, through faith in Jesus Christ alone, people can receive forgiveness for their sins, salvation, and eternal life. It is possible for believers to fall away from God and lose their salvation.

The holy, Christian, apostolic church exists wherever God's Word is faithfully preached and the sacraments correctly administered. Jesus is the head of the church, whose mission is to make disciples of every nation, bear witness to Christ through the preaching of God's Word, and rightly administering the sacraments. The church should also nurture and renew members of the congregation spiritually.

Local churches are autonomous, making their own decisions, managing their own property, and calling pastors. Although both men and women are used in the ministry, only men can be ordained for the pastorate.

God forgives sin through baptism, which bridges the gap between God and man, and the Holy Spirit generates new life through baptism, which may be by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Baptism is performed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Participants in the Lord's Supper receive the true body and blood of Jesus, and the repentant believer is forgiven his sins. Believers can be assured of their salvation through partaking in the Lord's Supper.

One day, Christ will return. At this time, all of humanity will be resurrected and judged, after which believers will enjoy a relationship with Jesus forever, and unbelievers will be eternally damned, sentenced to suffer eternal separation from God in hell.

The American Association of Lutheran Churches has entered into an altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and is a member of the International Lutheran Council.

Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the AALC includes about seventy congregations in twenty-three states. The denomination operates the American Lutheran Theological Seminary, which trains pastors and provides theological education for the body.

Topics related to the American Association of Lutheran Churches are the focus of this category. Denominational and affiliated websites are appropriate here, as are other sites whose topics are centered on the AALC. In most cases, websites representing local congregations or ministries should be submitted to the appropriate Local & Global category.

 

 

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