View source for Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America

{{Infobox Christian denomination
|imagewidth=
|name = Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America
|image = CLBlogo.jpg
|caption =
|main_classification = [[Protestant]]
|orientation = [[Lutheran]]
|theology = [[Conservative Christianity]] <br> [[Pietism|Pietistic Lutheranism]]
|polity =
|leader =
|founded_date = 1900
|founded_place = [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
|branched_from =
|merger =
|separated_from = [[United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America]]
|separations =
|associations =
|footnotes =
|congregations = 123 (2009)
|members = 8,860 (2009)
|website = [http://www.clba.org/ www.clba.org]
|headquarters =  Fergus Falls, Minnesota
}}
The '''Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA)''' is a [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] denomination of [[Christians]] rooted in a [[Pietism|Pietist Lutheran]] spiritual awakening at the turn of the 20th century.<ref name="Lamport2017">{{cite book |last1=Lamport |first1=Mark A. |title=Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation |date=31 August 2017 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-7159-3 |page=201 |language=English|quote=First, a number of small, ethnic, and Pietistic denominations, such as the Laestadians or the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America, continue to flourish in the rural Midwest and Pacific Northwest, relatively untouched by the debates within...}}</ref><ref name="ZELC2021"/>
== History ==
{{Lutheranism in the United States|expanded=awakening}}
=== Origins ===
Following the occurrence of a [[Pietist]] spiritual revival that swept through a large part of the [[Midwestern United States]] in the 1890s, an assembly of Lutherans who were influenced by this fervor felt the need to reject several former beliefs as incompatible with their newfound spirituality.<ref name="Lamport2017"/><ref name="ZELC2021">{{cite web |title=A Brief Study of the Lutheran Churches in America |url=http://atlanta.clclutheran.org/bibleclass/Lutheranchurches.pdf |author=David Lau, Nathanael Mayhew|publisher=Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church |access-date=27 April 2021 |page=2 |language=English |quote=The CLBA have pietistic roots that can still be seen in their doctrinal stance. The CLBA wants its members to have a personal experience of salvation.}}</ref> They rejected the idea of receiving the unconverted into full membership or admitting them to [[Eucharist|Communion]], replaced liturgical ceremonies with simple worship services, and formed new congregations to worship and serve according to these dictates of conscience.
=== Formation ===
Five such Lutheran congregations from the [[United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America]] met in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], on December 17, 1900, and organized a synod named the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. Its constitution was patterned after that of the [[Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway|Lutheran Free Church of Norway]]. The Lutheran Bible School, forerunner of the current schools in [[Minnesota]], was founded in 1903 in [[Wahpeton, North Dakota]].
== Doctrinal beliefs ==
The CLBA emphasizes the foundational place of the [[Bible]], stating, "We believe the Bible is the [[Biblical inspiration|inspired]] Word of God and free from error. It is authoritative for faith and conduct." Other beliefs include the [[Trinity|triune Godhead]]; total depravity; the eternal Son-ship, [[Virgin birth of Jesus|Virgin Birth]], sinless life, [[substitutionary atonement]], bodily [[Resurrection of the dead#Resurrection of the dead in Christianity|resurrection]], personal return of [[Jesus]]; [[infant baptism]]; and [[Eucharist|Holy Communion]]. It has been noted for practicing [[open communion]], teaching [[premillennialism]], and not having the laity receive absolution from the pastor.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://clclutheran.org/atlanta/bibleclass/Lutheranchurches.pdf |title=A Brief Study of the Lutheran Churches in America |access-date=2010-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121161735/http://clclutheran.org/atlanta/bibleclass/Lutheranchurches.pdf |archive-date=2010-11-21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In addition to the denominational statement of faith, the church adheres to the following historic confessions: the [[Apostles' Creed]], [[Nicene Creed|Nicene]], and [[Athanasian Creed|Athanasian]] creeds, the [[Augsburg Confession]], and [[Luther's Small Catechism]]. Its strong emphasis on [[Mission (Christian)|missions]] and [[evangelism]] and its stand for non-liturgical worship and a church composed only of confessing Christians differentiate it from most Lutherans in America. The CLBA considers itself to be "Lutheran in theological tradition and evangelical in practice".
== Organization ==
The Church of the Lutheran Brethren has 123 congregations with about 8,860 baptized members<ref>[http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF-Statistics-2009.pdf LWF Statistics 2009] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604203414/http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF-Statistics-2009.pdf |date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref> in the United States (114) and [[Canada]] (9), as well as about 1,500 congregations in [[Cameroon]], [[Chad]], [[Japan]], and [[Taiwan]]. Its offices, the [[Lutheran Brethren Seminary]], the Lutheran Center For Christian Learning, and the [[Hillcrest Lutheran Academy]] are located in [[Fergus Falls, Minnesota]]. The CLBA publishes a bimonthly magazine called ''Faith & Fellowship''. The CLBA has been led by President Paul Larson since 2014.
The CLBA has been involved in a number of national and international missionary endeavours throughout its history. In 1966, the denomination, in partnership with several other missional bodies, instituted the [[China Lutheran Seminary]] in [[Hsinchu|Hsinchu City]], [[Taiwan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cls.org.tw/EN/CLS%20About%20us-brief%20history.htm|title=Historical Sketch of CLS|website=China Lutheran Seminary}}</ref>
==Presidents==
*Knut O. Lundeberg 1900–1903
*J. J. Peterson 1903–1904
*E. M. Broen 1904–1905
*H. L. Westel 1905–1908
*E. M. Broen 1908–1914
*E. H. Gunhus 1914–1924
*M. E. Sletta 1924–1934
*E. H. Gunhus 1934–1938
*M. E. Sletta 1938–1948
*C. E. Walstad 1948–1953
*D. A. Erickson 1953–1954
*M. E. Sletta 1954–1956
*D. A. Erickson 1956–1968
*E. H. Strom 1968–1986
*Robert M. Overgaard 1986–2001
*Joel Egge 2001–2014
*Paul Larson 2014–Present
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{citation | title = Church of the Lutheran Brethren, 1900–1975: A Believer's Fellowship — A Lutheran Alternative | first = JH | last = Levang}}.
* {{citation | title = Churches and Church Membership in the United States (1990) | publisher = Glenmary Research Center}}.
* {{citation | title = Encyclopedia of American Religions | editor-first = J Gordon | editor-last = Melton}}.
* {{citation | title = Handbook of Denominations in the United States | first1 = Frank S | last1 = Mead | first2 = Samuel S | last2 = Hill | first3 = Craig D | last3 = Atwood}}.
==External links==
*[http://www.clba.org/ Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America]
*[http://www.lbcanada.org/ Church of the Lutheran Brethren - Canada]
*{{citation|url=http://www.wlsessays.net/files/FredrichLittle.pdf |title=A Little Lecture on Little Little-Known Lutheran Synods |first=Edward C |last=Fredrich |format=[[PDF]] |publisher=WLS Essays |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919044204/http://www.wlsessays.net/files/FredrichLittle.pdf |archive-date=September 19, 2011 }}
*{{citation | url = http://www.thearda.com/Denoms/D_878.asp | title = CLBA | publisher = Association of Religion Data Archives}}.
*[http://www.faithandfellowship.org Faith & Fellowship | Magazine, Bookstore and Publishing]
*[https://www.lbs.edu Lutheran Brethren Seminary]
[[Category:Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America]]
[[Category:Evangelical denominations in North America]]
[[Category:Lutheran denominations in North America]]