[Mr. Lucky]

Well, I can't speak for any belief system other than conservative Lutheranism. The traditional Lutheran Church is confessional. It's confessions are gathered in the Book of Concord and are not subject to debate. While an individual Lutheran might hold an opinion which disagrees with a particular tenet of the confession, that individual belief is not Lutheran.

As I understand it, this differs somewhat from other Protestant denominations; but, then again, Lutherans don't consider themselves Protestant any more than they consider themselves Roman Catholic.

[annalex]

The orientation to the “Church Catholic” is, no doubt, a tremendous asset of Lutheranism.

What happens if an issue comes up that is not in the Book of Concord and not expressly stated in the Scripture?

For example, did anyone a short century ago foresee the gay “marriage”?

Is contraception treated in any way? I know that prior to 1930 every Christian community of faith considered contraception sinful. Now none in the Protestant (using the term loosely) world does.