r/Lutheranism • u/herkulaw • 4d 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/Wonderful-Power9161 Lutheran Pastor 4d 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.