The Apostolic Lutheran Church in America (ALCA) is a Laestadian Lutheran denomination established by Finnish and Norwegian immigrants in the 1800s.
Laestadian Lutheranism, or Apostolic Lutheranism, is a pietistic revival movement that began in Scandinavia in the mid-1800s and named for Lars Levi Laestadius, a Swedish Lutheran state church administrator.
Soon, there were arguments between the Laestadian Lutheran Church in Sweden and the American Laestadian, and some American members were excluded from the sacrament of holy communion. Led by Salomon Korteniemi, the excluded members formed a separate congregation in December of 1872. Originally known as the Salomon Korteniemi Lutheran Society, its name was changed to the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Congregation in 1879.
As other Finnish congregations in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and Oregon were organized, they allied with this body under the name of the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church, and was formally incorporated in Michigan as the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church in America in 1929, becoming the Apostolic Lutheran Church in America in 1962. Today, the ALCA is the largest body of Apostolic Lutherans, whose roots are in Pietism.
Other Laestadians may refer to the denomination as the Mickelsen's, for a 20th-century leader, Reverend Andrew Mickelsen. Members may refer to the denomination as the Federation.
Today, the denomination has a membership of about six thousand and is concentrated in Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Washington, although there are scattered congregations in other states, as well as in Canada and Finland.
Its national organization has no central headquarters, and its elected Central Board meets at various locations across the United States and Canada. Member churches are led mostly by lay ministers and governed by locally elected boards.
Unlike some other Laestadian branches, the Apostolic Lutheran Church does not teach that it is the only true Laestadian group. Liturgically, the denomination accepts the creeds of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Most of its written doctrine is based on Luther's Small Catechism, which is a collection of Martin Luther's teachings.
The ALCA believes that the Bible is divinely inspired, and in the unity of the Trinity in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Everyone is in need of repentance, salvation, and a spiritual new birth through faith in Jesus Christ. God's grace is an unmerited gift. Christians are still capable of sin, and sins should be confessed to God and to trusted confessors, although publicly known sins should be confessed publicly. Christians can fall from grace through a pattern of disregard of Christ's teachings, but they can also be returned to grace through repentance.
The ACLA teaches that the Holy Spirit came to empower believers on the day of Pentecost. Among the roles of the Holy Spirit are bringing the assurance of salvation, encouraging Christians to remain in God's Word, and conducting themselves in a Christian manner. Members of the ALCA abstain from alcoholic beverages.
Water baptism is a necessary token of union with Christ's death and the New Testament covenant, replacing the Abrahamic covenant of the Old Testament. Water baptism cannot be invalidated through any future actions of the baptized individual. Infants are baptized because, as human beings, they possess original sin and are eligible to participate in the redemptive work of Christ, as they have no unbelief in their hearts.
The laying on of hands is a sacrament used for healing and for other purposes. The Lord's Supper takes the place of the Feast of the Passover and is a symbolic event intended to show unity with Christ's sacrifice and to strengthen faith. Foot washing demonstrates the responsibility of an individual to be humble and to encourage one another.
The focus of this category is on the Apostolic Lutheran Church. Websites whose content largely relates to the denomination are appropriate resources for this category. In most cases, websites representing local parishes or churches should be listed in the Local & Global category that represents the church's geographic location. However, those that include a significant amount of information about the denomination may also be listed here.
Recommended Resources
The ALC Balm of Gilead is a ministry of the Apostolic Lutheran Church to men and women whose lives have been altered by sexual abuse, a mission that it seeks to accomplish through educational seminars, guidance, reporting, and support groups, which are outlined here, along with contacts. Also included are audio and video links, recommended books, resources for church leadership personnel, and links to other resources. A blog offers additional information, and a contact form is included.
https://alcbalmofgilead.com/
Based in Kalama, Washington, the Western Mission of the Apostolic Lutheran Church Federation is comprised of the ALC congregations of the western United States and Canada, including Washington, Oregon, North Dakota, Arizona, Alaska, California, and Texas, as well as the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Its board members are introduced, the address that can be used to make contributions, a contact form, and links to denominational resources are put forth.
http://www.westernmission.org/
Apostolic Lutheran Church of America
Organized in 1872, the ALCA has its roots with immigrants from Finland, Norway, and Sweden in the 1860s. The official denominational website presents a history of the ALCA and the Laestadian Movement that led to it, a statement of beliefs, and its leadership and organizational structure. Links to ALCA publications, missions, and organizations are included, and a list of member churches is included, with photos, addresses, announcements, and links to their websites, when available.
https://www.apostoliclutheran.org/
A publication of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America, electronic editions of the monthly magazine, and quarterly children's editions may be viewed online. The magazine publishes articles submitted by readers, and its submission policies are highlighted, and submissions may be accomplished through the site. An archive of monthly and children's editions is available back as far as 2010. Copies of the archived editions may also be sent to a friend via email, and donations are accepted.
http://www.christianmonthlyalca.org/
Eastern Mission of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America
The non-profit religious organization is based in Hancock, Michigan, and includes member congregations in Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Toronto, Canada. A list of member congregations is published on the site, along with links to other websites related to the ALCA, a history of the denomination, and a newsletter to the members of the Eastern Mission. Information on contributing to the work of the church is included.
http://www.alcem.org/
Foreign Mission of the Apostolic Lutheran Church
Heeding the instruction of Christ to go into all the world, the ALCA foreign missions program began in Nigeria in 1965, and is currently still active in Nigeria, and also in Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, South Africa, and Togo. An overview of its work is set forth, along with a photo gallery, information about upcoming mission trips, including missionary opportunities. Its training programs, mission trips, and prayer requests are posted, and a blog offers additional information about its work.
https://www.themissionsite.com/
Seattle Apostolic Lutheran Church
Founded in 1935, the Seattle, Washington congregation met in rented facilities until 1950, when a building in Ballard was purchased from the Zion Lutheran Church, and it was in that year that the congregation joined the federation of churches known as the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America. In 1972, the church moved to Seattle, and its new church was completed in 1974. A statement of beliefs is posted on the site, along with the Apostle's Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed.
https://www.apostoliclutheranchurch.org/
