[Das Outsider]

Im LCMS myself. Actually there are quite a few from the LCMS and WELS that post here, u see them at times on the religion threads. Good to know you are a fellow conservative lutheran (with a german name like that I should have guessed!)

I've often lamented the '61 split between WELS and LCMS.

I figured that as a church body, we have around half a million--not a big number--and that I could possibly be the only WELS on FR, seeing as how LCMS and ELCA put together number in the millions! The self-proclaimed Champion of Circumstance, Jo Nuvark, was the first FReeper, in almost three years of posting, that has recognized my references to WELS/ELS.

I don't like the term "conservative" applied to the Church. Such a term is really more politically oriented than doctrinally focused. We are confessional evangelical Lutherans; heirs to the Reformation.

[Don W]

Come back: the mother church has NEVER wavered on this fundamental tenet, and is quite willing to receive her prodigals.

What I find truly confusing is the utter hostility shown by many Protestants when Catholicism is the topic. Isn’t protestantism simply a splinter sect of the church? Sure, some may claim that Papal Infallibility is worshipping a mere man as G_d, but that premise is WRONG!

Papal Infallibility refers to matters of CHURCH DOCTRINE, not the acts of the (undoubtedly human ergo fallible) MAN holding St. Peter’s office temporarily.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I was just reading an article by Alan Carlson (my fave Lutheran, BTW) who said that Martin Luther taught very strongly that contraception is a sin and an affront to God.

The question arises: are there any Lutherans around anymore who agree with Luther?