What is the ACLC all about?
Doctrinal Subscription (trouble accessing the doctrinal subscription? click here)
The Association of Confessional Lutheran Churches is not based on protest or any particular issue. And, while it was initially formed to meet the needs of those congregations which have been removed recently from the ELS, the association welcomes all who share its doctrine. The association's purpose is to assist its members in preaching the Gospel. It was started when it became apparent that a number of congregations would soon be out of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The pastors of those congregations became concerned for the long-term welfare of the congregations they serve. Of particular concern was the question of where would a congregation find a faithful pastor if it found itself in need. The root purpose of the ACLC, then, is to maintain a pool of pastors from which congregations can call.
The ACLC seeks to identify and build true biblical fellowship. The ACLC is presently free conferencing with the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (ELDoNA). The next conference of the ACLC is scheduled for January 27, 2009 in the Twin Cities, and is to be followed by a free conference with Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (ELDoNA) and a couple independent pastors (Michael Henson and Eric Stefanski) on January 28th and 29th. The theme of the conference is: Satis Est (it is enough) and looks at various aspects of fellowship today such as: iam satis (enough already), what it means to be confessionally Lutheran, fellowship in the age of synodical deterioration, how we are to treat brothers in erring church bodies, and hopefully one that addresses the "micro synod" and "micro congregations."
We are compiling the conference papers. Some are available now, the rest should be available soon. Some of the earlier ones can be found at the free conference website. PLEASE NOTE: the papers are not to be considered official doctrine of any group. They serve as the basis for discussion.
There are certainly other important benefits to the ACLC. Not the least of which is strength in numbers. We are told: Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. When churches group together, they help each other stay on the narrow way, and make it easier to train preachers and teachers as well as do mission work.
The ACLC adopted part 1 of a Doctrinal Subscription (if you have trouble accessing the doctrinal subscription, click here) at its June 2007 conference. Part 2, adopted preliminarily at its January 2008 conference and finalized in March 2008, addresses contemporary issues (not that these are not in fact addressed in part 1, but that there is a desire to be clear on these points). We welcome comments and concerns about our doctrinal subscription.
The ACLC held its second Pastoral Conference September 9, 10 and 11, 2008 at Reformation Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, Oregon. We worked very hard on a constitution and bylaws which is now being presented to our congregations. We anticipate adoption of them at our January general conference. We also had a very good meeting with Bishop Heiser of the ELDoNa, in which we made significant progress toward the recognition of fellowship between our two church bodies.
For more information on the ACLC, or if you are looking for a congregation to join or be served by, please contact Pastor Rolf Preus: rolfpreus@msn.com (701) 788-2096.
Congregations in the Association of Confessional Lutheran Churches
Grace Evangelical Lutheran, Litchfield, Illinois
First American Lutheran (First Confessional Lutheran Parish), Mayville, North Dakota
First Evanger (First Confessional Lutheran Parish), Fertile, Minnesota
Grace (First Confessional Lutheran Parish), Crookston, Minnesota
Reformation, Hillsboro, Oregon
St. Timothy, Williamsburg, Iowa
St. Paul, Escondido, California
Wayfarer's Chapel, Fillmore, California