| Lutheran Church-International | |
| Classification | Lutheran |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Evangelical Catholic |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Founder | Pastor Edward Tornow |
| Origin | 1967 North Dakota |
| Congregations | 36 |
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The Lutheran Church-International (LC-I)[1] is an American Christian denomination established in 1967, based in Springfield, Illinois. Its President from 1967 to 1998 was Pastor E. Edward Tornow of North Dakota.[2] From 1967 to 2011 the LC-I was known as the International Lutheran Fellowship[3]. The LC-I presently has a mixed episcopal/congregational structure, with 4 dioceses in North America, including the Northeastern Diocese, the Mid-America Diocese, the Southern Diocese, and the Western Diocese.[4] The current President of the LC-I is Archbishop Robert W. Hotes,[5]who is in apostolic succession.
The Lutheran Church-International describes itself as "Confessional", "Orthodox", "Ecumenical", and "Evangelical".[6] Confessionally, it adheres to the "Gospel of Jesus Christ as faithfully witnessed by the Augsburg Confession of 1530, and the Book of Concord".[7] As an orthodox Christian body, "the LC-I maintains a traditional, faithful understanding of Lutheranism within the church catholic".[8] Further, the LC-I will "work with faithful Christians globally", and "internally with those church bodies with whom theological cooperation is possible".[9] Finally, the "LC-I is a church of the Great Commission", seeking to "make disciples of all nations".[10]
The Lutheran World Parish is a unique ministry within the LC-I. A current LC-I brochure states that the Lutheran World Parish consists of "Individuals desiring to affiliate with the LC-I, but who are not near (a)...congregation".[11]
Established in 2006, the Order of St. Francis-Lutheran (OSF-L) is another ministry of the Lutheran Church-International. The Order is based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is headed by Rev. Larry J. Goodnough. Rev. Goodnough was commissioned as the OSF-L Superior by Bishop Bougher of the LC-I Northeastern Diocese.[12]
In 2004, the Lutheran Church-International entered into a Concordat (Altar and Pulpit Fellowship) with the Southern Episcopal Church in the United States.[13] The LC-I is presently exploring possible concordats with The Lutheran Church of St. Peter and St. Paul,[14] the Lutheran Ministerium and Synod - USA,[15] and Iglesia Lutherana de Venezuela.[16]
2011 - The Mundelein Synod; July 27-30, 2011; University of St. Mary’s of the Lake Conference Center, Mundelein, Illinois [17]
2012 - The Lyons Synod; (Date, TBD); First Lutheran Church, Lyons, New York[18]