Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (Germany)

The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church ("Evangelisch Lutherische Freikirche") is a small confessional Lutheran denomination based in Germany and western Austria. It currently consists of 1,600 members in 15 congregations, primarily located in former East Germany. It also maintains a seminary for the training of pastors in the city of Leipzig.

It is independent of the Evangelical Church in Germany and can be classified as a free church in that it is an independent denomination and not under the umbrella of the German state church.

History

The ELFK (acronym based on its German name) formed in 1876 in reaction to the perceived deviations from Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions by the German state church. In its early years many ELFK pastors were trained in Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod seminaries in the U.S., until a seminary was established in Leipzig in 1921. The ELFK maintained strong relations with the LCMS until the 1987, when fellowship was suspended on account of the LCMS's refusal to break fellowship with the less-conservative West German-based Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church. In 1993 the ELFK joined with the strongly confessional Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and others in forming the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference.

Beliefs

The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church teaches that the Bible is the only authoritative source for doctrine. It subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions (the Book of Concord, 1580) as accurate presentations of what Scripture teaches, that Jesus is the center of Scripture and the only way to eternal salvation, and that the Holy Spirit uses the gospel alone in Word and Sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) to bring people to faith in Jesus as Savior and keep them in that faith, strengthening them in their daily life of sanctification.

Ecumenical Relations

Fellowship between the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church and other church groups is established only upon investigation and confirmation that both church groups hold complete unity in scriptural doctrine and practice.

The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church is in fellowship with the members of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, all of which meet this requirement. It is also a member of said organization.

Internet Links

* [http://www.celc.info/cgi-bin/home.cgi?germany01 Info page for the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church from the CELC website]
* [http://www.elfk.de/ Website of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (in German)]
* [http://www.blts.edu/essays/schmelingGR/History%20of%20the%20ELFK.pdf History of the ELFK]
* [http://www.lutheranhighchurch.org/ Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (UAC)]