Individuals join the fellowship of Faith Lutheran Church in two ways: 

• Members of a “sister” Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation simply need to request a transfer from their home congregation to Faith.
• Those who are not members of a “sister” Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation undertake catechesis (instruction) in the teachings of the Evangelical Lutheran Faith, so that they may know and claim as their own the faith confessed by those who commune at Faith Lutheran Church.  After this instruction, the individual is then invited to join the fellowship at Faith by Profession of Faith. 

Note: Individuals from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), who have been previously instructed in the teachings of the Small Catechism, are received into membership at Faith after a review of the doctrinal differences that distinguish the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod from the ELCA. 

A Word About Catechesis

The word “catechesis” is based on a Greek word found in the New Testament that means “to teach.”  Faith Lutheran Church offers Adult Catechesis for adults who are interested in learning more about the teachings of the Evangelical Lutheran Faith. 

The focus of catechesis is the Catechism.  The Catechism is the collection of basic Christian texts (we may call these “Primary Texts”) that state the Christian faith and are part of the catholic (universal) heritage shared by all Christians. These texts are: the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, as well as the institution texts of Holy Baptism (Matthew 28:19-20), Holy Absolution (John 20:23), and the Words of Institution of the Lord’s Supper (found in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and also 1Corinthians 11). 

In addition to the Bible, the primary tool used in all catechesis at Faith Lutheran Church is Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, as the Small Catechism provides simple texts of explanation (we may call these “Secondary Texts”) of the texts of the Catechism.  Adult Catechesis takes up the teachings of the Evangelical Lutheran Faith using the Catechism and its explanations in Luther’s Small Catechism.  Attention is also given to the ways that Jesus Christ comes to us in the Divine Service of His Word & Sacraments, and how we in-turn respond to that Service with praise and thanksgiving. 

Catechesis involves learning not only knowledge and information, but also habits and practices that are shaped and formed by God’s Word as it has been used and prayed throughout the history of the Church catholic.  Catechesis seeks to form Christians in both their profession and practice of the faith.

If you are interested in catechesis at Faith Lutheran Church, please contact our pastor and he will be happy to speak with you further about it.