Contents:
Mission Statement
Objectives
Organizational Principles
Declaration

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the Augsburg Lutheran Churches is to bear witness to the good news that sinners are put right with God by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.  We resist any corruption of this Gospel, and to serve and support fellow congregations who seek to do likewise. Looking only to the cross of Christ, we proclaim God's Word as Law and Gospel for the redemption of his people today. May God help us to the glory of his holy name.  Amen.

Our Objectives

• Proclaiming the Gospel
  We assist pastors in finding calls, and assist congregations in calling pastors to further the proclamation of the gospel to all the nations (Matthew 28:18-20).

• Preserving the Purity and the Freedom of the Gospel
  We resist every corruption of the gospel to preserve the purity and the freedom of the gospel (Galatians 5:1).

• Theological and Confessional Foundations
  We proclaim that faith in the person and work of Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation (Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 2:2). Therefore, we look only to the cross of Christ, proclaiming God's Word as law and gospel for the redemption of his people today (Rom 10:17; 1 Cor 1:18, 21). We support and teach the theological guidelines and declarations adopted by our members. "Our Declaration" is intended to help us sort through the confessional crisis our church is in now, and preserve our Lutheran theological identity and teaching.

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Our Organizational Principles

1. Life Together vs. Guerilla Warfare—Our most important battle will be for the viability of our “life together” as a faith community (treating one another as brothers and sisters in Christ), and against the temptation to turn in upon ourselves, splitting into factions that use “guerilla warfare” tactics to “bite and devour one another” (Galatians 5:15).

2. Confessional Faithfulness vs. Political Expediency—Faithfulness to our witness is more important than political expediency. We ought to “fly our confessional colors” openly and proudly without regard to considerations of what will be to our political advantage or what will make us popular. “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus . . . preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season . . . be steady, endure suffering . . . fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

3. Transparency vs. Secrecy—The transparency of open discussion and open operation is vital to our life together as a district. Secrecy (e.g., “private” strategy sessions, closed list serves, fear of open discussion, “informal” decision making groups-within-groups) should be unacceptable to us. “For every one who does evil hates the light . . . but he who does what is true comes to the light . . .” (John 3:20-21).

4. Serving in Freedom vs. Obligated Servitude—Our individual and especially our corporate relationships (i.e., ALC/LCMC) ought to be free of any hint of paternalism, coercion, or legalism. We are set free to serve each other in Christ. We are under no one’s dominion. “Owe no one anything, except to love one another” (Romans 13:8, cf. also Mtt 27:37-40).

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Our Declaration 

We have adopted "Our Declaration" as the first teaching document of the district (click here for more details). "Our Declaration" is intended to help us sort through the confessional crisis our church is in now, and preserve our Lutheran theological identity and teaching.
(Click here to view full text)

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Devotions
are posted on the The Castle Church Door Discussion Board

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