 ELCA
Quick Facts
The
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America resulted from a union of three North
American Lutheran church bodies: The American Lutheran Church, the Association
of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran
Church in America. The three churches agreed to unite in 1982. The ELCA actually
began operating on January 1, 1988.
St.
Paul’s Lutheran Church
(established in 1943)
Led
by Pastor Bonnie Parker
TX-LA
Gulf Coast Synod
Led
by Bishop Mike Rinehart (as of 9/29/07)
There
are 129 congregations within this synod
Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America
Led
by Bishop Mark Hanson
There
are 65 synods within the ELCA
· St.
Paul’s is one of the 129 congregations that make up the TX-LA Gulf Coast
Synod.
· The
TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod is one of 65 synods across America that make up the ELCA.
· Currently
the ELCA is 5 million strong in membership
A
BRIEF
HISTORY OF ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
1943—Organization
and call for first Pastor
1944—First
Pastor, Reverend J.A. Pietsch
1945—Purchased
land for first Church, near Goose Creek
Stream
and Main
Street.
1948—Church
dedicated, June 13, 1948
1950—Second
Pastor, Karl Bracker 1950-55
1955—Third
Pastor, August Hannemann 1955-57
1957—Fourth
Pastor, Harold Bomhoff 1957-1970
Period
of numerical and spiritual growth.
1957—Texas
Hwy Department announced plans to extend Loop 201 through the church property.
A relocation site was purchased off of Garth Road
1964—Cornerstone
laid for new church.
Church dedicated 12/6/1964
1970—Fifth
Pastor, Charles Probst 1970-1989
1989—Sixth
Pastor, Ed Schlachenhaufen 1989-1994
1993—50th
Anniversary and remodeling
1994—Seventh
Pastor, William Putman (Interim) 1994-1995
1995—Eighth
Pastor, Doug Guthier 1995-2002
2000—Bell
Tower constructed and dedicated
2002—Ordination
of Pastor Bonnie Parker (ninth & present Pastor )
2003—60th
Anniversary
Statements of Belief
Lutherans believe
in the Triune God. God created and loves all of creation -- the earth and the
seas and all of the world’s inhabitants. We believe that God's Son, Jesus
Christ, transforms lives through his death on the cross and his new life, and we
trust that God's Spirit is active in the world.
We are part of God’s unfolding plan. When we gather for worship, we connect
with believers everywhere. When we study the Bible or hear God’s word in
worship, we are drawn more deeply into God’s own saving story.
The convictions shared by Christians from many different traditions are
expressed in statements of belief called creeds.
These ecumenical creeds that Lutherans affirm and use in worship confess the
faith of the church through the ages and around the world.
The
Apostles' Creed
The
Nicene Creed
The
Athanasian Creed
ELCA Confession of Faith
What we believe in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- This church confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- This church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as
the power of God for the salvation of all who believe
- Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was
made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new
creation.
- The proclamation of God's message to us as both Law and Gospel is the
Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning
with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and
centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written
Word of God. Inspired by God's Spirit speaking through their authors, they
record and announce God's revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through
them God's Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and
fellowship for service in the world.
- This church accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its
proclamation, faith, and life.
- This church accepts the Apostles',
Nicene, and Athanasian
Creeds as true declarations of the faith of this church.
- This church accepts the Unaltered Augsburg Confession as a true witness to
the Gospel, acknowledging as one with it In faith and doctrine all churches
that likewise accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
- This church accepts the other confessional writings in the Book of
Concord, namely, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald
Articles and the Treatise, the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the
Formula of Concord, as further valid interpretations of the faith of the
Church.
- This church confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and
confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as
the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God's mission in the
world.
The Confession of Faith is published in the Constitution
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
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