The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was organized on January 1, 1988 by the merger of three distinct protestant Christian organizations or "expressions" who shared the same beliefs and missions: The American Lutheran Church, The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and the Lutheran Church in America. http://www.url.com/search/result?msn=3&url=http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are.aspx&title=Who%20We%20Are%20-%20Evangelical%20Lutheran%20Church%20in%20America&q=3155046 The ELCA is a member of the National Council and World Council of Churches.http://www.url.com/search/result?msn=9&url=http%3A%2F%2Fchristianity.wikia.com%2Fwiki%2FEvangelical_Lutheran_Church_in_America&title=Evangelical%20Lutheran%20Church%20in%20America%20-%20Christianity%20Knowledge%20Base&q=3156326 There are 5,000,000 church members from all walks of life and from many races. Many members choose one form or another of discipleship as a commitment of spreading God's word, such as, Christian education or coaching others, mission work, stewardship and leadership within their own churches and their own communities. The ELCA is committed to disaster response in the U.S. and around the world.

The church is rich in history starting with Martin Luther, a Roman Catholic Priest, theology professor and leader of the Protestant Reformation. In 1517, on All Saints' Eve, Luther publicly objected to the way a salesman by the name of Johann Tetzel was selling "indulgences". http://christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/theologians/luther.html?start=2 The "indulgences" were papers Catholics bought so that God would not punish them for their sins. Luther wrote theses called "The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences" disputing the claim that punishment for sins could be purchased with money. He nailed the 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Cathederal.http://www.pbs.org/empires/martinluther/about_relu.html Luther also held the unconventional and controversial belief that the Bible is not an infallible religious document. Because of his controversial beliefs and his refusal to retract all of his writings, Pope Leo X, in 1520, excommunicated Martin Luther. Historians feel that other Protestant Reformers were inspired by Luther in one way or another, but that it was Luther's reforms that ended the Middle Ages.http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/martin-luther.html The origins of the American Lutheran Church trace back to the mid-1600's when early Lutherans came from Europe and settled in territory that is now known as New York. http://archive.elca.org/communication/timeline/19.html

Members of the ELCA believe that through the worship of God, reading the Bible, listening to the Word, attending church, singing, praying and taking communion, they will encounter God. Through this experience of “encountering God” they will carry with them God’s mission to help them keep faith in their lives and so that they can share that faith with others. The Augsburg Confession is one of the primary confessions of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran Reformation.http://www.stmarkhawaii.org/newsletters/Newsletter200805.pdf. This church believes in a Triune God, (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The ELCA confesses "Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe." http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Statements-of-Belief.aspx In addition the ELCA holds the view that "the proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ."http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Statements-of-Belief.aspx The ELCA also holds the position that "the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the written Word of God" http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Statements-of-Belief.aspx This church accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true declarations of the faith.http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Statements-of-Belief.aspx.

Within the ELCA there is active debate about the equality and treatment of individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Traditional ELCA members believe in only same-sex relationships, while progressive ELCA members condemn discrimination. http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/New-or-Returning-to-Church/Dig-Deeper/Homosexuality-and-the-ELCA.aspx On August 21, 2009 the ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted that gay and lesbian clergy, who were in a life-long same-sex relationship, could continue as Lutheran Clergy. http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/New-or-Returning-to-Church/Dig-Deeper/Homosexuality-and-the-ELCA.aspx In response to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's vote to accept gay and lesbian committed relationships among Lutheran clergy, Lutheran CORE announced they were severing ties with the ECLA on August 21, 2009. http://www.mahalo.com/lutheran-core<ref>

The ELCA is headed by a Bishop who is elected by the Churchwide Assembly to serve for 6 yrs. The Churchwide Organization is guided by the biennial Churchwide Assembly, the Church Council and the four elected officers of the church. The four offices are the Office of the Bishop, the Office of the Secretary, the Office of the Treasurer and the Office of the Vice President (who is always a lay member, not clergy). The Vice President also serves as the Chair of the Church Council.http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization.aspx As of June 30, 2009, there were 18,983 Pastors and Lay Leaders,.http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization.aspx In the ELCA, both women and men can be ordained as Pastors. http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization.aspx Effective January 1, 2001, an ecumenical agreement "Called to Common Mission" (CCM) was made with the Episcopal (Anglican) Church in the United Sates that would move toward full communion between the two church organizations. The agreement will not merge the two churches, however, it will allow for clergy from each organization to preach at either organizations and the members of both organizations may have communion at any ELCA church and any Episcopal (Anglican Church). http://www.url.com/search/result?yhoo=2&msn=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.episcopalchurch.org%2F6947_31681_ENG_HTM.htm&title=Ecumenical%20%26%20Inter-religious%20Relations&q=3157432