In simple terms, as Christians, we believe in Jesus Christ and strive to live by His teachings. We believe that Jesus is God’s Son, who came to earth as both fully human and fully divine. Jesus lived among us over 2,000 years ago, was crucified and died on Good Friday, and then rose from the dead on Easter morning.

We believe in the abundance of God’s grace! Grace is God’s love given freely. Because of Jesus Christ, we believe that as Christians, we are called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live our lives in service to the world, spreading the Good News. Through acts of love and justice, worship, and sharing our faith, we spread God’s limitless love to the world.

We follow the Lutheran tradition, which is based on the teachings of Martin Luther, a Christian reformer from the 16th century. Lutherans believe in the principles of Grace alone, faith alone, and Scripture alone. These principles emphasize that our salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ, and guided by the teachings of the Bible. Our church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is a part of this tradition and was formed in 1988 through the union of three North American Lutheran church bodies.

Lutherans are a part of the Christian church’s reforming movement. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its predecessors have been engaged in discussions with other church bodies for many years. In fact, the ELCA has formed cooperative “full communion” agreements with several Protestant denominations, including the Moravian Church, The Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church. These agreements involve sharing common beliefs about theology, mission, and worship.

The Word of God, revealed through both Law and Gospel, conveys God’s judgment and mercy through word and action. It begins with the Word in creation, continues in the history of Israel, and culminates in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit speaking through their authors. They record and declare God’s revelation, focusing on Jesus Christ. Through these Scriptures, God’s Spirit speaks to us, creating and nurturing Christian faith and community for service in the world. This church acknowledges the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source for its preaching, faith, and life.