Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference

 

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

Membership Guidelines

Following are the guidelines for churches seeking membership in the CELC.  These guidelines were adopted at the 2021 Convention of the CELC.

Download Membership Guidelines

A. Prerequisites for Membership

1. A church seeking membership in the CELC is expected to be in formal church fellowship with at least one of the churches of the CELC before making application for membership.

2. A church seeking membership in the CELC should have:

      • national clergy,
      • organized congregations with regular worship, with lay leadership, and with members providing support for the work of the church,
      • a constitution or other written document that provides for church organization and governance, and
      • an officially adopted doctrinal position.

B. Procedure for Attaining Membership

1. A church seeking membership in the CELC should:

      • request membership through a letter to the CELC President,
      • obtain a recommendation for membership from at least one CELC church that is in formal church fellowship with it, and
      • submit its constitution and doctrinal statement(s) to the CELC President at least one year before the triennial convention at which the membership request will be considered.

2. The CELC President will inform all CELC churches about the membership request and will make the required membership documents available for all CELC churches to review prior to the triennial convention at which the membership request will be considered.

3. The CELC Commission on Theology will officially evaluate the membership application together with any comments submitted by member churches and will bring a recommendation to the triennial convention.

Adopted 2002; Revised 2011, 2021

The Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference

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.”

Recording of the Ninety-Five Theses

Ninety-Five Theses for the 21st Century