The Difference Between the AALC and the LCMS

This is a brief explanation of the differences between the AALC and the LCMS.

[onliwankannoli]

I was at the LCMS national convention in Houston on July 16, 2007, and was one of 846 votes in favor of declaring fellowship with the AALC. A wise man there that I very much respected remarked that this was the most significant thing to come out of that convention. May God continue to bless the churches, people, and ministry of the AALC!

[mikebaker]

Altar/Pulpit Fellowship is the highest form of unity in the church.

[deneentorkelson]

Thank you for the information. I’m LCMS and embarrassed at admit I never heard of the AALC. God’s blessings upon you and your congregations always. ✝️

[stephenkneller]

I am LCMS. And I agree that a union would not necessarily a good thing, including the reasons you state. But I also like that is creates a check against the introduction of radical theological ideas. That is, since alter and pulpit fellowship exists, if one body or the other moves in the wrong direction, there is an independent body in the other to warn and threaten action if it is not corrected. This should help to maintain both in faithfulness to the Faith.

[RobertEWaters]

I was a pastor in TALC at the time of the merger. As I recall the AALC had quite a struggle with Enthusiasm in its earliest years. I'm glad to see it resolved those struggles and came out of them a confessional synod.

[changjsc]

I am a Baptist that is steeped in church history (yes, a rarity!) but am learning a lot about Lutheranism these days. I really appreciate your perspective on John 17 and the reasons for not merging; for, it is helpful for all Protestants as we navigate a world that is increasingly demonizing institutions.

[CornCod]

I am WELS but I love the Missouri Synod a great deal. It was the LCMS that made me a confessional Lutheran after spending the 1st 25 years of my life in the liberal Protestant Mainline. AALC is smart to go into altar and pulpit fellowship with Missouri but avoid a total union. Missouri's great weakness is the "old boy network" in St.Louis. The network values loyalty to the institution over everything else even over pure doctrine sometimes. We all have our wierd institutional problems but I wish both Missouri and AALC well.

[pjdaps]

I've been part of The AALC since 1991, and I have served on various commissions and roles within The AALC since 2002 (ordained and serving as a pastor since 2008). I have often thought about whether or not The AALC should merge with the LCMS as we share a common confession. I've wondered if it is not the right thing to do or not.
A month ago I was in Belgium for the World Conference of the International Lutheran Council, and Dr. Roland Zeigler made a presentation on Church Fellowship and Ecumenism. In his presentation, he said something that resonated with me. He essentially said that churches can remain separated organizationally, perhaps due to differences in polity or tradition, but should strive for fellowship/partnership in the Gospel, unity in doctrine. I'm trying to make sense of my own notes, so I don't recall exactly what he said, but it was helpful for me to think about fellowship in doctrine as the necessary thing, not oneness in an organization. Thanks be to God that the AALC and the LCMS have fellowship in doctrine. It's not necessary, at least spiritually and Biblically, for there to be one organization instead of two. It might be practical at some point in time, but it is not necessary. We can rejoice in the unity we have in doctrine and the partnership we have in the Gospel, while also continuing in our own tradition and polity

[CornCod]

25 years ago AALC had a terrible charismatic problem, which probably delayed the altar and pulpit fellowship with Missouri. However, God was very gracious and the AALC got its act together and returned to the right path.

[drstephenbecker]

I am glad the AALC now has a proactive on-line ordination track seminary program. I was a student of ALTS in the early 2000's, studying in the "distance" program under the tutelage of my local pastor, until the Rev. Franklin Hayes took over the seminary and dismantled that distance program; he instructed all of us to either move to Ft. Wayne (since ALTS was relocating there) or drop out and go away. At the time, this was a very difficult and painful decision, but ultimately I think Rev. Hayes did me a favor in that I instead ended up in the LCMS ministerium and am thankful to be there. I understand the AALC''s history and identity, but I think a merger into the LCMS would bring huge resources to the mostly smaller AALC congregations--from a circuit, district and Synodical level. For example, as a military chaplain, the LCMS's MAF programs and training s(Ministry to the Armed Forces) is powerful and has made me not only a better chaplain, but also a better parish pastor. I am thankful for the AALC/LCMS fellowship, but would also welcome the AALC joining us. Pax

[joabthejavelin]

My family left our church when they merged with the ELCA. I was five, so I don't know what it was before the merger. We joined an LCMS church after that.
I like having multiple synods so that if one goes off the deep end, ie. the ELCA, I have a place to go to.

[flatlandflying]

Thank you Pastor!
It would interest me if you did a tour of your library. We see many books on your videos and wonder what treasures are on the shelves! Thank you!

[fredr]

I’m Lutheran educated. Loved it! Big on Jesus! The Word!

[sethl]

Im ELDoNA and its very disheartining that there is so much division within Confessional Lutheranism. Each day I pray that God may bring all the Churches together one day. But I'm afraid its never gonna happen. This rampant division severely damages our credibility as a unified faith

[guyparker]

Out here, pacific west..try on a Columbia last two to far from mom .. I had to listen again 2x. In fact .since 80..before the 60's..what a state it has become. Thank you God bless you .

[extra_nos]

you should do a video on the crucifix and icons within Lutheranism!

[CDCA]

Dutch Reformed here. We practise the same thought in Denominational Pulpit&Pew friendships. Many of us belong to a larger umbrella called NAPARC, Continental and Island confessional reformed banding together, pulpit exchanging, general fellowship and the ability to transfer membership id needed by situation.

[EcclesiastesLiker-pyts]

Nice thumbnail, I though I was back at Ready To Harvest for a moment 😆

[timnewman]

What are the worship practices(ie: liturgical) of the AALC?
Do you use the hymnal and which is the most common?
Not a fan of the contemporary and "blended" worship that has infested parts of the LCMS over the years!

[resurrectionjose]

+Jordan Cooper -- Coincidentally enough I was thinking in the back of my mind a few weeks ago about your particular denomination and why it's not a part of the LC-MS. I had this impression that if the same doctrinal views are held to why not merge? (Speaking for myself I'm not too crazy about 1-10K+ *_"protestant"_* denominations despite knowing that cutting ties or not joining is at times absolutely necessary.) Perhaps there were one or two differences (small or large) which made all the difference in the world, or something else was amiss that boiled down to certain individuals (i.e., top brass) being way too self-absorbed. I now have a better grasp of things. Thanks!