Alternative Lutheran churches/denominations

For those no longer interested in membership with the ELCA, below are some Lutheran alternatives.  Of course there a many great churches and denominations to choose from but for now, I will keep the following list to Lutheran ones.  Please do your homework when choosing your church.  Where the church stands on the Bible and Jesus are especially important.  

Church of the Lutheran Brethren

The Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB) is a family of 123 congregations in the United States and Canada, with 1,500 daughter congregations in Cameroon, Chad, Japan and Taiwan now organized into four national church bodies. The CLB, as a denomination, exists to serve congregations in their obedience to the Great Commission, locally, nationally and internationally, as seen in Matthew 28:18-20.

Evangelical Lutheran Conference & Ministerium (ELCM)

The ELCM is a synodical federation, fellowship, and association of centrist-oriented Evangelical Lutheran congregations and pastors holding to the Biblical teachings of the Christian Book of Concord.  The ELCM is Centrist, Biblical, Confessional, Evangelical, Liturgical, Traditional, Congregational Polity, and High view of the Office of Ministry minus hierarchy orientation.

Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC)

The AFLC is a fellowship of independent congregations, who have chosen to be interdependent for the purpose of accomplishing service in the Kingdom of God that cannot best be done alone. The Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC) was organized in1962 by 40-50 congregations of the former Lutheran Free Church (LFC), and has grown to become the fourth largest Lutheran church body in the United States with over 270 member congregations.

North American Lutheran Church (NALC) - Lutheran CORE

Lutheran CORE organizes as free-standing synod, begins work toward reconfiguration of Lutheranism.  More than 1,200 Lutherans from throughout the United States and Canada voted Saturday, Sept. 26, to create “a free-standing synod for all faithful Lutherans” and to work with “other compatible churchly organizations leading toward a possible reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism.”. . .

Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ is an association of congregations and individuals who are:

  • free in Christ;
  • accountable to one another;
  • rooted in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions;
  • working together to fulfill Christ's Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod

In grateful response to God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and the world.
(LCMS Mission Statement)

Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS)

We subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord originally published in 1580, because they are a faithful and accurate summary of biblical doctrine. . . (see the ELS - What We Believe section)

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)

John 3:16 has been called the gospel in a nutshell—and for good reason. In that one verse we're told all that we need to know for our salvation. God loves us. He sent his son to die for us. Believe it . . . (see the WELS - What We Believe section)

Church of the Lutheran Confession

All of the CLC member churches confess that the Bible is the inspired and unerring Word of God.  They confess the creeds of the Lutheran Church without qualification, as they are found in the Book of Concord of 1580. Scripture itself is the source and foundation of Christian teaching and faith — The Lutheran confessions are a faithful setting forth of what Scripture teaches.  The name of our church body is a witness to what we believe; it is a continual reminder of our responsibility to be truly Lutheran, and therefore Scriptural in our teaching and in our practice.  This principle holds true among us: “If it is not Scripture; it is not Lutheran! . .”

The American Association of Lutheran Churches

The AALC is distinctively Lutheran in its core beliefs. Every church and every pastor that voluntarily joins The AALC confesses that they believe the words of Scripture to be the inspired Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and practice and affirms without reservation the doctrines explained in the Book of Concord.  (From "What is distinctive about The AALC?" section)