| Lutheran Church - International | |
| Main Classification: | Lutheran |
| Orientation: | Evangelical Catholic |
| Polity: | Episcopal/Congregational |
| Founder: | Pastor Edward Tornow |
| Founded Date: | 1967 |
| Founded Place: | North Dakota |
| Congregations: | 15 |
| Members: | 1000 |
| Other Names: | International Lutheran Fellowship (1967–2011) |
The Lutheran Church - International (LC-I)[1] is an American Christian denomination established in 1967 and based in Lyons, New York. Its president from 1967 to 1998 was Pastor E. Edward Tornow of North Dakota.[2] From 1967 to 2011 the LC-I was known as the International Lutheran Fellowship.[3] The LC-I has a mixed episcopal/congregational structure, with four dioceses in North America, including the Northeastern Diocese, the Mid-America Diocese, the Southern Diocese, and the Western Diocese.[4] A Missionary District for Latin and Caribbean ministries is based in Puerto Rico. The LC-I also has ministry outreach in India. The current president of the LC-I is Robert W. Hotes.
The Lutheran Church-International describes itself as "Confessional", "Orthodox", "Ecumenical (within the understandings based on the Book of Concord)", and "Evangelical".[5] Confessionally, it adheres to the "Gospel of Jesus Christ as faithfully witnessed by the Augsburg Confession of 1530, and the Book of Concord".[6] As an orthodox Christian body, "the LC-I maintains a traditional, faithful understanding of Lutheranism within the church catholic".[7] The Lutheran Church - International teaches that its clergy are ordained in lines of apostolic succession.[8] Further, the LC-I has stated that it will "work with faithful Christians globally", and "internally with those church bodies with whom theological cooperation is possible".[9] Finally, the LC-I sees itself as "a church of the Great Commission", seeking to "make disciples of all nations".[10]
The Lutheran World Parish is a unique ministry within the LC-I. A current LC-I brochure states that the Lutheran World Parish consists of "Individuals desiring to affiliate with the LC-I, but who are not near (a)...congregation".[11]
Established in 2006, the Order of St. Francis-Lutheran (OSF-L) is another ministry of the Lutheran Church-International. The Order is based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is headed by the Rev. Larry J. Goodnough. Goodnough was commissioned as the OSF-L Superior by Bishop Bougher of the LC-I Northeastern Diocese. The Rev. William Babbitt of Florida serves as U.S. Superior. The OSF-L is a ministry of lay persons and clergy in the spirit of Francis of Assisi, not a religious order.
2011 - The Mundelein Synod; July 27–30, 2011; University of St. Mary’s of the Lake Conference Center, Mundelein, Illinois [12]
2012 - The Lyons Synod; (Date, July 2012); First Lutheran Church, Lyons, New York[13]