Doctrinal Statements
Doctrinal statements are useful because they organize particular teachings of the Bible and assist in teaching those timeless truths of God’s Word.
Contained here are statements of doctrine adopted by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and its predecessor church bodies. The present-day ELS subscribes to all these adopted statements and confessions, and continues to teach and confess them as true and biblical.
The Public Ministry of the Word
Adopted 2005
The Lord’s Supper
Adopted 1997
Roles of Men and Women in the Church
Adopted 1990
Doctrine of the Church
Adopted 1980
Unity, Union, and Unionism
Adopted 1936
An Accounting
Adopted 1884
Absolution
Adopted 1874
The Third Commandment and the Christian Sunday
Adopted 1863
Lay Preaching
Adopted 1862
Joint Statement Regarding Termination of Fellowship
In June of 2016, the ELS approved the Joint Statement Regarding Termination of Fellowship as a correct presentation regarding the biblical doctrine of the termination of fellowship.
Synodical Resolutions
Position Statement on Sex and Gender Identity
Affirmed by convention in 2018
Agreement in Our Practice of Closed Communion
Affirmed by convention in 2017
