The Lutheran Orthodox Church, inc
A Lutheran Church in Apostolic Succession
Application for Membership
and Credentials for The Lutheran Orthodox Church
Please request an application by email on the bottom of this page. One will be sent to you at your preference, email PDF form or traditional mail.
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT AN APPLICATION UNTIL YOU CONTACT US WITH YOUR INTEREST VIA EMAIL OR U.S. MAIL WITH A LETTER OF INTEREST AND AFTER A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW. A PERSONAL INTERVIEW WILL BE SCHEDULED WITH THE BISHOP CLOSEST TO YOU AT WHICH TIME YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE YOUR APPLICATION PREPARED. APPLICATIONS SENT WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION WILL BE RETURNED OR DISCARDED.
Please specify in your letter of interest if you are seeking transfer of credentials (for ordained ministers), congregational affiliation (for established congregations), lay persons, or seeking ordination.
LUTHERAN ORTHODOX CHURCH STATEMENT OF FAITH
Ministers of the LOC are Lutheran Orthodox Minsters and must accept and adhere to our Statement of Faith and Core Beliefs. Your signature on your application reflects your acceptance and belief in the Statement of Faith found on our main page and with our core beliefs, provided below. In addition, by signing your application you agree to recognize all other church bodies which share intercommunion with the LOC. Please do not request an application if you are not in agreement with our Statement of Faith and Core Beliefs.
All Ordinations and Consecrations are performed at St Pauls Lutheran Chapel in Slatington, Pa, USA. unless other arrangements are made. You will not be a minister of The Lutheran Orthodox Church until or unless your consecration is performed by the Laying on of Hands in valid Historic Apostolic Succession of The Church.
It is the core belief and Statement of Faith of the Lutheran Orthdox Church that:
1. The Holy Scriptures, in the original tongues, are the inspired and inerrant word of God;
2. In one God, eternal and self-existent, Creator and Ruler of the universe, and manifested through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
3. That Jesus Christ is truly divine and truly human having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary;
4. That Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His blood as a Sacrifice for our sins; He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
5.That humankind was created in the image of God, but fell into sin causing separation from God;
6. That salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ ; and those who repent and believe on Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life and become the children of God;
7. That the water baptism identifies us with the death and burial of Christ and that we should arise to walk in the newness of life;
8. In the ministry of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ, to convict, to enable the believer to live a godly life and to empower the Church to carry the gospel into all the world;
9. In the personal and visible return of Jesus Christ for His Church;
10. In the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved and everlasting separation from God of all those who reject Jesus Christ.
MINISTERIAL ETHICS
1. I will maintain high ethical and moral values in all my dealings, personally and professionally;
2. I will respect each person's difference in style and personality as they follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit;
3. I will always be willing to learn;
4. I will only speak in edifying ways in regards to other ministers, ministries, and the Body of Christ at large;
5. I will treat all with whom I come into contact as I would like to be treated; and,
6. I will support and promote the Lutheran Orthodox Church in ways the Lord leads me.
Please request your application via email by clicking here on application request:
Or you may request an application via mail by sending a letter of interest to:
The Lutheran Orthodox Church, inc.,
PO Box 74, Neffs, Pennsylvania, USA, 18065
No Phone Calls, Please.