OUR CHURCH AFFILIATION

Immanuel is a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, an organization comprised of 2.6 million baptized members of over 6,100 congregations.

The word "synod" is of Greek origin meaning "a meeting or assembly," and a "way or journey." We describe ourselves as congregations "walking together," because our congregations all confess and practice the same teachings of God’s Word. The Synod traces its beginnings to 1947 when it was organized by 15 congregations, representing German Lutheran settlements in various U.S. locations. It was first known as the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. While our forefathers were German, today we count members with ancestry from every continent. Today our Synod coordinates missionaries in 43 other countries and is connected with 19 partner churches worldwide. The national office is located in St. Louis, Missouri.

Our Synod serves in support of an on behalf of its local member congregations. Such support includes Sunday school lessons, hymn books, resources for the ministry, and worship materials. As a member congregation of the Synod we combine our strengths and resources to do the things that an individual congregation is unable to do. Through our support of the Synod we sponsor missionaries to other countries, provide loan funds for building churches, and operate a health and retirement system for full-time church workers. Synod congregations operate the largest Protestant school system in the United States. The Synod operates 10 colleges and two seminaries to prepare church ministers, teachers, workers and laity for Christian service. www.lcms.org