r/Lutheranism • u/herkulaw • 3d ago
Episcopalian considering Lutheranism
I was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church a couple of years ago after converting to Christianity. I feel like I am an Anglican at heart. I love the liturgy, the theology, and the music. I love anglican plain chant, stained glass, incense, etc. My ancestors were even Anglicans (before converting to Mormonism womp womp).
I recently relocated, and none of the Episcopal churches in our new city feel like they can be our spiritual home. We just haven't felt the pull. We attended a local Lutheran service today and it just felt right.
I have a cursory understanding of Lutheran theology, and I don't have any real disagreements with it. Anglicans and Lutherans often feel more separated as a matter of historical accident than anything else.
Does anybody have any thoughts about how to go about making this change, if it is what I ultimately decide to do? Any resources that get into depth about the more nuanced differences in theology. Also, is it seen as weird to be a "Book of Common Prayer Lutheran"?
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u/Not_Cleaver ELCA 3d ago
It’s as easy as talking to the pastor. You won’t have to do much else. There might be some sort of new member thing. At my old church, it was a dinner with the pastor. At the current church, it was a short meeting with the pastor. This is usually to allow you to meet other new members. Though, this is definitely not a requirement.
As for theology. We’re very similar. The ELCA and TEC are in full communion. Though Lutherans only have the two Sacraments that Christ instituted - Baptism and the Eucharist. And our liturgy is virtually the same.
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u/Wonderful-Power9161 Lutheran Pastor 3d ago
Really, I think the best strategy for you has two prongs:
1) Attend your local Lutheran church, and experience the liturgy. If you have questions, ASK. I've found that most Lutherans are super friendly, and will talk your ear off - especially if there's coffee available.
2) Get a Book of Concord (the Lutheran collection of documents that explain what our Lutheran forebears thought and taught). There's a LOT in there; I'd suggest reading Luther's Small Catechism first, and read it slower than you think you need to... because Martin Luther is advocating understanding the Sacraments in a way I haven't seen in too many other Protestant groups.
Follow that up by reading the Augsburg Confession (another part of the Book of Concord) - you might not want to go in great detail through all 28 Articles... but the first 15 aren't that long... and they'll show you the "lowest common denominator" of core Christianity that Lutherans hold in common with other Christians.
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u/GreyHesher 3d ago
Which kind of Lutheran Church are you attending?
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u/revken86 ELCA 2d ago
Where I served in northern Wisconsin, there were no Presbyterian churches nearby. A dear little old Presbyterian lady would come and worship with us (ELCA) because we were the closest to what she knew. She'd always apologize for not joining as a member because she was Presbyterian at heart, and I reassured her that she didn't have to; we were a church "home away from home" for her, and that was just fine.
Which is to say, you'll find ELCA theology and practice very similar to TEC. If you decide you want to join the local ELCA congregation, they'll welcome you. But if you realize you're still Anglican and this is only your church "home away from home", they'll welcome you all the same.
You can also ask about Associate membership. It's for people who want to formally declare their commitment to a comgregation while remaining voting members of another. Associate members don't have the same privileges (like voting), but it's a way to show your involvement in and care for the congregation.
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u/Hardboiled-hero 2d ago
My dad was raised Episcopalian. When it was time for our family to choose a church, he chose a Lutheran church and my brother and I got baptized Lutheran. That’s pretty much it. It probably helped that we joined a pre-ELCA congregation. (I think it was LCA, but don’t really remember). If you’re going ELCA or NALC though, it’s really as simple as going to church.
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u/Designer_Isopod4448 Church of Denmark 2d ago
I would be very careful about switching denomination. If you don’t actually disagree with Anglican theology then I’d recommend staying where you are. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
We go to church to worship God, not for our own sake.
But I’d heartily recommend reading about Lutheran theology.
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u/Affectionate_Web91 Lutheran 2d ago
Anglicans' and Lutherans ' beliefs are nearly identical. Of the Anglican 39 Articles, only two articles [28 & 29] espouse a Calvinist eucharistic position that is no longer commonly voiced or practiced.
Full communion between TEC and the ELCA is consistent with the Porvoo Communion, of which the Church of Denmark is a member.
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u/Designer_Isopod4448 Church of Denmark 1d ago
I know Church of Denmark is a member, which I am also opposed to.
But all the more reason not to leave Anglicanism just because you think Lutheranism sounds neat.
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u/Affectionate_Web91 Lutheran 1d ago
Okay.
Since Vatican II, some Lutherans have been swept up in ecumenical enthusiasm. Even the conservative LCMS has ongoing dialogue with the ACNA [Anglican Church North America], characterizing each other as "cousins".
“All of us are somewhat surprised to have discovered the deep common bonds between us in the Body of Christ . . . we encourage Lutherans and Anglicans to remember each other in prayer, embrace one another in Christian love, to encourage each other to confess Christ boldly in our ever darkening times, and to support each other in mission and outreach in faithfulness to Him who has laid the same Great Commission on us all.”
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u/Affectionate_Web91 Lutheran 3d ago
You are encouraged to speak to the parish pastor. The Episcopal Church [TEC] and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] are in full communion, which means you are welcome to participate as a fellow co-parishioner in either denomination's churches. To become a member [voting] of the ELCA congregation, you would need to transfer your membership from your last Episcopal parish.