International Lutheran Fellowship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| International Lutheran Fellowship | |
| Classification | Lutheran |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Evangelical Catholic |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Origin | 1967
|
| Associations | Order of Saint Francis-Lutheran (OSF-L) |
The International Lutheran Fellowship is an orthodox Lutheran Christian body. The ILF is incorporated as a not-for-profit entity in the state of North Dakota.
The body has approximately ten districts in the United States (New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, Texas, North Dakota, Florida and California) and twenty in Latin America (Venezuela),Africa, India, Canada (Ontario, British Columbia, and the North West Territories) and East Asia (Singapore), as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Congregations are are independent, but a central and district structure of episcopal governance similar to that of the Church of Sweden and the English District of the Missouri Synod is observed as a sign of the apostolic succession and the unity of the Universal Christian Church. The Central Office is located in Springfield Illinois USA.
The Order of Saint Francis-Lutheran (OSF-L) has establishments in Canada and the United States.
While some parishes and districts follow an "Evangelical catholic" model and style of worship, others follow a style of worship similar to that of the Missouri Synod or the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Many of its clergy are missionaries or chaplains. Theologically, the ILF may be characterized as traditionalist but evangelical in outreach. Worship styles are traditional, but ministry is dynamic.
