Eternal Word Confession

The Eternal Word: A Lutheran Confession for the Twenty-First Century

As identified in its constitution, one of the goals of the CELC is: “To encourage and undertake the preparation and publication of clear Scripture-based confessional statements on issues that confront the church from time to time and which may or may not be addressed in the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church contained in the Book of Concord of 1580” (Art. III:6).

To fulfill this goal, the five-member Commission on Theology of the CELC prepares doctrinal statements based on the essays delivered at CELC triennial conventions. The collection is entitled The Eternal Word: A Lutheran Confession for the Twenty-First Century. The articles that have been completed to this point are presented here.

These doctrinal statements have been officially approved at CELC conventions, so they represent the unified teaching of all the member churches of the CELC. You can see in these articles that the teachings of the CELC are founded on the Bible with a focus on Jesus Christ as the Savior of all people.

You are free to quote, circulate, and translate these articles in whatever way is useful.

In English:

In German: elfk.de

The Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference is a worldwide fellowship of Lutheran church bodies, committed to the teachings of the Lutheran Church found in the Book of Concord of 1580. Established in 1993 with thirteen churches, the CELC has grown by God’s grace to include thirty-four church bodies today.

Every three years, representatives from CELC churches gather for fellowship and theological study at an international convention. Regional meetings are held in alternate years. These gatherings provide spiritual encouragement for confessional Lutherans who often find themselves quite isolated. Visitors are always welcome at these gatherings

Joint work of the CELC includes the writing of The Eternal Word: A Lutheran Confession for the Twenty-First Century, which testifies to the unity of doctrine enjoyed by CELC churches. The CELC also has a commission to help coordinate and improve theological training in CELC churches.

Speaking about the heart and core of the CELC, former President Gaylin Schmeling wrote: “The CELC stands ready to give answer to the confident hope of salvation in Christ that is within us. It is a refuge for those seeking confessional homes and a beacon shining the light of the Gospel in a sin-darkened world. Here the central truth of the Reformation, justification by faith alone, continues to be proclaimed. We are declared righteous by nothing we do or accomplish, but alone on the basis of Christ’s redemptive work which is counted as ours through faith in the Savior. He accomplished salvation for all on the cross and announced it to all by His resurrection, declaring the whole world righteous in Christ. This treasure is brought to us personally through the means of grace and is received by faith alone in the Savior which is worked through those very means of grace.”