| Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church | |
| Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt | |
| Classification | Protestant |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Confessional Lutheran |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Distinct fellowships | Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Lutheran Church - Canada |
| Associations | International Lutheran Council, European Lutheran Conference |
| Geographical areas | Germany |
| Origin | 25. June 1972, (Old Lutherans 1830) |
| Branched from | Prussian Lutheran Church |
| Congregations | 200 |
| Members | 35,642 |
| Ministers | 131 Pastors |
The Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church (German: Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, abbreviated SELK) is a confessional Lutheran church body of Germany. It is a member of the European Lutheran Conference and a member of the International Lutheran Council (ILC) (of which the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod of North America is also a member). The SELK synod has about 36,000 members in 200 congregations. The seat of SELK is in Hanover.
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In 1817, King Frederick William III of Prussia ordered the Lutheran and Reformed churches in his territory to unite, forming the Evangelical Church of the Prussian Union, a predecessor to today's Evangelical Church in Germany. As the uniting of Lutheran and Reformed Christians in Germany proceeded, some Lutheran groups dissented and formed independent churches, especially in Prussia, Saxony, Hannover and Hesse. These Lutherans held that Reformed doctrine and Lutheran doctrine are contradictory on many points (especially on the nature of the Real Presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper), and that such doctrinal differences precluded altar fellowship.
The confessional Lutherans were persecuted during the 19th century by the state. Many of them were not allowed to hold church services or have their children baptized or confirmed according to the liturgy of the Lutheran Church. In some areas of Germany, it took decades until the Confessional Lutherans were granted religious freedom.
In 1972 most of the Confessional Lutheran Church bodies in West Germany united to form the SELK. In 1991 the East German Evangelisch-Lutherische (altlutherische) Kirche (the Evangelical-Lutheran (Old-Lutheran) Church) joined the SELK.
The SELK bases its teaching on the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, which it confesses to be God's inerrant and infallible Word. The specific doctrines taught in the SELK are contained the Book of Concord, to which SELK pastors profess a "quia" subscription, meaning that they subscribe to them, "quia" (because) they correspond to the Bible. These Confessions are:
The SELK has declined to join the Lutheran World Federation, preferring to view that body as being theologically too liberal. Nevertheless Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (Germany), formerly in communion with the SELK, suspended relations in 1987 over perceived doctrinal laxity within SELK.
The SELK does not ordain women as pastors, and is strictly against the blessing of gay couples. This is in contrast to the German mainline Protestant churches, which do ordain women to ministry and allow the blessing of gay couples. The liberal mainline Protestant churches (about 25 million members) are organized in the Evangelical Church in Germany (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland, EKD).
The bishop of the SELK is elected by the synod. The current bishop ist Hans-Jörg Voigt. The main office of the SELK is in Hannover, and is managed by the executive dean Michael Schätzel. The SELK is divided in four main districts, with a provost heading each one. These four districts are divided again in sub-districts, each in turn led by a superintendent.
The mission outreach of SELK is led by its mission society in Bleckmar in Lower Saxony near Celle, called Lutherische Kirchenmission (Bleckmarer Mission) e. V. They missionaries and projects in South-Africa, Botswana, Germany and Brasila.
The theological seminary is in Oberursel, near Frankurt/Main. All SELK pastors have to make a part of their studies there. The professors are pastors of SELK. The seminary is accepted by the German state.
For different aspects of church life SELK has a lot of other institutions like an institution for youth, church music, worship service for children, liturgy commission, commission for church education and lot of more.
Full communion and fellowship has SELK with those confessional Lutheran churches, which have the same teaching and Lutheran doctrine, for example:
With same Lutheran churches in Eastern Europe SELK has a contract about partnership relations:
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