PATHS TO ALTAR FELLOWSHIP

Which path toward membership is determined to a large degree by the individual's background. Meeting with the pastor is the best place to start. But generally speaking, the following description of the paths toward baptized, communicant membership are followed:



+ For those coming from another congregation of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, who are already baptized communicant members of their previous congregation, are usually simply transferred by action of both congregations.


+ For those coming from non-LCMS Lutheran congregations but are still Lutheran in background (for example, ELCA), those persons may, by individual circumstances, be admitted by pastoral conversation and public affirmation of the faith by the individuals joining the congregation. The chief task in this case is to preserve the unity of the faith and practice in the congregation. In some needful cases, the pastor reserves the right to have some amount of instruction prior to admittance to communicant membership.


+ For those coming from non-Lutheran Christian background (for example Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, non-denominational, etc.) usually adult catechesis (instruction) is held to cover biblical teaching as summarized in the catechism and to cover the historic Lutheran liturgy. This course usually will go for some months, but usually less than a year.


+ For those coming with no or little Christian background thorough catechesis (instruction) will be needed toward both receiving Holy Baptism, public affirmation of the Lutheran confession of the faith, and to be received as a communicant member of the congregation. In mind for this path are those coming from non-Christian religions or no religion at all (for example Buddhist, Muslim, Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, atheist, pagan, unitarian).


For those coming from other Christian denominations and are already baptized, we want to ensure in these days that such were baptized with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. For those baptized with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, there is no need for another baptism and it would be wrong to have another one. Those baptized among Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses or Oneness Pentecostals will need to be baptized again, so to speak, though in such cases those baptisms were not properly Scriptural.


Baptized youths at Gloria Christi now are typically going through Catechism Class ("confirmation") during 5th and 6th grade. A minimum of two years of intensive instruction are required at Gloria Christi prior to going through the rite of confirmation. A child may enroll at 4th grade but will then go through three years of intensive instruction.

Gloria Christi Lutheran Church (LCMS)

1322 31st Avenue

Greeley, Colorado 80634

(970) 353-2554

Visits since 12 December 2006

This Web page is best viewed with Firefox (free) browser. Some functions may not work properly in Internet Explorer.