Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada |
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| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Mainline Lutheran |
| Theology | Moderate to Liberal |
| Polity | Modified episcopal polity |
| National Bishop | Susan Johnson |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Origin | 1986 Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Merger of |
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| Congregations | 519 |
| Members | 95,000 |
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC; French: Église évangélique luthérienne au Canada) is the biggest Lutheran church group in Canada. It has about 95,000 members in 519 churches across the country. The ELCIC works with other church groups like the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches. It also partners with the Anglican Church of Canada through a group called Churches Beyond Borders.
Contents
History of the ELCIC
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada started in 1986. It was formed when two older church groups joined together. These groups were the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada and the Canada Section of the Lutheran Church in America. This joining happened in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
How the ELCIC Was Formed
- 1985: A special meeting, called the Constituting Convention, was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This meeting helped create the new church.
National Meetings of the Church
The ELCIC holds regular meetings called National Conventions. At these meetings, leaders and members discuss important topics for the church.
- 1987: Ottawa, Ontario
- 1989: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- 1991: Edmonton, Alberta
- 2023: Calgary, Alberta (a special meeting)
What the ELCIC Believes
The ELCIC gets its teachings from the Bible. It also follows the Book of Concord. This book includes important statements of belief, like the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. These are old Christian statements that many churches share.
The ELCIC works closely with other Christian churches. It is in "full communion" with the Anglican Church of Canada. This means they share beliefs and can worship together. The ELCIC also owns two schools where people can study to become pastors: Martin Luther University College and Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon.
How the ELCIC is Organized
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is set up into five main areas called synods. These are like regions, and each one has a leader called a bishop. This is similar to how the Anglican Church of Canada organizes its areas, which are called dioceses.
- The British Columbia Synod
- The Synod of Alberta and the Territories
- The Saskatchewan Synod
- The Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario Synod
- The Eastern Synod
Each synod has its own bishop who is the main pastor for that area. The whole ELCIC also has a main leader. This leader is called the "National Bishop." Even though the church has bishops, it doesn't have big cathedrals like some other churches. However, the largest church in a city might sometimes act like a main church for big events.
National Bishops of the ELCIC
The National Bishop is the main leader of the entire ELCIC. Here are the people who have served in this important role:
- The Rev. Donald Sjoberg, from 1986 to 1993
- The Rev. Telmor Sartison, from 1993 to 2001
- The Rev. Raymond Schultz, from 2001 to 2007
- The Rev. Canon Susan Johnson, from 2007 to today
