The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod was formed in 1850.  Originally quite liberal in interpretation and outlook, they have gradually become the most conservative of Lutheran denominations.  Third-largest in baptized members, they presently number nearly half a million.

By far the largest Lutheran denomination in the US, the ELCA numbers more than 10,000 congregations, which includes 4.8 million members.  A relatively new organization, just over twenty years old, they were formed when the American Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and the Lutheran Church in America combined.

These three bodies trace their roots back to Martin Luther of Germany, the father of the Protestant movement against the Holy Catholic Church in 1517.

The ELCA is comprised of 65 synods, based on geographical area, and the whole is presided over by a bishop.  Each synod, in turn, is governed by a bishop and three council officers, as well as various officials to carry out secular needs.  Each congregation generally elects its own officers to handle the business of the church, and of course each also has its own pastor, and usually a group of elders to help oversee the spiritual needs of the members.

Like other Lutheran denominations, the ELCA uses similar liturgy within worship services, and the same prayers, creeds, and blessings.  They observe the same church calendar as the LCMS and WELS.  Their governing structure would appear, at first glance, the only difference.

ELCA churches are perceived as more socially conscious, and certainly as more liberal.  It would be difficult to argue that a large reason for this is its relatively young age.  However, as in any other church – more specifically in individual congregations of any denomination – there are exceptions, and a wide variety of individual beliefs and preferences.

This, unfortunately, is the reason why so many churches today split from their historical roots, and even why so many members engage in "church shopping" from time to time.

That is to say, there are so many differences within a church body that all polarity is lost.  It does little good to belong to a church but to say, "well, we are members but we don't believe such-and-such".  If so, why join that congregation?

There are certainly differences in doctrine between the several bodies of Lutheran churches: the ELCA recently adopted new guidelines for their clergy, agreeing to ordain homosexuals.  This is but one of several things which the various organizations cannot agree on; the more conservative ones, such as the LCMS and WELS, consider this not Biblical in the least.  The ELCA counters with "love thy neighbor".

The ELCA is, as mentioned, more "socially conscious".  The LCMS and WELS disagree heartily, believing that, as Jesus said, one must be in the world and not of it…in other words, the ELCA tries to be all things to all people, much like the Unitarian Universalist Church.  Those folks believe that everyone has a "higher power" and that all are equal and good.  They are not Christians, as a whole, but again – there are individual beliefs. 

Jesus tells us, in the Bible, that the only way to God is through Him.  The way to God is not through condoning sin and following the precepts of the world, or allowing clergy to set a poor example for their flocks.  Yes, all have sinned, and all fall short.  But a pastor, as the spiritual head of a congregation, must not flaunt his sin.

However, because homosexuality involves "love", the ELCA seems reluctant to say one cannot love another, regardless of Biblical mandates against that particular type of love.  So, in order to be "of the world", they allow this. 

Social consciousness does not involve picking and choosing which parts of the Bible to believe, but asks that we care for and demonstrate compassion towards others, regardless of their perceived sins.

At first glance, the ELCA website shows us that their beliefs, their confession of faith, dovetails almost exactly with the LCMS and WELS: the ELCA accepts the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian creeds, they believe in the Triune God, and they believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source.

The difficulty, the issue, seems to lie in their loose interpretations and their unwillingness to reconcile today's world with Scripture.  This is the basis of the "newest" Lutheran denomination and, again, why the press should strive for accuracy when referring to "the Lutheran church".